San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-12-06


Tenant, it would not matter about
Leonie.
1t was not difficult to get trace of her
and she came to him at once, and gladly
They were both social outlaws, and they
found that the less conventional south.
ern life suited them capitally. She told
him of his brothers munifcence toward
her.
II pretended to be terribly grieved
at my Punishment" she said. But |
was not going to stand in the way of his
helping you. | knew you would find
me quick enough when you had the
chance" she added confidently. "And
this money that he has had paid me, see!
have used only little. He said had
ruined you: so | thought if you came
out a beggar this might help you a
little"
With this she tossed toward him a
shower of bills.
"All honest money" she cried, earned
by being good and staying away from
you. Just think how rich | could be in
ten years"
She laughed as she said this, but in a
moment had changed again, and said
petulantly, as spoiled child:
But have no chance to prove my
devotion. see you are rolling in wealth.
came to play at love in a cottage and
you put me in a mansion"
She smiled quietly as she ratified on,
and after a little his silence attracted
her notice She looked at him curl
ously.
why don't you talk?" she asked
You are as solemn as an owl-as solemn
as that brother of yours that sent me
away"
Don't laugh at him, Leonie. Do you
know what he did for me?"
"Bribed somebody to let you escape, l
suppose. How else would you be here?'
mo: he Is serving rly sentence for
me-"
WHAT
Yes: he helped me to escape, and
then staid in my cell in my.place."
II did not think he cared that much
for you, or for any one"
81 did not think any person would
care that much"
Yes" said Leonie, nodding her head
with an air of conviction, "that is doing
something. 1t is. not much to be willing
to live in a cottage; | was willing to do
that 1t is not much to offer to give up
money. Miss Tenant did that
What is that? | don't understand;
don't know what you mean," interrupt
ed her companion.
You don't? Then am sorry l spoke"
said Leonie dryly. Il am not fond of
sounding the praises of that model
young woman. | warrant she would
never do as much for me. But if you
want to know, she went to old Rodney
and offered to give up everything she
had to the bank if it would let you off :"
How do you know this? Who told
you?"
Rodney told me himself"
And then she stopped short, as if she
had said more than she had intended.
But how the mischief did that hap
pen? How did he come to tell you?
Where did you see him?"
The questions were thrown out in
rapid succession
Leonie looked, at him defantly, with
heightened color.
IL will tell you all now" she said. II
had not meant to-but am not going to
praise her above myself. | saw him at
his house. |, too, offered to give up adj
had, if it would help you"
What did the old curmudgeon sayY'
He said he thought all the women in
town were crazy after you, and then he
said | was not the first one that had
made this offer OF course knew the
other was Miss Tenant"
George came over to where she sat
and bent down very soberly and kissed
her on the forehead.
Il am glad that you did it, Leonie. |
would have hated to know that she had
offered to do more for me than you"
The woman blushed prettily, not SO
much at his words as at his caress, the
gentlest and most chaste perhaps that
she had ever received from any man.
This would have paid me-" she said
"even if he had taken my offer"
Then they were silent for little time
both busy with their own thoughts, but
Leonie was of too lively and mercurial
a temperament ever to remain long un.
der the influence of one emotion.
Have you heard from your brother
since" she asked.
mo; he said it would be best not tc
communicate, and / have not told you
all. He has given me all his money ant
his name. am Ogden Chalmers here.
"You look almost like him now, yor
are so sober" she said, land l an
afraid you will care more for him thai
; for ne, he has done so much"
emo. YOU need not be afraid of that