The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1891-05-15

hduOl-
The younger man gave sort of snarl
ing laugh.
~ don't doubt itl'
He suddenly flung himself down before
table aud caught his head in his hands.
''But it won't make any difference, if
that's what you mean" he said hoarsely
with white lips. "I'm past helping
now. Mercedes-my mother-may
know or not know. I won't change
anything"
.Great heaven, mani" cried Thatcher
sharply, shave you lost all decencyl
Remember what you owe to that child.
Do YOU wish to kill here"
Mercedes won't die of my incon-
stancy, Ramon said sullenly. "She may
grieve awhile. Blu. she Will say to her
self that 1 am a base wretch, and she will
forget me-"
"And do you fancy" asked Thatcher
slowly, after moment. "that Mrs. Per
civaI will marry you once you have
broken your engagement"
The young man looked up.
"Thatcher! What do you mean by
taking that tone with mel'
Il am asking you plain question"
Ramon started up and walked the
length of the room. When he came
back there was a look in his eyes, look
of being driven to bay, of stolid, hunted
desperation, that gave his companion for
the first time an insight into the full
depth of his passion. Before he had
thought it largely a boyish fancy.
Now
81 don't know whether she will marry
me or not. But-she would better-she
would betteri She has treated me
shamefully for the past few weeks
shamefully. But she must not Try to
play with me. Thatcher, there are times
when 1 almost hate herl Yeti would die
for her to-morow-to-ni ght-this very
hourr'
Hugh Thatcher went about for the
li,. Al Few CSaye---iClA a i.s,-oa.ss---G
some irlpending catastrophe hanging
over him. He had kept out of the way
of Ramon's mother, fearing lest he might
be questioned with regard to the change
that had come over the Young man As
for Laura Percival. he had not seen her
since that visit three weeks before, and
he had been in a dreamy bewilderment
concerning it ever since. He had under
stood nothing of it all. He had never at
any time understood her when it came
to that. He only knew that dull ache
he had thought stilled at last had formed
part of his consciousness from that after
noon-on. His going to her did Ramon
no good; he had not flattered himself
that the growing coldness she had evil
IDENTIFY evinced toward the young man of
late had been the fruit of his expostula-
tions, aud as for hinself-well, it had
been easier for him before he had seen her
If 1t could be helped he would never see
her again.
He came home heavily from his club
one night with these thoughts in his
mind On the landing in front of his
door stood telegraph boy witllsss yellow
envelope. Thatcher caught it out of his
hand.
"Good heavensr
Ramon Suarez was lying at deaths
door-shot down by his own hand.
Everything that followed that night
and, indeed for the next week-had to
Hugh Thatcher in after years scarce more
substantially than the events that came
to men in dreams.
There was a vision of white, girlish
face, drawn with agony, OF an older one
rigid with maternal anguish; of third,
with closed eyes, on the pillow over
which the two stricken women bent.
Then the dull remembrance of cease.
less delirium in which the name of the
woman who had blasted Hugh Thatcher's
own youth REQUIRED with a passionate
persistence, with despairlng cries OF long
ing.
No question was put to the friend who |
watched with the two women. The tire
less, raving words told their own tale
told it as well as Thatcher knew it him
self or could have told it.
At last day came when the physi-
clans, after consultation, held out a ray
Of hope.
"There was danger still-the condition
of the mind was a great obstaele-but
with great care-with time"
That same day Thatcher received a
little note. Only few very brief words.
But, as he read them, he wondered,
half stupidity, whether the day would
ever come when any word from that
source would be aught but a command
Ior him.
Mrs. Percival was waiting for him
when he went in-AIrs. Percival2 In
he middle of the room he stopped short.
As she first turned her face upon him he
lad not known her
''You-who have been illl' he said.
She did not seem to hear.
"He-he is better2" she asked, speak
ne in dull, rapid, altered way. 81
ave sent every day-twice a day-to
INQUIRE. They have never known it, of
ourse."
eYes. Ramon is better. He may
is likely that he will-live"
Some dreadful tension in her appeared
o give way. She breathed quickly once
T twice-long breaths that were almost
ike gasps.
'I-I waited to tell you-how 1t was"
he resumed. She did not look at him.
he held her hands cl4sped in front of
er. The fingers were blcodless, in
pots, with the pressure. ''I-I tried to
bake him off-after what you told me
bout the girl. Then he said he would
reak his engagement. He asked me to