San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-10-13

Moll quickly.
81 may" Then, turning to me, the
wise woman asks to look at my hand,
and ON my demurring she says she must
know whether am friend or an enc
my ere she speaks before me. So on that
/ give my hand, and she examines it.
"You call yourself James Hopkins"
says she.
"Why, every one within mile knows
that" says 1.
"Aye," answers she, fixing her pierre
ing eyes on my face, "but every one
knows not that some call you Kit"
This fairly staggered me for a mo-
ment.
Chow do you answer that?" she asks,
observing my confusion.
''Why," says I, recovering my pres
ence of mind, =" It's most extraordinary,
to be sure, that you should read this, for
save one or two families none know
that my second name is Christopher. "
"a fairly honest hand" says she,
looking at my hand again. "Weak in
some things, but faithful friend. You
may be trusted"
And so she drops my hand and takes
up Moll's.
"'Tis strange" says she. "You call
yourself Judith, yet here I see your
name writ Moll."
Poor Moll, sick with a night Of sor-
row and terrified by the wise woman's
divining powers, could make no answer,
but soon Fitch, taking less heed of her
tremble than of mine, regards her hand
again.
"How were you called in Barbary?"
asks she.
This question, betraying a flaw in the
wise woman's perception, gave Moll
courage, and she answered readily enough
that she was called "Lala Mollah -
which was true, "Lala" being the Moor
ish for lady, and "Mollah" the name
her friends in Elche had called her as
being more agreeable to their ear than
the shorter English name.
"Mollah-Mollp' says Anne Fitch as
if communing with herself. "That may
we'll be" Then, following line in
Moll's hand, she adds, "You will love
but once, child. "
"What is my sweetheart's name?"
whispers Moll, the color springing in
her face.
"You have not heard it yet, ;" replies
the other, upon which Moll pulls her
hand away impatieItly. But you have
seen him." continues the wise woman
"and his is the third hand in which l
have read another name.
"Tell me now if shall see him
again." cries Moll eagerly, Offering her
hand again and as quickly as she had
before withdrawn it.
"That depends upon yourself" re-
turns the other. 1.-THE line is a deep one
Would you give him all you have?"
Moll bends her head low in silence,
to conceal her hot face
"'Tis nothing to be ashamed of, !"
says the old woman in a strangely gen.
tie tone. IT'S better to love once than
often, better to give your whole heart
than part. Were young and handsome
and rich l would give body and soul for
such a man, for he is good and gener-
Gus and exceedingly kind Look you, be
hath lived here but few weeks, and I
feel for him, grieve for him, like q
mother Oh, am no witch" adds she.
wiping tear from her cheek, "only
crooked old woman with the gift of see
ing what is open to all who will read
and heart that quickens still at kind
word or a gentle thought. Moll's hand
had closed upon hers at that first sight
of her grief. For your Names" contin-
ues she, recovering her composure, 81
learned from one of your maids whocame
hither for news of her sweetheart that
the sea captain who was with you did
sometimes let them slip. was paid to
learn this ="
"Not by him." says Moll.
mo; by. your steward, Simon"
HE paid for that?" says 1, incredu-
lous, knowing Simon's reluctance to
spend money.
aye, and good price too. 1t seems
you call heavily upon him for money
and do threaten to cut up your estate
and sell the land he prizes as his life. "
"That is quite true" says l.
Moreover, he greatly fears that he
will be cast from his office when your
title to it is made good. For that reason
he would move heaven and earth to
stay your succession by casting doubts
upon your claim, and to this end he has
by all the means at his command tried
to provoke your cousin to contest your
right"
my cousin?" cries Moll.
Orchard Goodwin.
"My cousin Richard. Why, where is
he?"
"Gone," says the old woman, point
ing to the broken bread upon the table,
CHAPTER XXI.
"What!' cries Moll starting to her
feet. "He whom l have treated thus
;eJD Anl have che cbaolya6 barSplf 40 If