San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-03-12

- 4. ~
Near the foot of these trees lay ,oonGn
in q faint.
Across from field, far TO the right OF
the dusty road, came the sound of
shout. The air, quivering with summer
heat, seemed reluctant to carry 1t.
Everything had been so still before that
the faint murmurs Of insect life and the
chattering and barking of the red SPUR
rels in the stone walls had seemed like
disturbances, and the stiffness, like a
sentient being, had merely moved a lit
tie to make room for an annoyance,
settling down again after each small
noise like a tired sleeper. Then the
shout came, flying straight and swiftly,
scross the meadows and fell plump in
the dust. Then all was still again. Not
even bird chirped.
Young Tanning moved uneasily in his
sleep. He was lying on the grass in the
shade of huge elm, waiting for the
cooler part of the day before rambling
further on the purposeless stroll he had
undertaken The sudden noise, faint
as it was, broke his deep slumber and
set him dreaming. The dream awoke
him.
Another shout followed the first, and
as if nature had been reused from a
slumber like his own the air stirred
more readily-the sound came less like
rife bullet. 1t was more prolonged
than the first, and there was an accent
to it sufficient to bring young Tanning
to his feet Some one was calling for
help.
He listened moment, but the air was
still again. 1t was stiffness that, like
Egypt's darkness, could be felt. Raising
his voice, he sent ont mighty cry that
shattered the repose. A little breeze
stirred. 4 bird called back with little
carol. y crow cawed lazily from mis-
perch somewhere in the woods. Fan
ming waited, listening keenly. There
was brief delay. Then the third call
came, fainter and yet palmer than the
others. A woman was calling and her
voice was throbbing with pain.
Tanning was bored. He had left his
chambers in the city for lazy tour on
foot, feeling that work was out of the
question by reason Of the heat, and here
on the first day he was called on to res
cue an unknown woman from unknown
trouble. He felt that it was an imposi-
ton, but could not see his way clear to
ignore the demand, being very human.
Tightening his belt, he sprang lightly
over the low stone wall and ran across
tho fields directly toward the spot where
the woman lazy. 1t was rough ground
and he ran very swiftly but his breath
was easy and measured, his head was
erect and his chest well out He was
a rather small man, but his spare frame
was all bone and muscle, and every
muscle was we'll developed.
A quarter of a mile of this easy run
ming brought him to a little grove. 1t
was a neglected place. The underground
was rank and tangled. Briery shoots
were interlaced like network without
order or design. Weeds chOked the bet
ter capabilities Of the soil. Saplings that
numbered space drained the vitality of
worthier trees, and none were thrifty ex-
cepting few old ones that were strong
enough to hold their own and that looked
down with lofty contempt at the brush
beneath. It was a world in little.
Near the foot Of these trees, as Fan
ming saw. drawing near, lay a woman
in faint. The man looked, in dis
gust that was almost unnatural, and his
first word was maledictiOn. Then he
sighed and mopped his face with hand
kerchief that was at once wet through.
Then his face took on professional
look, and he muttered to himself,
Lucky have taken my degree There
might be scandal about this"
Then the woman became the patlent.
and the man, equally unconscious Of the
change, became the physician. Sex was
eliminated from the problem suggested
by the situation. Like any other verify,
however, it failed to remain eliminated.
But that was afterward. He looked
keenly, and seeing that he had a swoon
70 treat first, he deity end quickly
loosened her dress at the neck, and lift
ing her little with his left hand, cut
the laces of her CORSET, slaShing through
the dress with his penknife, unhesita-
tingly. Then with his strong, uimble
fingers he tore the gap wider and
loosened the string. Laying her back
on the ground he famed her with his
hat.
Naturally in such n case" he gr71IR-