San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-07-21

''HOw could you look ON ana let il
happen? 1t was like letting a mailman
jump into the ire. 4" said Norman. look.
ing so wild and haggara that Miss Pam
shuddered.
81 knew nothing serious against
Jacintha." she said. Il wouldn't have
asked her to, visit with Edwina if |
hadn't thought her nice. didn't know
you were counting her until you were
engaged. was afraid yOu were after
Edwina. don't suppose you'd have
had any chance with her. but | thought,
you wanted her. and she was too, good
for you"
God knows she was" Norman said.
who wins her for a wife must be. a,
happy man, and but for Jacintha
Not a word more" said Aunt Pam,
moving away with dignity, you are
beginning to talk immoral"
She was bitterly sorry for him. but
there was modicum of triumph in her
heart, for she felt that Edwina was
avenged, since Norman regretted her,
A few days after this Miss Pam sat on
the front porch knitting and watching
those who drove along the road She
knew most of them by sight. Amid
fash of jewels, a CLEAN of satin and
tlutter of feathers she saw Jacintha.
She was holding the reins of spirited
pair of horses. The man at her side was
not her husband. They passed out of
sight quickly.
In moment more people We're running
up the road, a number of carriages had
stopped, something had happened.
Aunt Pam ran to the gate. Away IN
the distance sped flying horses drag
ging a vehicle behind them; men had
lifted a woman from the road and We're
bringing ner that way.
Where shall we take herr" one OF
them asked.
Aunt Pam threw open her gate and
the long, French windows opening into
her parlor. sShe recognized the glisten-
ing silk, the floating feathers, the bright
jewels.
ut is Jacintha," she whispered to Ed.
wilma, land she looks like DEATH"
A littlSafter man covered with dust
and blood limped into the room and
knelt down beside the sofa where the
doctor was busy.
. ''She would jump out, he said. 81
could have mastered the horses but for
that. She insisted on driving, and
when they ran away she jumped. See
ing her fall broke'me up. Can she live?"
NO." said the surgeon CURLY. "Some
one must go for her husband"
Norman DriscOll was sent for. and he
came. In few hours his wife knew
him; she knew also that there was no
hope that she could live. In her death
like pallor she was unutterably beauti-
full, and Norman's wrath departed. He
called her all fond names and himself
brute for blaming her for having a
merry heart. And she looked at him
and at Miss Pam and Edwina, and a
flash of feeling came into her face.
HE will 60 back to Edwina when
am gone," she said, and she twined her
arms about his neck.
'~Oh. Norman" she said, ''indeed
was true to you. 1t was nothing but
Irritation with those other men. You
need not have been jealous. l loved
you-you only. KISS me-"
AS his lips met hers, she said family: |
Let me die in peace. Promise me !
that you will never give our little Flossy |
a stepmother. Swear it! Swear it,"
Il swear" he answered.
"Say it after me, Jacintha whispered. |
II will never give our daughter a STEP
mother"
He repeated the words with a solemn
oath. 1t seemed to Aunt Pam that even
in that moment Jacintha cast glance
of triumph at Edwina, but the girls face
was hidden in her hands and she was
praying.
Jacintha lived only few hours after
this, and while Norman mourned her
and reproached himself, Miss Pam had
another secret to keep. In folding away
Jacintha's brilliant costume she had
found letter which was plain proof
that with her dying breath the young
wife had uttered lie-that she had been
false to Norman DriscOll, and that she
had planned to leave him and her child.
Miss Pam put the letter away in the
teakwoOd box, with her statement and
the little roll of tissue paper, and said
nothing even to Edwina.
Jacintha was dead, but Norman Dris.
coll was not free. He was bound to the
dead woman by his solemn oath, as he
had been by his marriage vows.
However, her death and her last words
had caused him to fancy himself jeal-
Gus fool. For awhile he suffered bit.
terly from remorse, his only consolation
was his little Flossy. One day when she
could walk, he came up the road lead
ing to Aunt PANS cottage, leading the