San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-11-03

WIN a VOICE couIu scarce DC nearu, anc
let no one disturb me, for 1 do feel mos
heavy with Sleep"
Mr.. Goodwin passed into his wife'>
room, and then into the next, looking
about him in distraction.
Lord, here's the sweet thing s night.
gown" exclaims Mrs Butterfly from
the next room, whittier she had follow.
ed Mr.. Goodwin. but, dear heart o.
me, where's the ham gomez"
Mr.. Goodwin, entering from the next
room, looked at her as doubling whether
he or all the world had taken leave of
their wits
'And the pigeon pasty?" added Mrs
Butterfly, regarding the table laid out
beside her mistress bed.
"And the cold PARTRIDGE" adds she in
redoubled establishment. "Why, here's
naught left but my pudding and that as
cold as a stone"
Mr.. Goodwin, with the candle flaring
in his hand, passed hastily by her, too
wrought by fear to regard either the
ludicrous or incomprehensible side of
Mrs. Butterby's CONSERVATION, and so,
going down the corridor away from the
stairs, he comes to the door of the little
back stairs, standing wide open and
seeming to bid him descend He goes
quickly down, yet trembling with fear
that he may find her at the bottom, bro
ken by fall, but all he discovers is the
bolt drawn and the door ajar. As he
pushes it open a gust of wind blows out
the light, and here he stood in the dark
ness, eager to be doing, yet knowing not
which way to turn or how to act.
Clearly, his wife had gone out by this
door, and so far this gave support to
Simon's statement that he knew where
she was, and with this a flame was kin
died within him that seemed to scar his
very soul If Simon spoke truth in one
particular, why should he lie in others?
Why had his wife refused to go with
him to Hatfield? Why had she bid no
one come near her room? Why had she
gone forth by this secret stair alone?
Then, cursing himself for the unnamed
suspicion that could thus, though but
for moment, disfgure the fair image
that he worshiped, he asked himself
why his wife should not be free to fol-
low caprice. But where was she? Even
that question surged upward in the tu-
multi of his thoughts. Where should he
seek her? Suddenly it struck him that
might help him to find her, and acting
instantly, upon his hope he made his
way in breathless haste to the road, and
so toward my lodge.
Ere he has gone hundred yards Simon
steps out of the shadow and stands be-
fore him like shade in the dimness.
II crave thy pardon, master, 4" says he
humbly. 81 spoke like fool in my pas
sion"
"If you will crave my pardon, tell
me where to find my wife; if not, stand
aside" answers Mr.. Goodwin.
wilt thee hear me speak for two
minutes if promise to tell thee where
she is and suffer thee to find her how
thee whilst? Twill save thee time"
Speak" says Mr.. Goodwin.
"Thy wife is there" says Simon un-
der his breath, pointing toward my
house. "She is reveling with Hopkins
and Captain Evans, men that she did
tramp the country with as vagabond
players ere the Spaniard taught them
more profitable wickedness. Knock at
the door, which thee mayst be sure is
fast, and while one holds thee in parley
the rest will set the room in order and
find plausible tale to hoodwink thee
afresh. Be guided by me, and thee shalt
enter the house unknown to them, as l
did an hour since, and there thee shalt
know, of thine own senses, how thy
wife doth profit by thy blindness. If
this truth be not proved, if thee canst
then say that have lied from malice,
envy and evil purpose, this knife, >" says
he, showing blade in his hand, this
knife will thrust into my own heart,
though l stand the next instant before
the Eternal Judge, my hands wet with
my own blood, to answer for my crime. "
"Have you finished?" asks Mr.. God
win.
"No, not yet. hold thee to thy
promise" returns Simon, with eager
haste. why do men lie? For their own
profit? What profit have I in lying,
when 1 pray you to put my word to the
proof, and not take it ON trust, with the
certainty of punishment even if the proof
be doubtful? You believe this woman
what she pretends to be. What does that
show? Your simplicity-not hers How
would women trick their husbands with
out such skill to blind them by pre-
tense of love and virtue?"
Say no more" cries Mr.. Goodwin
hoarsely, cor may strangle you before
you pass trial Go your devilish way
I'll follow.
Now God be praised for this Soft
ly, softly!" adds he, creeping in the
shade of the back toward the house.
But ere he has gone a dozen PAGES
Mr.. Goodwin repents him again, with
shame in his heart, and stopping says:
HT'11 90 NO farther. .,