San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-07-21


Leclerc for ar least another SIX months
The young doctor took his rebuff badly,
but it did not lessen the ardor of his
passion. He appealed to Mrs Davorn,
but from her he got no help or promise
of help. Mrs. Davorn had for some rea-
son taken an instructive dislike to the
handsome young doctor. His impulsive
manner Jared ON her nerves.
Shortly before Mrs. Davorn closed
her eyes forever ON the world DR.. Le-
clerc got into trouble. He had left DIR.
Percival for some time, and his own
practice in Clayfelds did not flourish.
There were sinister rumors about his
financial condition, rumors which
reached the ears both of aunt and niece.
Mrs. Davorn felt certain amount of
triumph at discovering that she had
been instrumental in preventing her
niece from entering into an engagement
with worse than penniless young man,
but the news Of the young Doctors diff
culties had caused the wavering girl to
make up her mind suddenly and deci-
sively. She would marry her lover at
any cost. DR.. Leclerc informed Ethel
candidly of his troubles and declared he
saw no way out of them except to flee
from the country. He had brother in
the United States who would help him.
He offered to release Ethel from an en-
gagement which she had hurriedly en-
tered into without her aunt's knowl-
edge the moment the first sinister ru-
mors of her lover reached her ears.
Ethel was uncertain what to do She
loved the man wholly and earnestly,
and while she was hesitating he threw
himself at her feet and passionately
implored her to marry him at once and
to fly with him as his wife to a new
country across the seas. Half in love,
half in pity, she had given reluctant
consent to his wild proposal, but on
calm reflection she had seen the unwis-
dom of taking so rash step and had
suggested to Leclerc at the last moment
that the matter should be laid before
her aunt
Mrs Davorn absolutely declined to
countenance Leclerc's wild scheme for
rehabilitating himself, and she was so
indignant at learning that Ethel had
made the clandestine arrangement for
flight with. the young doctor (who had
already armed himself with a marriage
icense) that she declared neither one
nor the other should ever have a penny
of her money. Losing her temper COM
pletely, she tainted Leclerc with having
no object but that of escaping from the
meshes in which he was entangled by
marrying Ethel and possessing himself
through her Of sufficient money to en-
able him to escape from his difficulties. |
This taunt, which was wholly unworthy
of Mrs Davorn and undeserved by Le-
clerc, had angered Ethel beyond meas
ure, and ON the night of the 9th of o. |
tober she had given her lover at parting |
a promise to marry him on the follow |
ing day.
Ethel had pondered over all this in
the solitude of her own room ON the
night of the 9th of October. She was
sorely grieved at having upset her aunt,
but she had not yet been able to forgive
the unworthy taunt which MIS-. Davorn
had leveled at her lover. 1t was long
after midnight when she fell asleep, and
the first sounds which had disturbed her
in the morning We're the sounds made
by Constable Metcaf in his attempts to
rouse the house.
Ethel Rodney was now in an utterly
bewildered state of mind. She was fran
tic with grief and could not yet wholly
realize that she was never again to see
her aunt, whose last hours she had
made miserable.
Her dazed reveries were interrupted
by Constable Metcalf, who knocked
quietly at the half open door Of the par
lor A faint Come in" greeted him.
II am very sorry, miss" said the
suave policeman as he entered the room
and gazed at the distracted girl, but"
closing the door, 81 must ask you for
some information.
Metcalf was determined to have full
before the matter was taken
out of his hands by his inspector.
The sight of the policeman seemed to
have a steadying effect ON the young
girl
"Of course" she said, 81 will give
you any information 1 can. was al
most stupetied when opened the door
FOR you this morning, but think 1 feel
luieter now"
"I'm glad to hear it, miss" fun I
bling with his notebook '
1.-The deceased lady, Mrs. Davorn, ,
was your aunt?" ,
Eyes" >
"When did you see her alive last?" '
about II o'clock last night. {
"Where?" .
In her bedroom. i
"Was she complaining of any illness?" :
81 do not remember that she COM Y
,lained, but she had not been we'll for O
ONE days from overexcitement, I i
hink. /"
"By the way, miss" said the consta- Z