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

l
end, Moll sitting betwixt Don Sanchez
and me-, and there, setting his hands for
support upon the board, he holds his
head up pretty proudly, waiting for
what might come.
"Who are your" asks Moll in a tone
of authority.
He waits moment, as if deliberat-
| ing with himself whether to speak fair
| ly or not; then, being still sore with his
i'll treatment and. angered to be ques-
toned thus by a mere girl-he, as I
take it, being man of 80 or there
abouts-he answers:
81 do not choose to tell. Who l am,
what am, concerns you no more than
who and what you are concerns me, and
less, since may justly demand by what
right these fellows, whom 1 take to be
lyour servants, have thus laid hands on
me. Z"
'How do you answer this?" asks
Moll, turning to Simon.
Then Simon told very precisely, as if
he were before magistrate, how this
man, having been seen lingering about
the court several days and being with
out home or occupation, had been sus-
pected of felonious purposes; how,
therefore, he had set net to lay wait
for him; how that morning they had
entrapped him standing within a covert
of the park regarding the house; how
he had refused to give his name or any
excuse for his being there and how he
had made most desperate attempts to
escape when they had lain hands ON
him.
sis this true?' asks Moll of the pris-
oner.
Eyes" says he
! Moll regards him with incredulous
eyes moment; then, turning to Simon,
"What arms had he for this purpose
that you speak Off" says she.
None, mistress, but 'twould be
dread villain verify who would carry
the engines of his trade abroad in day
light to betray him." And then he told
how tits the habit of these poachers to
reconnoiter their guard by day and keep
their nets, guns, etc., concealed in some
thicket or hollow tree convenient for
their purpose. "But, 7 adds he, 1--WE
may clearly prove a Strespass against
hin which is-a punishable offense, and
this assault upon me, whereof I have
evidence, shall also count for something
with Justice Martin, and SO the wicked
shall yet come by their deserts" And
with that he gives his fellows wink
with his one eye to carry off their quarry.
STAY" says Moll, IT would be fur
Their convinced
'If he be an honest man, let him
show thee his hand" says Simon.
The man innocently enough stretches
out his palm toward us, not perceiving
Simon's end.
"There !" cries Simon. "What said 1?
Is that hand that ever did days hon
est work."
'Tis no worse than mine," says
Moll, regarding the hand, which in truth
was exceeding smooth and well formed.
Come" adds she still more kindly,
you see I am no harsh judge. 1 would
not deny a fellow creature the pleasure
that is not grudged, the covey that runs
across my lawn. Tell me you were there
but to crafty passing caprice, and
I'll forgive you as freely as I'll believe
you"
This gentle appeal seemed to move the
young man greatly, and he made as if
he would do more than was demanded
Of him and make that free confession
which he had refused to force. But ere
a word could leave his parted lips a
deadly shade passed over his face, his
knees gave under him, and staggering
to save himself he fell to the ground in
a swoon.
Then while all we men stood fixed in
wonderment, Moll, with the quick, help
full impulse of her womanhood, ran
swiftly from her place to his side, and
dropping on her knees cried for water to
be brought her.
dead of hunger" says Don Sanchez
in my ear. Fetch flask of brandy"
And then, laying hold of Simon by
the shoulder, he pointed significantly to
the open door, This hint Simon was not
slow to take, and when returned from
the buttery with case of strong waters
4 found no one in the room but Don
Sanchez, and Moll with the fainting
mans head upon her lap, bathing his
temples gently. Lifehad not come back,
and the young mans face looked very
handsome in death, the curls pushed
back from his brow and his long fea-
lures still colorless like carved marble.
Then, with "my lackaday" and
'alas, in bustles Mrs. Butterfly with
bottle of cordial in one hand and a
bunch of burning feathers in the other.
Fling that rubbish in the chimney"
lLsays the don. 81 know this malady
well enough. And pouring some wine
in cup he put it to the dead mans
parted lips.
In few moments he breathed again,
and hearing Moll's cry of joy he opened
his eyes as one waking from a dream
and turned his head to learn what had
happened. Then, finding his head in