San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-05-09

posed to follow, asked ms opinion upon
it and finally said that should his in
clination lead him also in that direction
should be very glad of his company.
"Well, sir, I'm obliged to YOU" re-
piled Mr.. Birchmore after a pause of
some moments. "You couldn't paw a
man better compliment than to ask
him to travel with you; and | would ac-
cept your offer as frankly and fearlessly
as you make it, only-well, the fact is.
I'm not so entirely at my own disposal
as | may appear to you to be. | have
been through good many experiences
in life, and some of the. consequences are
upon me still. When you have reached
my age-if you ever do reach it-you
will understand me better. suppose |
may be fifteen years yorr senior; well,
fifteen years means good deal-a good
deal" He pulled meditative cloud'or
two and then added, you're not hurt?
You see how it is? would really like
to accompany you-but can't"
OF course ] warmly disavowed all re-
sentiment, and felt inwardly ashamed of
having forced him, by the freedom of
my advances, into making this explana-
ton. Meanwhile, could not help lik-
ing him better than ever and feeling
moro than ever interested, not to say
curious, about him. 1t was now certain
that some mystery or other attached to
him. l cast covert glances at him in
the vain attempt to read something of
his secret through his outward aspect.
But he was inscrutable, or rather there
was nothing especially noticeable. in
him. His face, as | have said, was
handsome in its contours; he wore
heavy mustache and short, pointed
beard on his chin. His forehead was
wide across the temples, but low, and
dark brown hair, rather stiff, and
streaked here and there with gray, grew
thickly over his head. His hands were
large and hairy up to the second joints
of the fingers, but they were finely and
powerfully formed and the fingers Ia
pered beautifully, with nails smoothly
cut and polished.
In figure he was above the medium
size and appeared strongly built, though
he had complained to me more than
once of rheumatism or some other bodily
failing. In walking he took rather
short steps for tall man and without
any swaying of the shoulders, his hands
being generally thrust in the side pock-
cts of his coat and his face inclined to-
ward the ground. But his eyes-large,
bright and restless-were his most re-
markable feature They appeared to
take note of everything; they were sell
dom fixed and never interpretive.
Compared with the general immobility
of the rest of his countenance, these eyes
of Mr.. Birchmore seemed to have life
of their own, and very intense and
watchful one.
Whenever they met mine fully (which
was but seldom, and then only for a mo-
ment at time) | was conscious of a
kind of start or thrill, as if fine spray
of icy water had swept my face. What
had those eyes looked upon, or what
was it that lurked behind them?
"We may run across each other again
hope we may" said Mr.. Birchmore
when shook hands with him at parting
a few days later. "Glad to have met
you, Mr.. Gainsborough-very glad, sir
Thanks; am glad to have met you.
Your acquaintance has protited me not
little"
''Oh, as to that" said Mr.. Birchmore,
with smile and one of those startling,
straightforward glances into my eyes
las to that the profit will have been
mutual, to say the least of it. Goodby!"