San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-03-25

ates ana projects the darkest ana most
dreadful elements of evil in the charac-
ter naturally depraved
Lieut.. Prescott reported TO the head
quarters OF his company, which was near
the eastern outskirts Of the town. ana so
soon as he could get leave went toward
the Fenwicke mansion the most pre-
tentious residence in the place
1t was now near eight in the evening
and fog. which the breeze had Kept scat
tered, now fell, all Slyered by the moon.
over everything as the wind ceased to
blow. Love was not laggard
The lieutenant was walking very rap
idly, absorbed in gentle reflections and
inpatient to reach the gate Of the man
sion where. perhaps, Rose might meet
him and welcome him in, when, as he
turned a corner. he collided with a man
coming quite as swiftly from the opposite
direction. They both fell heavily, Pres
colt ON top. There was momentary
scramble and some unintelligible ejacu-
latlons before they arose and faced each
other, glaripg through the fog.
An imprecation Of no uncertain sort
sow leaped from the strangers lips, and
at the same time his arm few out. his
clinched fist striking the lieutenant full
in the chest with such force that he
reeled back and came near falling again
The blow was so sudden, heavy and alto
gether unexpected that the surprise was
greater than the injury. Before Pres
cort could recover himself his assailant
had passed on and was lost in the fog,
leaving behind him the sting of very
cutting insult added to the indignity of
the fist stroke. ....
Take that, you internal rebel dog.
and keep out of a gentleman's wayI"
With these exasperating words ring
ing in his ears, and with the dull pain
of the buffet on his breast, the young
lieutenant whipped out his sword and
blindly tried to pursue; but the man
was gone.
Turning about presently he resumed
his way, most thoroughly excited and
actually trembling from head to foot.
Never before had he felt such anger.
such uncomfortable and savage rage.
The mans face was as firmly fixed in
his memory as if it had been painted
there, although he had seen it but dimly.
1t was strong, rather stohd English
face. with long mustache, firm, cruel
mouth and peculiarly heavy though
straight and by no means i'll shaped nose.
"Fll know the scoundrel il ever see
him again" the lieutenant CRASHED.
land I'll break his neck if l can, con-
found him! A British emissary. I'll
wager my life"
There had been that in the fellows
voice which bespoke him gentleman in
one sense of the word-that is, it was
the voice of an educated man-and Pres
colt was somehow strangely impressed
las he became aware when his fit of des-
perate rage had subsided) with certain
power in it. the power of one gifted in
some extraordinary way.
Altogether the bit of adventure had
left vivid reflection on the young mans
mind, and it was with the sense of hav-
ing passed a crisis in his life that he
strobe on rather slowly, his pulse still
abnormally quick and his nerves tin
Cling strangely.
When he reached the gate of Mr.. Fen
wicke's house he found it locked and
looking up he saw no light in the win
dows He raped upon the oaken bars,
hoping that Rose might hear him were
she near. All WAS quite silent and still,
save that large mastiff growled threat
eningly from some point inside the mar
row space between the wall and the house.
What could this meanp 1t was not
late, not late enough for the household
to be asleep. Could they be gone away?
Some dark presentiment began to take
form in his brain as he stood with his
hand on the top of the tall gate. Again
he raped loudly and listened as the
sharp echoes ratified through the recesses
of the rambling and rather gloomy build
ing, which seemed to stare vacantly at
him. Ii was mostly his excited magma
ton, for presently the negro porter came
and unlocked the gate, after inquiring
who it was that desired to enter The
mastiff was troublesome. Evidently it
wished to get at the lieutenant, trying
to break away from the negro even after
Prescott had mounted the steps and was
Changing noisily with the heavy brass
knocker A pleasant surprise awaited
the young man, however, for, instead of
a servant, Rose came to open the door,
which she did with the manner of one
who doubts che propriety Of the act.
"OhI' she cried out, starting and near
ly dropping the lamp. lis it You, Lieut..
PRESCOTT | was not expecting you and