San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-12-15

take my advice, sir. " he said: you go
home and keep steady"
ais it that?" murmured the customer.
@Great Scott | must be bad" and he
went out into the street. shaking.
al don't believe | shall ever see him
again, either, " thought Leander. Shell
drive 'em all away if she goes on ike
this" But here sudden recollection
struck him and he slapped his thigh
with glee. why, of course" he said
-that's it. I've downright disguised
her: II was me she was most put out
with, and after this she'll leave me
alone. Hooray! I'll shut up every
thing first and get rid of the boy, and
then GO in and see her and get away to
Matilda"
When the shop was secured for the
night. he re-entered the saloon with
light step, well. num-" he began,
@you've seen me at work, and. you've
thought better of what you were pro-
posing, haven't you, now?"
where is the wretched STRIPPING who
dared to slay my dove?" she cried.
"Bring him to me-"
What are you talking about now?"
cried the bewildered Leander. who's
Dten your wash L
aware you kept birds"
MANY birds are sacred to me-the
silver swan, the fearless sparrow and.
chief of all, the cOral-footed dove. And
one of these has that monster slain-his
own mouth hath spoken it.
"Oh. is that ALP" said Leland d"
"Why. he wasn't talking about a re-
dove. it was a ballet girl he meant. |
can't explain the difference. but they
are different. And it's all talk. too. |
know him, he's harmless enough. And
now, mum. to come to the point, you've
now had the opportunity of forming
some ideer of my calling. You've
thought better of it. haven't yOu?"
Better. ay, far better she cried, in
a voice that thrilled with pride. Lean
der, too modestly you have rated your
self for surely you are great amongst
the sons of men"
ME-" he gasped. utterly overcome.
Glow do you make that Out?"
do you not compel them to furnish
sport for you? Have | not seen them
come in. talking boldly and loud, and
vet seat themselves submissiveiy at a
sign from you? And do you not swathe
them in the garb of humiliation and
daub their cOuntenances with white
ness and threaten their barred threats
with the cleaning knife and grind their
heads under the resiStleSs wheel? Then.
having in disdain granted them their
worthless lives, you set them free and
they prOpitiate you with gift and de-
part trembling"
well, of all the tOpsy-turvy contra
riness.' he protested. You've got it
all wrong: | declare you have, But I'll
put you right, if it's possible to do it,"
And he launched into lengthy eXpla-
nation of the wonders she had seen. at
the end of which he inquired, Now do
you understand I'm nobody in par
ticular?'
1T may be So" she admitted: "but
what of that? Ere this have | been
wild with love for a herdsman on
Phrygian hills. Ay, Adonis have |
kissed in the lakewood. and bewailed
his loss. And did not Selene descend
to WOO the neathered Endymion?
Wherefore. then. should | scorn thee?
and what are the differences and de-
grees of mOrtals to such as |? Be bold:
distrust your merits no longer. since |.
who amongst the goddesseS obtained
the prize of beauty have chosen you for
my own"
Il don't care what prizes you won, "
he said, sulkily: I'm not yours, and |
don't intend to be. either" He was
watching the clock impatiently all the
while, for it was growing very near 9.
1t is vain to struggle she said,
"since not the gods themselves can re.
sist fate. We must yield, and contend
not"
You begin it then" he said; "give
me my ring"
The sole symbol of my power! the
charm which has called me from my
long sleep. Never"
Then" said Leander, knowing full
well that his threat was an impossible
one, Il shall place the matter in the
hands of respectable lawyer"
a understand you not, but it is nc
matter. In tipe shall prevail"
well, mum, you must come agar
another evening, if you've no objection.
said Leander, rudely, because I've go
to go out just now"
Il will accompany you. she said.
Leander nearly danced with frenzy
Take the statue with him to meet hi!
dear Matilda He dared not. Your,
very kind" he stammered, perspirine
freely: "but | couldn't think of takin.
you out such foggy evening"
Have no cares for me-" she ans
wered: 1--WE will go together. You shall
explain to me the ways of this changed
world"
"Catch MEL was Leander's elliptica
comment to himself but he had K
pretend a delighted acquiescence
well, he cried IF I hadn't beer
thinking how lonely it would be goinl
out alone, and now | shall have tn
honor of your company. mum. YOl
wait bit here, while l run upstair
and fetch my at.
But the perfidious man only waitet
until he was on the other side of tn
door which lad from the saloon to hi