San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-12-16

WHEN nc was alone ne went up &c
see her, without losing moment. He
. must have left the door unlocked in his
haste, for she was standing before the
low chimney-glass, regarding herself
intently. As he came in she turned.
"Who has done all this?" she de-
manded. Tell me, was it you?"
Il did take the liberty, num-" he
faltered, guiltily.
You have done WELL" she said.
graciously. with reverent and loving
care have you impaired hues as of life
to these cheeks, and decked my image
in robes of costly skins"
Don't name it, mum, " he said.
But what are thesc?p she continued.
raising hand to the light ringlets on
her brow. II like them not-they are
unseemly. The waving lines parted by
the bold chiSel of Grecian sculptor re-
semble my ambrosial tresses more near
ly than this abomination.
You may go all over London" said
Leander, land you won't find couture,
though say it, to set closer and defy
detection more naturally than the one
you've got on; selected from the best
imported foreign hair in the market, 1
do assure you"
~ accept the offering for the spirit in
which 1t was presented, though l APP
prove it not otherwise
| You'll lind it wear very comfort
able, said Leander; "but that cloak,
now come to see it on, it really is most
unworthy of you, very inferior piece
of goods, and if you'll allow me I'll
change it," and he gently extended his
hand to draw it off.
| "Touch it not" said the goddess;
"for, having once been placed upon my
effigy, it is consecrated to my service"
! For mercy's sake let me get another
| one-One with more style about it," he
entreated; my credit hangs on it."
| II am content" she said, "more than
| content. No more wOrds-I retain it.
| And you have pleased me by this con-
| duct, my hairdresser. Unknown it
| may be, even to yourself, your heart is
warming in the sunshine Of my favor:
you are coy and hayward, but YOU
| are yielding. Though pent in this
form, carved by a mortal hand, | shall
prevail i'll the end. l shall have you
for my own"
lie rumpled his hair wildly: "Orrid
obstinate these gOddesses are" he
thought. "What am TO say to Ma
tilda now? If could only find a way
OF getting this statue shut up some
where where she couldn't come and
bother me, Id take my chance of the
rest. l can't go on with this sort of
thing every evening. I'm sick and tired
of it"
Then something occurred to him.
"COuld delude her into it?" he asked
himself. "She's soft enough in some
things, and. for all she's a goddess, she
don't seem up to our London ways yet.
Ill have try, anyway"
SO he began: Didn't | understand
you to observe, mum, some time back.
that the pidgings and sparrers were
your BIRDS"
They are mine, J." she said cor they
were mine in days that are past"
We'll, he said, there's place close
by, with ratings in front of it, and
steps and pillars as you go in, and if
you like to go and look in the yard
there you'll find pidgings enough to set
you up again. | shouldn't wonder if
they've been keeping them for you all
this time.
"They shall not lose by it," she said
go thither and bring me my birds"
IL think. he said. lit would be bet .
ter if you'd go yourself; they don't
know me at the British Museum. But
if you was to go to the beadle at the
lodge and demand them I've no doubt
you'd be attended to, and you'll see
some parties at the gates in long coats
and black cloth 'elmets, which if you
ask them to ketch you a few sparrers,
they'll probably be most happy to
oblige"
My beloved birds, she said, Il have
been absent from them SO long. Yes,
will go: tell me whcrc?"
He got his hat. and went with her to
a corner of Bloomsbury Square. from
which they could see the ratings front
ing the Museum in the Stccl-tinted haze
of electric light.
That's the place" he said: "keeps its
own moonshine, you see. Go straight
in and tell EN- you're come to fetch
your doves"
a. will do So" she said, and strobe off
in imperious majesty.
He looked after her with an irrepres-
sible chuclle.
"If she amt locked up soon, don't
know myself" he said. and went back
to his establishment.
He had only just dismissed his APP
prentice and secured the shop for the
night. when he heard the. well-known
tread up his staircase. Back again!
| don't have any luck" he muttered;
and with reason, for the statue. wear
ing an EXPRESSION of cold displeasure,
advanced into the room. He felt a
certain sense of guilt when he saw her.
SCOT the birds?" he inquired with a
nervous familiarity, "or couldn't you
bring yourself to ask for them?"
"You have misled me. she said; my
birds are not there. / came to gates in
front of stately pile-doubtless erect
ed to some god; at the entrance stood a
priest, burly and strong, with GOLDEN
broidered garments"