San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-04-17

'Pm Tot Kiss Sheffield" she inter
interrupted. Who am Il What's my
manner"
"lt's Louise, any wayr" he exclaimed,
desperately.
That's good!" said the sufferer. "Cal
me that, then. Go onr'
GAS understand it" said Windward,
''you were the only child of poor people,
who had one Of the French claims, and
with whom my uncle Tom got acquainted
on that account. 1t happened that both
your parents died while you were an in
FAINT, and he had you adopted by his
friends, the Shefhelds McArdle was
with them. and you all grew up together,
as you know judge you were to be
treated as one of the family and never to
know or feel a difference l found out
the truth only few days ago, by acct
dent, while reading over the papers of
the agency relating to the claim, inter-
spersed in which are occasional refer
ences to family matters"
lis that alp asked Louise, as Wind
ward paused.
''Those are the main features as l rec
ollect them" he replied. "What I know
learned, as l say, from incidental ref
erences in the correspondence"
my uncle" she checked herself
"'the colonel knows nothing of this-I
mean of your knowledge of the secretT'
"Oh, no." Windward replied. '"I felt
that he wished it kept buried, and l
found by an inquiry that you were lgnor-
ant"
II recollect," interrupted Louise.
80 have said nothing to any one"
he said
THAT is right" said Louise. you
spoke of papers-can see themp
81 suppose so; certainly"
"Would you mind getting them? she
inquired, Nancy is here if 1 want help,
but don't think l shall. Perhaps I'd
better rest moment. I'll send Nancy
down shortly"
Certainly" replied Windward. crest
by all means, and do not be distressed.
Your friends are the same, your life is
not affected. This will bind us all the
more closely"
THANK you, Windward," she said,
closing her eyes YEARLY. 81 know you
viii all be kind and good. But it is not
the same" Her lip trembled and she
added, II am very lonelyr
A mad thought flashed through Wind
wards mind. Should he fling himself at
h.sy foe h,S lNx, ,xri,,
to her?
Fad he spoken then and there who
knows what might have been! Perhaps,
had he never spoken in vain, it might
have been. But we learn caution by
failure. He paused; he reflected, and he
let the one golden moment pass.
81 will be down stairs" he said, grave
ly and kindly.
THANK you, Windward," replied she;
"I'll feel better directly" And she
smiled and motioned him away.
NANCY, my good girl" she then said
to the servant, won't you fetch me
shawl? feel chilly
Nancy-used to the cares and needs of
a sick room-had one at hand and threw
it over the shivering person of the suf-
ferer.
eff you'll come back in few min
utes," she said, "T'll try to rest little
Eyes, miss" the girl replied. "Pn be
in the next room, and you can knock or
speak if you want me-"
saying this, Nancy arranged the shawl
the better to protect the lady, and then
softly left the room.
Louise was alone; alone among stran-
gers, alone in life; even memory was false,
and the past q myth. One friend, and
only one, who knew her, and whom she
loved, remained unchanged and unchang-
ing; and to this friend, gracious, faith
full and powerful, the special friend Of
the friendless and the orphan, she went
with her crushing load of sorrow.
After few moments, hearing no sound
and fearful lest the visitor might be
needing assistance, the watchfm servant
stepped softly to open the door, but stop
ped, hushed and awed, on the threshold;
for within she saw the strange lady seek
ing herself the aid she needed ON her knees.