San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-03-19

Anthony touched the spring, and, lofin
the prosaic lamplight there was flash
and sparkle as though myriads Of fire.
flies had been caught and pinned to the
soft blue satin.
Anthony turned the case in his hands,
catching the flash of the jewels and ad-
miring the play of the light and the
sparkle of the prismatic eolors. Dia-
monds Of the purest water-thoHsands
OF dollars worth of diamonds-a neck
lace and pendant, pin and earrings,
bracelets and ornaments for the hair-a
complete set, even to the ring, and val
ued at Tiffanys, from whence they
came, at two hundred thousand dollars.
Anthony's western training had in no
wise eradicaUed the instincts of his south
ern blood toward reckless extravaganza.
He lifted first one ornament, then an
other, and pleased himself with fancy
ing how their sparkle would light up the
dusky coils of Mary Beverley's hair and
intensity the luster of her eyes. His
thoughts about his love were practical
and material, as was his nature. He had
made up his mind to marry Mary, just
as he had made up his mind to achieve
fortune, and his methods of comprising
the two ends were precisely similar.
Sheer force of will, steadiness of par-
pose, and absolute disregard of aught
that might stand in his path had made
him millionaire; and unconsciously he
expected the same forces to make him
Mary Beverley's husband. Latterly an
occasional thought of Dan as probable
rival had kindled smolder of jealousy,
but he had stamped it out contemptu-
ously. What had Dan to offer woman
like Mary Beverley in comparison with
what he, Ned Anthony, could showY
When he had enjoyed the richness
and beauty of the gems until the pleasure
palled on him, Anthony removed the
ring, which ne slipped into his vest pocll-
ct, and closed the case, Unfolding it once
more in its layers of soft paper. There
was in the room heavy sole leather
trunk with brass clamps and combi-
nation lock. This Anthony opened and
deposited the case inside, amid heteyo-
geneous collection of miners clothing.
specimens of ore, bowie knife in
worn sheath, lariat in coil, broken
rife, a pair of Mexican spurs and
couple of revolvers. One was an Eng
lish bulldog" the other an ordinary
Colts navy and both had look of use
and service. Something in the sight Of
them seemed to stir old memories-and
memories of wild and reckless sort, to
judge from the light that came into his
half shut eyes and the lingering, almost
caressing way in which he raised and
handled them.
When he rose from his STOPPING posi-
ton the English pistol was still in his
hand, and he held it to the light and
turned it and polished it with his hand
kerchief and examined the chambers to
see whether they were loaded. He held
it after he had closed and locked the
trunk, and finally, obeying some old in
fuence, he slipped it into the breast
pocket of his coat.
1t had been months since he had laid
aside this pistol, which for years he had
worn habitually. During one of his
visits to Mrs. Beverley in the weeks sub
sequent to his return to Virginia he had
allowed little Ran to draw the weapon
from his pocket and was .thoughtlessly
beginning to explain its mechanism 10
the child and to instruct him in its use.
when Mary, in wild alarm, descended
upon the pair and almost snatched tho
revolver from the boys hands. She en-
treated Anthony never4to come near hsr
sons again with pistol in his pocket, ~
there was no telling what CHASTITY asci-
dent might be the result
He had been amused at her te9rsc,
which he considered superfluous and
foolish, but he had been moved by it TO
lay aside his pistol. Tonight, however.
the old feeling of corhradeship for the
weapon, the old liking for the feel Of q
against his breast, returned with the
memories and associations called up by
the sight of its familiar stock and barrel,
and he slipped it instinctively to its ola
place. @
Leaving the dH9f OF the house on the
latch, as was his custom, he started
briskly across the ravine to the quaint,
pretty parlor, where he expected to find
the party as he had left 1.-THE girls at
the piano, with Dan and perhaps tho
young fellow from Richmond in attend
ance, Mrs. Beverley in her favorite low
chair near the hearshrug and the chH-
dren mercurially revolving about, rs
was their wont before the waning of the
evening dispatched them to the nursery.
The air was still OPT ressive, although
little fresher than at nightfall: there
was no breeze stirring, nor any sugges-
ton that breeze might spring up later.
The moon. silver bow, rested on tho
tonmnSt branches of tho darly old ,adars