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


ing discredit ON the former-and would
disfgure the handsome walls with some
rude daub
"Ah," cries Dario, casting his eye
upon the ceiling, which was plastered
in the italian mode and embellished
with poor design of cherubs and clouds,
''this ceiling is i'll done. l could paint q
fresco that would less disgrace the
room. "
"You will need materials" says the
don, laying his purse upon the table.
"When you return with them, you may
rely upon having our lady's consent to
your wishes.
The painter took the purse with a
bow Of acknowledgment. with no more
trouble than one gentleLl,.I would show
in receiving an obligation from another,
and presently left us.
"Shall we see him again, think We,
senor?' asked when we were left to
ourselves.
He nodded, but with such reflect
i've, somber air that l was impelled to
ask him if he lacked confidence in the
story told us by the painter.
His story may be true enough, but
whether Signor Dario be an honest
man or not is another matter. A paint
er's but a man. A ruined gentleman
will accommodate his principles to cir
cumstances"-with a side glance that
seemed to say, 81 am a ruined gentle
MARYLAND my mind would be easier
if knew by what curious accident a
painter in need should find himself in
the heart of Kent, and why, fixing on
this house to seek employment, he should
linger to the point of starvation before
he can pluck up courage to ask sim
pie question. We must keep our eyes
open, Mr.. Hopkins, and, adds he, drop
ping his voice, "our mouths shut
I could not sleep that night for think
ing of housebreakeries and bloody strug-
giles for dear life, for tits a matter of
common report that this sort of rob-
bers, ere they make attack, do contrive
to get one of their number into the
house that he may learn where good
goods are slowed, which part is easiest
of attack, etc.
1 know not whether these quakings
were shared by the don, but certainly
our misgivings entered Moll's little
head. Nay, rather her romantic DISPOSE
ton did lead her, when she heard our
narration, to conceive that this mystic
rious Dario might be some wandering
genius whose work upon our ceiling
would make the court forever glorious.
And while in this humor she babe me
go to Simon, whose presence she would
not tolerate in her house, and make him
acquainted with her high displeasure,
and furthermore to command that he
shoold make satisfactory apology to
Dafio upon his return. So to him I
went, and he, wringing his hands in
anguish, deplored that his best endeavors
to serve his mistress served only to in
cense her the more against him. But for
his apology, he declared that was made
the moment he heard of the gentleman 5
release, at the same time that he re-
stored to him his hat and a pocketbook
which had fallen from his pocket.
This did somewhat reassure me, know
ing full we'll that Simon would not have
given up this book without first &C
quainting himself with its contents and
urging that had there been anything in
it to incriminate him he had certainly
laid it before his mistress for his own
justification.
A couple Of days after this Us Don
Sanchez and were discoursing in the
great avenue Dario presents himself,
looking all the better for decent suit
of clothes and more prosperous condi-
ton, and, Moll joining us at that mo-
ment, he makes her a very handsome
obeisance, and standing uncovered be-
fore her begs to know if it is her will
that he should paint the ceiling of her
dining hall.
AS he spoke the color rose on his
cheek, and a shaft of sunlight falling
on his curling hair, which shone with
the luster of health, made him look as
comely man as ever did see and
good five years younger than when he
stood before us in the extremity of dis
tress.
"Sir," says Moll, "were you my debt
or as much as am yours I could not
ask for better payment.
Don Sanchez put an end to this pretty
exchange of courtesies-which may be
considered overmuch as between lady
Of Moll's degree and one who might
turn out to be no more than an indiffer-
ent painter at the best-by proposing
that Dario should point out what dis
position he would have made for his con-
venience in working. So he went with
in doors, and there Dario gave orders to
our gardener, who was handy sort of
Jack of all trades, what pieces of furni-
ture should be removed, how the walls
and floor should be protected, and how
a scaffold should be set up for him to
work on. And the gardener promising
to carry out all these instructions in the
course of the day, Dario took his leave
of us in a very polished style, saying he
won III haOip bis ,,cipocc tho oox+ ,,,o,,,,