San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-12-30
CLaNDlNS. HRQMAN SINGER &C.


within.
Ashamed of being GLAD that-that
| am Free" SIZE stammered, etrug-
Cling on the very verge OF the preci-
pice.
You may be glad of that, and yet
be very sorry he is dead, > the Wan
derer said, stroking her hair.
He thought to turn the subject to
lighter strain. By chance he glanced
at his own hand.
DO you know this ring?" he asked,
holding it before her, with Il smile.
Indeed, | know it," she answered,
trembling again.
You gave it to me, love, do you
remember? And | gave you a like
ness of myself, because you asked me
for it. though l would rather have
given you something better. Have
you it stili?'
She was silent. Something was
rising in her throat. Then she
choked it down.
Il had it in my hand last night"
she said in a breaking voice. True,
once more.
What is it darling? Are you cry
ingP This is No day for tears"
81 little thought | should have
yourself to-day" she tried to say.
Then the tears came, tears of shame.
big. hot, slow. They fell upon his
hand. She was weeping for joy, he
thought. What else could any man
think in such case? He drew her to
him, and pressed her cheek with HE
hand as her head nestled on his
shoulder,
when you put this ring on my
finger, dear-sO long ago
She sobbed aloud.
mo darliug-no, dear heart" he
said, comforting her. You must
not cry-that long ago is over now
and gone forever. Do you remember
that day, sweetheart, in the broad
spring sun upon the terrace among
the lemon trees? No, dear-your
tears hurt me always, even when they
are shed for happiness-no. dear, no.
Rest there-let me dry your dear
eyes-so and so. Again. Forever.
/. you will. While you have Gears,
have kisses to dry them-it was SO
then, on that very day. l can re-
member"
Very slowly she raised her head.
She knew that his hand was c'OSe to
hers. held there that she might tuliiu
Beatrice's promise. Was she noS
free? Could she not give him what
he asked? No matter how-she triel
20 say it to herself and could not. She
felt his breath upon her hair. lie
was waiting. If she did not act soon
or speak he would wonder what held
her NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. next
and then? She put out her hand 10
touch his fingers, half-blinded CROP
ing as though she could not see. lie
made it easy for her. He lancied she
was trembling, as she was weeping,
with the joy of it all.
She felt the ring, though she dared
not look lat it. She drew it Il little,
and felt that it would come of easily.
She lelt the fingers she loved so well
straight strong and nervous, and she
touched them lovingly. The rng
was not tight it would pass easily
over the joint that alone kept it in It's
lace.
lake it, beloved" he said III
has waited long enough"
He was beginning to wonder at he~
hesitation. as she knew he would. Ar
ter wonder would come suspi inland
then? Very s.Owly-it was just upon
the Joint of his finger now. Should
she do it? What would happen? Rs
would have broken his vow unwit-
tingly. How quickly and gladly
Beatrice would have taken it. What
would she say. if hey lived and met
why should they not meet? Would
the spell endure the shOck-who
would Beatrice be then? The woman
who had given him this ring? Or an
other, whom he would no longer
! know. But she must be quick. He
was waiting, and Beatrice would not
! have made him wait
Her hand was like stone, numb.
motionless immovable as though
some unseen being had taken it in an
! iron grasp and held it there in midair,
just touching his. Yes-nO-yes-
She could not move--a baud was
clasped upon her wrist, a hand
smaller than his, but strong as fate,
fixed in its grasp rs an iron vice.
Unorna felt cold breath, that was
not his, upon her forehead, and she
felt as though her heavy hair was
rising of itself upon her head. She
knew that horror for she had been
overtaken by it once before. She was
| not afraid hut she knew what il was.