San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-12-28
-. ..,..... 1890 ,vu ore sais!~

-. -~-. --ts..A N>..sD yUu ofc SaiS!"
And he never did quite understand
how that strange elopement was eff
fected, or even remember whether they
left the house by the front or rear.
The statue glided swiftly on, and,
grasping a corner of her robe, he fol-
lowed, with only the vaguest sense of
obstacles overcome and passed as in a
dream.
By the time he had completely re-
gained his senses he was in a crowded
thoroughfare, which he recognized as
Gray's Inn Road.
A certain scheme from which. desper-
ate as it was, he hoped much, might be
executed as well here as elsewhere. and
he looked about him for the aid upon
which he counted.
"Where, then, lives the wise man
whom you would consult?" said Aphro-
dit2
Leander went on until he should see
the colpred lights of chemists win
dow, and then he said, "There--right
opposite!"
He felt strangely nervous himself. but
the goddess seemed even more so. She
hung back all at once, and clutched
his arm in her marble grasp. Lean
DER" she said, al will not go! See
those liquid fires glowing in lurid hues.
like the eyes of some dread monster!
This test ofSgours is needless, and /
fear i'll"
@Lady Venus, he said earnestly, al
do assure you they're only big bottles,
and quite harmless, too, having water
in them, not physic. You've no call to
be alarmed"
She yielded, and they crossed the
road. The shop was small and unpre-
tending. In the window the chief
ornaments were speckled plaster limbs
clad in elastic socks, and photographs
of hideous complaints before and after
treatment with a celebrated ointment;
and there were certain trophies which
indicated that the chemist numbered
dentistry among mis- accomplishments.
Inside the odor of drugs prevailed, in
the absence of the subtle perfume that
is part of the fittings of fashionable
apothecary, and on the threshold the
goddess paused, irresolute.
"There is magic in the air." she ex-
claimed, "and fearful poisons; this man
is some enchanter!"
@Now, put it to you" said Leander,
with some Impotence, "does he look
itPn
The chemist was mild little man,
with high forehead, round spectacles.
little red beak of nose, and a weak
gray beard. AS they entered he was
addressing a small and draggled child
from behind his counter. "Go back and
tell your mother" he said, "that she
must come herself. i never sell pare
goric to children"
There was SO little of the wizard in
his manner that the goddess, who pos
sibly had some reason to mistrust
mortal magician, was treasured.
AS the child retired the chemist
turned to them with look of bland and
dignitied inquiry (something, perhaps
the consciousness of having once passed
an examination, sustains the meekest
chemist in an inward superiority. He
did not speak.
Leander took it upon himself to ex-
plain. "This lady would be glad to be
told whether a ring she's got on is the
real article or only imitation" he said,
$50 she thought you could decide it for
her"
sNot so," corrected the goddess,
austerely; "for myself care mott"
Have it your own way" said Lean
der; Il should like to be told then. I
suppose, mister, you've some way of
testing these things?"
@0h yes!" said the chemist, II can
treat it for you with what we call
aquafortiS, combination of nitric and
hydrochloric acid, which would tell us
at once. / ought to mention, perhaps,
that so extremely powerful an agent
may injure the appearance of the metal
if it is of inferior quality. Will the lady
ohlige me with the ring?"
Aphrodite extended her hand with
naughty Indifference. The chemist ex-
amined the ring as it circled her finger,
and Leander held his breath in tortures
of anxiety. A horrible fear came over
him that his deep laid scheme was about
to end in failure.
But the chemist remarked at last:
Exactly; thank you, madam. The gold
is antique, certainly; but / should be
inclined TO pronounce it, at first sight,
genuine. ] will ascertain how this is,
if you will take the trouble to remove
the ring and pass it over"
@Why?" demanded Aphrodite, obstin-
ately.
al could not undertake to treat it
while it remaiYs upon your hands" he
protested; "the acid might do some in
jury"
ait matters not!" she said, calmly;
and Leander recollected with horror
that, as any injury to her statue would
have no physical effect upon the god
dess herself, she could not be much in.
fuenced by the chemists reason.
GDo what the gentleman tells you,
he said in an eager whisper as he drew
her aside.
al know your wiles, oh perfdious one
she said. &Having induced me to re-
move this token you would seize il
yourself and take to fight! L will not
remove this rInTl"
"There's a thing 70 say" exclaimed