San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-05-25


she was not the only woman whose exls-
tence annoyed him; it was most prOba
BILE that he was at enmity with all
women. l watched him pityingly as he
searched among the WORKOUT garments
which were his stock-in-trade, and Won
dered why death, so active in shifting
down the strongest in the city, should
have thus cruelty passed by this fOrlorn
wreck of human misery, for whom the
grave would have surely been a most
welcome release and rest. He turned
round at last with an exulting gesture.
II have found it, he exclaimed. "The
very thing to suit you. You are per-
haps a coral fisher? You will like a fish
erman's dress. Here is one, read sash,
cap and all-in beautiful conditio! He
that wore it was about your height-it
will fit you well as it fitted him-and,
look you! the plague is not in it; the sea
has soaked through and through it; it
smells of the sand and weed"
He spread out the rough garb before
me. l glanced at it Carelessly.
Did the former wearer kill his wife?"
l asked, with a slight smile.
The old rag-picker shook his head and
made a sign with his outSpread fingers
expressive of contempt.
Not he! He was a fool. He killed
himself"
How was that? BY accident or de-
Sign?"
''Che! Che! He knew very well what
he was doing. 1t happened only two
months since. 1t was for the sake of a
black-eyed jade-he lives and laughs
all day long up at Sorrento. He had
been on a long voyage, he brought her
pearls for her throat and coral pins for
her hair. She had promised to marry
him. He had just landed-he met her
on the quay-he offered her the pearl
and coral trinkets She threw them
back and told him she was tired Of him.
just that-nothing more. He tried o
soften her-she ragged at him like tiger
cat Yes, was one of the little crowd
! that stood round them on the quay-I
saw it all Her black eyes flashed, she
stamped and bit her lips at him, her full
| bosom heaved as though it would burst
| her laced bodice. She was only mar
ket-girl, but she gave herself the airs of
| a queen. Il am tired of you! she said to
| him. Go! l wish to see you no more.
| He was tall and well-made-a powerful
! feIIow-but he staggered, his face grew
pale,-his lips quivered. He bent his
| head q litte-turned-and before any
hand could stop him, he sprang from the
| edge of the quay into the waves; they
| closed over his head, for he did not try TO
swim; he just sank down, down, like a
stone. Next day his body came ashore,
and bought his clothes for two francs;
you shall have them for four"
And what became of the grip"
asked.
''Oh, she! She laughs all day long, as
| told you. She has a new lover every
week. What should she carer"
| l drew out my purse. Il will take
| this suit" | said, you ask four francs,
here are six, but for the extra two you
| must show me some private corner
where can dress"
Eyes, yes. But certainly" and the
| old fellow trembled all over with avarici'
Gus eagerness as | counted the silver
pieces into his withered palm. ANY
! There is the place | sleep in; it is not
much, but there is mirror-her mirror
tho only thing l keep of hers
| Come this way, come this way
And stumbling hastily along, almost
falling over the disordered bundles Of
clothing that lay about in all directions
he opened little door that seemed to be
cut in the wall, and led me into kind OF
close cupboard, smelling most Wiley, anc
| furnished with miserable pallet bed
| and one broken chair. A small square
pane of glass admitted light enough tC
see all that there was to be seen, and
| close to this extemporised window hung
| the mirror alluded to a beautiful thing
| set in silver of antique workmanship,
| the COstliness of which | at once recog