San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-03-28

$500 sho PAors ana rosa R3yI00
oeoome unconscious. could not describe his
The missing curl was commented noor
and the faces Of all the cadet. wars 1917
scanned by the pupils of the lake instifnts
and the citizens who evinced a deem insar.
est In the mysterious affair, but vet An ~.
preston Of innocence rested upou evsrv
students face and gave no clew. -
Mr.. Vertner came to the Pass and IN
vain did hevisit the academy and endeavor
to find out the brave youth who had res.
cued his daughter from death. 1t was use
less, and after a time it was thought of
only as thing of the past. gEm&5 ats.
Three years have passed since the Incl.
dents mentioned above. and from the
shores of the sunny gulf the scene changes
to the banks Of the Mississippi river
Riding slowly along the levee road are
two persons-a lady and gentleman upon
horseback. Earnestly they are conversiug
together. and then the maiden draws rein
and rests her gloved hand upon her com
panion's arm. - 70 -
Earl, here you must leave me. and for
ever 1t is hard to give you up. but my
father will never forgive nor forget the
past, not even for my sake, as dearly as he
loves me- / cannot again meet you. This
morning he discovered our secret meetings
and forbade me ever again to see you. and
upon your return home you will find a bit
ter letter from him demanding my letters.
You know how dearly love you, and yet
you know we must part. Goodby. Earl
and that God will protect you will ever he
my prayer"
AS she thus spoke bright diamond tears
rolled down the beautiful face of Rosa
yertner and fell upon the roadside. Her
companion said:
II will not urge you to disobey your fa
ther, Rosa. have ever loved you since IA
a little girl used to see you dashing about
upon your pony. When ut the Pass at
school loved you more dearly; and how
blessed the kind fate that threw us to
Eether, untrammeled by the presence OF
our parents, when you came up the river a
year ego upon the steamer. Then felt
that you controlled my life's happiness
and dearly have l enjoyed our stolen inter
views Now all is over and we must part.
| will do us your father asks me in his let
te--return all you have sent nc. Rosa,
my own darling, Goodbye
Thus the lovers parted, and while Rosa
returned to her fathers plantation, a mile
down the river, Earl Griffith ieaped his
horse into cotton field that bordered the
river bank and darted away in the direc-
tion of his own home, for death had laid
his own father in the grave and he was
master and owner of the large estate.
Arriving at his door a negro messenger
from the Vertner plantation awaited his
arrival and presented him with a letter
Entering his sanctum he broke the seal
and his brow darkened as he read the con-
tents.
= "For her sake will forbear and for her
sake will return her letters-every little
memento of her love; yes, all"
A few moments after the ebony messen
ger rode away bearing in his hands small
package addressed to "Mr. Branch Vert
ner. Sunnyside Plantation"
Branch Vertner. was pacing the broad We
randa that encircled his handsome resi-
dence.
A stern. naughty man, his brow was
darkly clouded and his eyes wore an angry
expression, as ever and anon he glanced up
and down the avenue, as if in expectancy
"Ha, at last! hope he has not dared to
refuse my demand; if SOL And he
grasped the package held out to him by
the negro boy.
Breaking the seal he glanced over the
contents The frown darkened, when his
face suddenly paled. The letters and love
trinkets fell to the floor as he exclaimed
"What does this meanl"
In his hand he held long silken curl,
flashing like golden strands in the light Of
the setting sun.
Upon the corner he read:
Rescued from the waves. Pass Chris
tian, June Is, lS-."
One moment he glanced at the card, his
face changing with the emotions that
swept over him. and then he called out to
the retreating messenger:
Robert, come herer'
The negro again advanced.
Mount your horse and return at once
and quickly to the Griffith manor. Pre-
sent my best wishes to Mr.. Earl Griffith
and say request the pleasure Of seeing
him Immediately at Sunnyside Planta-
ton" .
ayes, sir" ID.
And while the messenger started away
at full speed Mr. Vertner continued his
walk up and down the veranda. .
An hour had not passed when Earl Grit
fifth rode up to the door, dismounted and
assembled the broad steps, wearing upon
his face puzzled expression at his strange
and unexpected summons to Sunnyside
Advancing toward him, Branch Vertner
extended his hand, while he said in a firm
voice:
Earl Griffith, | never believed that you
or one of your race would ever be invited
across my threshold Your package sent
me this evening told me who it was that
saved my daughters life three years ago,
hence | bury the Ratchet and offer my
hand. You are noble man, and believe
will accept it."
Thus the feud was settled all animosi