San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-07-18

as long as possible, her reply had been,
Beat me ut the target. and you may
speak to father. This he had accom-.
plished, though by only single point,
and it was to ask for the hand of Virgie
that he had impatiently sought the pri-
yate conversation with Lewis. Lewis
confessed TO me that he had not sus-
pected that there was any attachment
between them, and he was therefore
surprised by Marvel's request. He asked
whether Virgie had given her consent,
and, receiving the affirmative reply,
after a moments hesitation he in
formed Marvel that he would not sane
ton his suit Marvel of course urged his
cause, and Lewis made some angry re.
marks, which at last were loud enough
to attract my attention. Virgie and
then went quickly toward the two
men, and others did the same, so that
when the finale came there was quite .
crowd of people about us. As we ap
preached Marvel said hotly:
"'Yirgie, Mr.. Lewis refuses his con.
sent and will not give his reasons.
"'Wby do you object, uncle?' asked
yirgie. She strongly emphasized the
word uncle, title by which she had
never addressed him before. This Incl
dent will give you an insight into that
girls character-cool. self possessed and
withal willful and determined, though
by willful do not mean that she is un.
restrained by reason, but rather that
once having formed project she will
carry it into effect at any cost For a
moment Lewis seemed staggered by her
words, but he quickly recovered himself
and replied:
Because ! will not allow my
daughter to marry into a family of Jail
birds.
What do you mean by that? fairly
screamed Walter, trembling with bare
ly suppressed anger.
"'What do / mean?' retorted Lewis,
speaking rapidly aud as though actuated
by intense hatred. i mean that your
uncle, the man whose vile name you
bear, is a convict and that he caused
the death of an innocent girl.
with wild cry of rage Marvel drew
his pistol, which he had reloaded after
the shooting match, and fired at Lewis.
The sequence of events had been SO
startling and so rapid that none of us
made a move to save Lewis except Viz
gle, who exhibited her usual presence
of mind. With quick upward motion
Of her hand she diverted her lovers
aim so that the ball went into the air.
Having thus saved the life of her adopt
ed father, she turned to Marvel and said
the single ord Go. Walter looked at
her a moment with despair upon his
face; then, as she made no answer to
his mute appeal, he threw his weapon
from him and rushed from the place,
threatening Lewis with his vengeance.
He had scarcely departed when Luz
cas- pushed through the surrounding
circle and upbraided Lewis for what
had occurred. Lewis, by this time be-
side himself with rage, ordered Lucas
to leave the premises, and threatened to
set his dog upon him if he would not
do so, or if he ever should return. Lu-
cas- muttered some threatening words,
but prepared to leave, whereupon Alice
Marvel pressed forward and said:
''You are a coward to have insulted
two gentlemen while they We're your
guests. ! almost feel that ! could kill
You myself.
"Alice is usually quiet girl, but she
is somewhat hysterical, and as the two
men were the one her brother and the
other her sweetheart she was much
overweight. She and Lucas left stimuli
taneously. Then Virgie, still maintain
ing her dignity, said:
Since my uncle has acted SO churl-
ishly to three of my guests, advise the
rest of my friends to retire lest he
should humiliate us further.
THAT she spoke of him as uncle mad
1ened Lewis, and he retOrted angrily:
"'Go, all of you, but'-picking up
Marvel's pistol-I call you all to wit.
ness that this is Walter Marvel's weap- |
IN and that with it he attempted to
AXE my life. >"
The squire paused a moment and then
'esumed:
81 was an eyewitness of this scene,
md ] assure you that have not exag-
,erated it in the least. On the follow
ng day Lewis applied to me to procure |