San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-02-17

ately, then departed, and her tears were
on his cheek
Brent's stupor lasted many days. Life
had been strained to its utmost. Body.
brain, heart, all had had exhausting
taxes to pay. The realm must rest.
While his mind slept nature was gently
renewing him. Quiet is cure to an uu-
tainted life. There was no old fever of
discomfort in his brain. He had regrets,
but no remorses. Others had harmed
him; his life had been sad one; he had
hever harmed himself. No ugly visions
could visit the uncontrolled hours of
brain so stored. His trance was peace.
More than peace, for as watched his
quiet face / knew that his spirit was con-
scious of a spiritual presence, and love
was lowering over him, healing ele-
ment
At last he walked. He threw volition
into the scale of recovery. He was well
in trice.
Captain Ruby and DIR. Pathie were dis
posed to growl at the rapidity of Brent's
cure.
81 have half a mind to turn military
despot, and arrest you," said Ruby. ga
pair of muffs, even, would be welcome
in the winter at Laramie. You have
made WI tched bungle of it, Pathie.
Why didn't you mend your man DELHI
erately, muscle a week, nerve a
month, and so make it a six months
job?"
He took the matter out of my hands.
and mended himself. There's cool, pa
tent, determined vitality in him, enough
to set up legion or father race. Which
is it, Mr.. Wade, words to say or duties
to do, that has made him condense his
being on recovery"
"Both, believe. He is mature now,
and wants, no doubt, to be at his bust
ness of saying and doing"
Sand loving" said Ruby.
"Aye," said Pathie. "That has had
more to do with it. hope he will over
take and win, for love the boy. keep
my oldish heart pretty well locked
against strangers; but there is warm
cell in it, and in that cell he has, sleep
ing and waking, made himself home"
"Ah, doctor" said Ruby, "you and l,
for want of women to love, have to con-
tent ourselves with poetic rovers like
Brent. He and Biddulph were balls,
operas, champagne on tap, new novels,
fiirtations and cigars to me last winter"
We were smoking our pipes on the
veranda one warm November day when
this conversation happened.
no. ~ hn ho,
night, as Jake chamberlain pronounced
him, nor quite forgotten, in grave cares,
my fancy that his stay in Utah was for
Miss Clitheroe's sake.
Twas hardly surprised when, that very
evening, a bSonzed traveller, face many
shades darker than hair and beard, rode
up to the post with a Delaware Indian,
and was hailed by Ruby as Biddulph.
eve We're talking of you not an hour
ago." said Ruby, greeting him. "Wish-
ing you would come to make last win
ters party complete. Brent is here,
wounded"
"Has he lady with him?" said the
newcomer. His voice and manner were
manly and frank-a chivalrous fellow,
one of us, one of the comradery of knights
Grant.
"Mr. Wade will give an account OF
her."
"Come in to Brent" said I, "and we
will talk matters over"
Ruby, model host, cleared the way for
a parley whose interest he OWNED.
81 will see after your horses. Don't
lose your appetite for supper. We have
potatoes!"
"Potatoesr' cried Biddulph. mot 1"
"Yes, and fapjacks and molasses,
ready in half an hour"
"Flapjacks and molasses! Potatoes
and fapjacks!-Yes, and molasses!" Bid
dulph again exclaimed. "Jewel of a
Rubyl This is the ossa on pelion of
gourmandise. How underdone and over
done all the banquets of civilization
seem! charge thee, Ruby, when the
potatoes and the fiapjacks and molasses
are ready, that thou peal jubilee upon
the bell. Now, Mr.. Wade, let me see
this wounded friend, and hear and tell"
The two gentlemen met with cor
diality. Brent, believe. had never iden-
titled Miss Clitheroe with the lady Bid
dulph fled from, and 1 had never men
toned my suspicious.
''Not one word, Johnr said the Briton,
'until l know what you have done with
Ellen Clitheroe. Is she safer
Brent comprehended the baronet's
heart and mind at the word. The other,
I think, saw as plainly on Brent's face
that he was lover, and perhaps the
more fortunate one. These two loyal
men drew closer at this, as wholly loyal
souls will do, for all the pang of know