San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-05-28
THE GOLD PIECE.

undulating lines of foam a little boy
was gleefully rolling yellow gold piece
upon the paler yellow of the sand. The
autumn wind caught his hair and
laughter danced in his eyes. The gold
piece flashed in the sunlight that
streamed across the beach and struck
the white cliffs beyond with dazzling
effect. Again and again the child
caught the gold in his chubby hand and
sent its spinning in swift curves. Then
all at once roguish breeze lifted his
hat, and striving to keep his headgear
in place he let his eyes wander for an
instant from his treasure; when his
childish feet reached the place where he
supposed II would be lying, the gold
piece was not there-it had mysteriously
disappeared.
A look of chagrin darkened his lUhi-
liant face. He wondered what had be
come of his money. Perhaps it had
slipped into crevice of the jutting rock
that sprang from the bluff overhead.
Or might il not have rolled into the
water? Anyway, he could not find ii,
and he was disconsolate at his loss.
Presently he abandoned the search, and
sitting down in the sand he began to cry
bitterly.
The sunlight grew dim. and tail
man, whose figure resembled a silhouette
drawn on the pale forgetmenot sky. ap-
preached from the other end of the
beach he wore a rough dress and
walked with limp. Across his shoulder
hung long string of silvery fish. He
saw the little boy, and pausing in front
of him spoke almost tenderly:
We'll. my little man. what is the mat
ter? he asked.
The child lifted his tear washed face.
1--WE lost my gold piece" he answered.
How was that inquired the man, in
terested.
"Why, I was rolling it along the sand,
and all at once il was gone. shall be
punished for losing it" and he sobbed
afresh..
The man came a step nearer. Was
it your own: Did it belong to your"
"Yes; today is my birthday and my
grandmother gave it to me-"
Poor little chap" said the lame man
kindly. Let me help you look for it.
He began without delay to search in
the wet sand and among the pebbles, the
boy, his small body bent almost double,
following him with eyes riveted upon
the ground. The isherman's glance wa:
keener than the child's, and it was not
long before he caught the mild CLEAN Of
something lying under fragment o.
projecting rock. He looked again: yes
he saw yellow speck much brighter
than the surrounding sand-a mere, tiny
dot of flashing gold, and as he gazed hi.
heart beat trife more quickly. He
drew himself mp, turned his eyes else
where, opened his lips, then closed then
again and said nothing. BY and by ht
spoke in a strangely calm voice.
There's no use looking" he said. IL
is lost; you will never find it,"
The boys mouth quiyered, his breatl
came in gasps. Perhaps if came to
morrow with my governess we nigh
find it, he replied; but there was hope
lessness in his tone.
''Are you staying at the hotel% asket
the fisherman, looking dreamily at tn
sea.
"Yes, and must go home now" will
q sigh; II promised not to stay afte
sunset, and the sun is nearly gone" Th,
man made no reply and the child added
"Do you think the gold piece could hav,
been washed away by wave%
Possibly"
II only took my eyes off of it for ;
moment. 1t was spinning along like I
little golden wheel and then-well,
will come back tomorrow early in tn,
morning and see if can find it."
Still the man made no answer. Al
the light had shifted from his figure ant
the silver scales of the fish had turnet
to gray.
"Goodby," said the boy Then, as al
afterthought, What is your naIne:"
"Caspar-they call me Lame Caspa
because--of this" and he pointed sui
lenly to his right leg.
"Well, thank you for helping me +
look for my gold piece, Lame Caspar,
said the boy; and he turned away wit,
a little choking sob and began to ascen
the steps that led in winding curves n
the cliffs. He glanced back when h
reached the top and saw Lame Caspa
walking slowly on, his string of fish owe
his shoulder, his head bent forward. II
did not walk far, however. By and b
he stopped, and wheeling about on hi
lame leg, retraced his steps in the d
rection he had come. He crept to tn
everhanging rocks that now cast grea
purple shadows on the sand. The shol
lived afternoon was dying and the SIX
was afame in the west. Slowly an
cautiouslv the man annroache6 the mr.,