San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-12-20
CHAPTER X.
DAMOCLES Dimes OFT.
To feed were best at home.

-hutDeln.
AS soon as Lcander had recovered
from the first shock of horror and dis
appointment. he set himself to efface
the stains with which the statue and
the OilclOth were literally despatched;
he was burning to. find out what had
happened to make such desperadoes
abandon their designs at the point of
completion.
They both seemed to have bled freely.
Had they quarrelled, or what? He
went out into the yard with hand
lamp. trembling lest he should come
upon one or more cOrpScs: but the place
was bare. and he then remembered hav-
ing heard them stumble and founder
over the wall.
He came back in utter bewilderment;
the statue. standing calm and lifeless
as he had himself placed it. could tell
him nothing. and he went back to his
bedroom full of the vaguest fears.
The next day was Saturday. and he
passed it in the state of continual APP
prehensiOn which was becoming his
normal conditions; he expected every
moment to see or hear from the batfled
ruffians, who would. no doubt. consider
him responsible for their failure; but
no word or sign came from them, and
the uncertainty drove him very near
distraction.
AS the night approached, he almost
welcomed it, as time when the god
dcss herself would enlighten part of his
ignorance, and he waited more impa-
tiently than ever for her return.
He was made to wait long that even
ing, until he almost began to think the
marble was deserted altogether: but at
length. as he watched, the statue gave
long ShuGdcring sigh. and seemed to
gaze round the saloon with vacant eyes.
"WherG am 10" she murmured. All.
| remember: Leander. while you Slum-
bered, impious hands were laid upon this
image"
Dear me- mum: you don't say So"
| exclaimed Lcander.
at is the truth, From afar felt the
| indignity that was purposed and hasten
ed to protect my image, to find it in the
coarse grasp of goddess outlaws. Lean
| der. they were about to drag me away
| by furcc-and from thee"
Il am very sorry you should have
| been disturbed, said Leander: and he
| certainly was. $50 you came back and
| caught them at it, did you? And
wh-what did You do to EN-, if / may
| inquire"
Il know not" she said, simply. al
| caused them to be filed with mad fury
and they fell upon one another blindiy
and fought like wild beasts around my
| image until strength failed them and
| they sunk to the ground; and when they
were able they fed from my presence
] and | saw them no more.
| "EOu-you didn't kill them outright
J them" said Leander, not feeling quite
! sure whether he would be glad or not
to hear that they had forfeited their
| lives.
| They were unworthy of such q
| death, " she said. 80 let them craw
away: henceforth they will respect om
| images"
IL should say they would most likely
| madam" agreed Leandcr. a. do assure
you I'm almost glad of it myself am
it served them both right"
Almost glad! And do you not re
joice from your heart that yet remain
to you?"
"Why," said Leander, ait is. in course
a most satisfactory and agreeable ter
mination, I'm sure"
! "Who knows whether, if this my
image had once been removed from you
! could have found il in my power to re
turn" she said; "for, ween. the powe1
that is left me has limits. might never