San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1893-02-16

Inlghedi to himself at lflis folly. But he
saw that there ere,HDt even Unimneys
| to the houses, nor glass to the windows,
and he resolved to, place, them there.
All this time he hah held Eltza's little
hand, and she had walked with him. In
truth, the child hadrunwittingiyle he'd him
to the different images and other points
of interest, for she, TOO, waSalone today,
and desired to see, before her grand.
mother began to search for her, all the
new and strange Sights winch her short
stature prevented her from observing
when in the procession. The people by
this time had ceased to gather around
the two, and they surveyed.them from a
distance. They recognized their Wis.
itor's desire to see everything in his new
abode, and with a delicate tact they re,
Trained from pressing their attentions
upon him. In fact many of them had
returned to their houses, confident that
that they could see him en- the morrow
and for many days thereafter.
Kulean and a few of the other priests
had followed him at a respectful dis
lance, more from a natural ignorance of
their proper duties, under the ,circum>
stances, than from curiosity.
This thought occurred to Gilbert, and
he dismissed them with a polite gesture
which was readily understood and &C
knowledged-
The others, too, took the hint, and he
was left with the child, standing before
the. altar of ChalchuitE, the goddess of
love, the Atzlan Venus.
1t stood at the corner of approaching
building, and was buried in flowers, its
yellow face shining out with a satisfied
and apparently intoxicated leer which
made Gilbert smile.
The child, too, smiled, and said some
thing in her own language, pointing TO
the idol and then to Gilbert, who, APP
pretending, shook his head merrily,
,whereat the child laughed again.
Her ringing laughter caught the ear
of one who had been eagerly searching
for her for an hour. 1t was Leila, who,
unaware that Eliza was with the
stranger, came quickly around the COR
ner with glad cry.
Erect, lovely, her fair hair blowing in
gracious ripples from her broad, noble
forehead, she was truly sight to make
a mans heart stir within him. At the
sight of Gilbert she stopped short, stand
ing as though about to turn and flee.
She had not seen his face until this mo-
ment, and as his eyes met hers, full of
surprise and admiration, warm blush
rushed into her cheeks and neck, her
bosom showed its heaving beneath the
thin gown, and her eyes, SO softly ten
der at all times, fell beneath his gaze.
He removed his hat, and with bow
of deepest respect and homage to such
wondrous beauty and grace presented
the child, saying, Pardon me if have
prevented her returning to you, but her
company was so agreeable ] had COM
pletely forgotten the time"
Wasted words. Yet how sweetly the
music of his voice, so low and tender,
fell upon her ears in that unknown gods
tongue!
She trembled with a new, strange
fear, and hastily, with doWncast eyes.
reached forth her hand for Eltza's; but
in doing so it brushed against his with q
velvety touch that sent a rushing thrill
through the bodies of each, touching
their two hearts cores with an electric
contact.
She raised her eyes to his with one
straight, pure glance, and taking the
child's hand hurried away, leaving him
standing there, with his sombrero in his
hand, in day dream.