San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1893-01-10
ana be rree ana aappy again. Now

| spoke again.
"Of course, dear, | understand" h,
said more gently, and l could hear hin
draw her toward him; land now yoT
must listen to me. You know you are
mine, Kate; you have promised to mar
ry me, and you ought to trust me &
little"
Il do, Harry" she whispered, "only
you promised to give up betting.
You talk like woman, Kate, and a
woman with no experience. | tell you
most men bet; it all depends how you dc
it. Now here | am doing nothing rash.
| am behind the scenes. / have the
trainers word for it, and John of Gaunt
lis as sure to win as the bookmakers
think he is safe to lose, and that is say
ing good deal. With paltry five
| pounds in my pocket am safe to make
fifty pounds, and with one hundred
| pounds-think, Kate, we could marry
| tomorrow"
Il would rather wait than marry so,
dear" the gentle voice answered.
But, by George, Kate, would not
| the briefly repressed fury burst or
again-''and l tell you again the money
will save lie. Lend it me, child; Just
for tonight; will bring it you doubled
tomorrow, Kate. l swear! Doubled!
You don't know how I'll multiply it.
! And bark You, girl-for see your meek
eyes set themselves, and your lips, that
can trembl, sometimes, press together
You had letter know the truth; your
brothers story will be mine without
this money; owe more than that weak
boy dared venture. | love you, Kate,
and I'll marry you if you are true tome;
but, by heaven, if You think to put
dead brother before living husband
I'll be more like killing than marryingr'
Il must give you up, Harry; | can
never be Your wife now. When you are
calmer you would despise me, as
should despise myself, for lending yol
what was not my own. The money is
in dead hand. dare not touch it"
What do you mean, child?' the man
who laughed asked in a hollow voice;
what makes you talk of dead hands?
Come near me, Kate, will not give you
up so lightly: see, we will talk of other
things. Don't look so frightened; come
and kiss me, Kate: you are brave girl;
We'll forget that cursed money"
| heard her creep back to her old
place, heard her crying as women cry
after a tension Of mind and heart has
been removed. heard him kiss her and
ask her forgiveness, and then, just as
the cold fear that held seemed to relax
its hold. | felt-no. | felt nothing, but
heard, close to me, now, in the silence, a
movement Of a trembling, fumbling
hand-a aand that sought something,
something secret, something that it
would grasp unseen.
The two were not speaking now, or
only i'll murmurs so low that the mov-
ing hand which fumbled near me seemed
to claim my ear more than their words.
My head throbbed with the tension of
listening; all the blood in me seemed to
be beating there, leaving my heart stone
cold. Suddenly the cropping hand passed
swiftly close to my face; felt the watt
Of the parted air against my wet tenn
pies. and then | heard Il cry-ahl such a
cry of surprise breaking into terror, of
terror overmastering love, as the girls
voice shrieEcd:
No, no, not that, not that; oh, father.
help! help-hclp!"
Help: Against what: What had the
girls eyes seen; what dread had forced
that bitter broken CRY from the poor
lips: At laar leaned forward; cried,
too. "H"lp. Erlp.' Vt least | think |
did, but If any sound came from my dry
throat | knew not; before me knew the
man bent over something. somethirg
that moved little, that moaned. that
sighed softly. And after the sigh the
bending form lifted itself and muttered
and searched. heard the hands tearing
at something; then Ihcard a quick OK
clamatiUn, Il rustic of crisp paper, and
then the dour ut my side was open. |
felt the rain on my face, for II heavy
shower was passing over us.
The blessed rain! The comforting com
mOnplaCe wrtncss reassured me. felt
my terror passing and even reached Il
hand. half h2artedly shut the door, with
a feeling that had had Il bad dream.
But some object was dragged against
it, was forced through it keeping it
open, until heard a dull thud outside,
and then for the last time harsh voice
now in the doorway, mutter:
What devil drives me? There's the
junction; must leapl"
The train slackNed speed, the swing
ing door fell into its place slowly, as
though released from the pressure of II
restraining hand, and looked up and
saw porter run forward as we steamed
into the station.
canmht nt his arm rs he 1,amn IN tlln