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

CHAPTER XX.
Feeling in the absence of Dawson
that stood in the position of guard
ian to his daughter and was responsible
for her welfare, my mind grew very IN
easy about the consequences of her ex-
travagant admiration for the painter,
and knowing that Don Sanchez, despite
his phlegmatic humor, loved Moll very
sincerely at heart, took him aside one
day and asked him if he had observed
nothing particular in Moll's behavior of
| late.
lone would be blind, says he, mot
to see that she is enamored of Dario, if
that what you mean. "
1 admitted that my suspicious inclined
that way, and explaining my concern ON
her behalf l asked him what he would
do in my place.
'In my country" says he, matters
never would have been suffered to go sc
far, and Mistress Judith would have
been shut up prisoner i'll her room
these past three weeks, but l doubt if
our maidens are any the safer or better
for such treatment, and am quite sure
that such treatment would be worse
than useless for an English girl, and es-
pecially such a one as this, for, guard
her how You might, she would assured
ly find means to break her prison, and
then no course is open to her but to
throw herself into the arms of the man
she loves, trusting to mere accident
bat hoY ha oh,1Cal hp,. 1axrrifin,,
You might as well strive to catch the
wind and hold it as stay and stem the
course of youthful passion.
AYE, senor," says I, "this may be
all very true, but what should you do
in my place?'
Nothing" says he.
This was a piece of advice which set
me scratching my head in dubitation.
Beware" continues he, chow you
suggest the thing you fear to one who
needs but a hint to act. l have great
faith in the natural modesty of women
and do think no child more inno-
cent than Mistress Judith-which,
though it blind them to their danger,
does at the same time safeguard them
against secret and illicit courses of
more fatal results Let her discourse
with him openly, since it pleases her.
In another fortnight or so Dario's work
will be finished, he will go away, our
young lady will shed secret tears and be
downcast for week. Then another
swain will please her, and she'll smile
again. That, as 1 take it, will be the
natural order of events, unless" adds
he, "that natural order is disturbed by
some external influence.
Maugre this sage advice, my concern
being undated, would step pretty fire.
quently into the room where these
young people were, as if to see how the
work was going forward, and with such
quick step that had any interchange
of amorous sentiments existed I must at
one time or another have discovered it.
But never detected any sign of this
no bashful silence, no sudden confusion
or covert interchange of glances. Some
times they would be chatting lightly, at
others both would be standing silent,
she maybe holding bunch of leaves with
untiring steadfastness for him to copy
But l observed that she was exceedingly
jealous of his society, and no matter
how glibly she was talking when ell
tered or how Indifferent the subject she
would quickly become silent, showing
me very plainly by her manner that she
would vastly prefer my room to my
company
Still was not displeased to see this
ceiling fresco drawing near to its COM
pletion.
"You are getting on apace, says
very cheerfully one day. II reckon you
will soon have done"
eyes" answers he, Gin a week 1
shall have naught to do but to pack up
my tools and 60"
There was an accent Of sorrow in his
voice, despite himself, which did not
escape me nor Moll neither, for saw
her cast her eyes upon his face as if to
read if there were sadness there. But
she said never a word.
However, in the afternoon she comes.
tome, and says she: ~
Fl am resolved / will haye all -
Ls,-r =