San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-09-18

night when he was
Miss Chenier!" he exclaimed, rising
as he spoke; what do you mean?"
She looked steadily, passionately at
him. Presently she cried:
What do mean? You know what l
mean! Oh, Mr.. Ellis, could not have be-
lieved You so wickedr'
"Rosalie-Miss Chenier-you are GER
tainly laboring under some horrible
mistake" he said in a hoarse voice and
involuntarily taking step nearer her.
Won't you explain"-
Let your own conscience, if yo" we
ONE
Miss Chenier, do not know what
you mean" he emphatically cried.
What Imean! what mean she dis
dainfuIly repeated.
Can it be possible" he slowly ex-
claimed, as if something We're dawning
upon his mind, "can it be possible that
you are accusing me of doing that injury
to Colonel Talbot from which he is still
so mysterously suffering? Good heavens,
Rosalie!" he added after few moments
of silence, during which time his eyes
did not turn from her face, "how terri
bly, You have wronged me!'
Her ewes searched his with an inten-
sity that nothing but utter innocence
could have withstOod, 1t would seem,
and yet he bore it without Il waver.
He seemed. indeed, to meet it and well
come it.
Il would rather you would kill me
outright than for you to insinuate SO
awful charge" he went on, feeling the
poverty of language in SO great need.
His voice began to gather up its fascina-
ting sweetness and feXibility.
Rosalie faltered and trembled as the
magnetism of his unshrinking face over
came her She sank down upon the
stone pale and exhausted.
He was by her side in moment.
Explain this mystery, this dark, hor-
rible insult to my honor, RosalieP he
pleaded, speaking rapidly and passion
ately. How could you get such thing
into your mind? Who has been poison
ing you against me by limiting such a
malicious and unfounded accusations?
No one" she said: mo one. IL
thought you did it."
But how could you? he impatiently
cried; ii can't see how you could
Whatever started you to thinking it?"
we saw you following us" she said
scarcely above whisper.
Following you-us-whom do you
mean"
Colonel Talbot and me-" she an
swered
Following you where
That night in the street.-the night
he was hurt.
Following you the night he was
hurt! Why, Rosalie, was not in Sa-
vannah that night. did not know he
WAS hurt till saw the papers next day
| was at Jessup that night"
There was such IA ring Of surprised
and injured innocence-such reproach
in his voice-that she felt her heart
shrink and hutter
If You are innocent-if have
wronged you forgive me- she ex-
claimed She rose as she spoke, and for
a moment stood before him in falter-
ing attitude. 1t may all be cleared up
some time. cannot see you any more
until it is. hope you are innocent.
out, butt believe you are guilty"
He sprang up. The pallOr in his face
was awful His eyes shot clear flames.
His cheeks and forehead seemed to
shriyel
1T is lie! damned Internal lie. ]
will not bear it," His lips were flecked
with froth And this from you, Rosa
ier' lie erred. from You whom | love
more than all the world! My God, can
you believe this: If all the world were
marshaled against Inc to believe lie. !
would turn to You for" -
Hush" she said, almost sterulJ'; and
yet the regretful gentleness broke through
Ter voice. Hush! If you are innocent
lime will prove it. 60 Uack 10 savannah
and solve this mystery. Go back and
find the true murderer or would be mu:-
derer of Colonel Warren Talbot, and
then | will hear of your friendship. and
not till them"
Her words seemed to have the power
to spin him away to an infinite distance
from her. He recoiled as if she had
stabbed him. For moment he hest
tated. then in dry strange voice he
said:
If the villain who struck Colonel
Talbot is above ground will find him.
He turned about as he finished speaking
and strobe away through the woods.
MIR Ellis Rosalie called ont after
him
He stopped and looked back. She hes
itated She hardly knew what she
wanted to say To him