San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-12-27

gone TOO rarY Are you quite sure you
won't be spiting yourself as well as me
over this business? Can't we come to
an amicable arrangement? Think 1t
over"
"Leandcr, you can't mean i'll" cried
Matilda.
i "You leave me alone" he said hoarse-
ly; 81 know what Pm saying!"
Whether the goddess had overstated
her Indifference, or whether she may
have seen a prospect of some still sub
tier revenge, she certainly did not re-
ceive this proposition of Leander's with
the contumely that might have been ex-
pected; ON the contrary, she smiled
with triumphant satisfaction that be-
trayed a disposition to treat.
"Have my words been fulfilled, then?'
she said. ais your insolent pride
humbled at last? And do you sue to
me for the very favors you SO long have
spurned?"
"You can put it that way if you like, :"
he said, doggedlv. aft you want me
you'd say SO while there's time, that's
ALL"
"Little have you merited such leni-
,ency," she said, land yet it is to you
owe my return to life and conscious
ness. Shall abandon what l have
taken such paiBs-to win? No! / accept
your submission. Speak, then, the
words OF surrender, and let us depart
together"
Before do that, /" he said, firmly,
'"there's one point must have settled
to my satisfaction.
"You can bargain still" she ex-
claimed, haughtily. 1Are all BARRIERS
like your If Your point concerns the
safety of this maiden, be at ease; she
shall go unframed, for she is my rival
no longer!"
"Well, it wasn't that exactly" he ex-
planned; "but I'm doubtful about that
ring being the genuine article and I
want to make sure"
"But a short time since, and you were
willing to trust all to mel"
Il was; but, if 1 may take the liberty
of observing SO, things were different
then. You were wrong about that
thunder-bolt--you may be wrong about
the ring"
Fool" she said, chow know You
that the quality of the token concerns
my power? We're it even of unworthy
metal, has it not brought me hither?"
"Yes, " he said, "but it mightn't be
Strong enough to pass me the whole
distance, and where should / be then?
1t don't look more to me than Is carat,
and | daren't run any extra risk"
"How, then, can your doubts be set
at rest?" she demanded.
"EaSy," he replied; "there are mer
who understand these things. All ask
of you is to step over with me, and see
one q them, and take his opinion; and
if he says it's gold-why, then, l shall
know whe"e / am"
"Aphrottite submit her claims to the
judgment of a MORTAL" she cried.
"Never will 1 thus debase myself"
"Very we'll, he said, "then we must
stay where we are. All can say is,
I've made you fair offer"
She paused. "Why not?" she said,
dreamily as if thinking aloud. "Have
not | sued ere this for the decision of
shepherd judge-even of Paris? IT'S
but one last indignity, and then-he is
mine indeed, Leander," she added
graciously, at shall do as you will.
Lead the way; follow"
But Matilda, who had been listening
to this compromise with incredulous
horror, chung in desperation to her
lovers arm and tried to impede his
flight. '"Leander!" she cried, "Oh,
Leander! surely you won't be bad
enough to go away with her!- You
won't be so wicked and sinful as that!
Remember who she is-one of the false
gods of the poor benighted heathens-
she owned it herself! She's nothing
less than live idol! Think of all the
times we've been to chapel together;
think of your poor aunt and how she'll
feel your being in such awful company!
Let the police come and think what
they like; we'll tell them the truth and
make them believe it. Only be brave
and stay here with me; don't let her en-
snare you! Have some pity for me, for,
if you leave me, 1 shall die!"
ALREADY the guards are at your
gates" said the statue; choose quickly
while you may!" -' ...# "t
He put Matilda gently from him.
"Tillie," he said, with convulsive eff
fort to remain calm, "you gave me up
of your own free will-you know that
and now you've come round too late.
The other lady spoke frst!" .. 80 .
AS she still chung to him, he tried to
whisper some last words of consoling
or reassuring nature, and she suddenly
relaxed her grasp and allowed him to
make his escape without further dissua-
sion-not that his arguments had re-
conciled her to his departure, but be-
cause she was mercifully unaware of it.
CHAPTER XIV,