San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-12-26

cigar down upon tne DOIuer VI WING |
violets that clothed the rose trees
gnarled roots His mother was there,
too, with her large key basket sitting
on the floor by the side Of her chair.
She was putting delicate patch in a
damask tablecloth that was too precious
an heirloom to be lightly flung away.
She could only see Adrien's beautiful
profile from where she sat. and the pink
carnation he had pinned on the lapel OF
his drab velveteen shooting jacket watt
ed its odor toward her It was the peace
fullest happiest hour of all the day to
her
ITO be sure, why should you? 1t is
very commendable of you preserving
such reticence about q man who has
once been your schoolmate, but ! think
am entitled to know what you know.
You need not hesitate. Redmond has
put me in possession of the whole story.
I simply wanted your view Of the case.
What was Strong's trouble at Shingle-
tonr'
IF Redmond has put You in posses
sion Of the whole story. you don't need
to hear it afresh from me, grandpa !
think Strong made fool of himself and
damaged his reputation irretrievably.
No one regrets it more than / do"
"But what did he do?'
Invited suspicion A lot Of trum-
perry had disappeared from various
rooms in the college, stolen by the serv-
anita, of course. but when it came to
$50 in cash and Professor Redmond's
watch stir was made and the faculty
took it into their sapient heads that one
Of the boys was the oulprit and must be
made an example of. A devil of muss
they kicked up too"
"Preposterousr" the governor ejacu-
lated excitedly.
"Absurdp' Mrs. Strong murmured
breathlessly.
''Of course, but, preposterous and alb
surd as it may appear, they had Lawyer
Seephar out to harangue the fellows and
his eloquence acted upon poor old
Strong like revival sermon. It stirred
him almost to the pitch Of turning tale
bearer-that is, II he really knew any
thing. He held his tongue, however,
succeeding only in convincing every
body that II there was criminal there
unwhipped Of justice it must be Strong
Martin himself. / talked to him, but l
could make no Roadway against old See
phar's forensic eloquence. That is all
there Is to the business. had rather
not have spoken Of this, grandpa, for
suspicious once voiced rapidly crystal
lize into convictions, and a strong case
against man can sometimes be worked
up from the most impalpable nothings. I"
A moment Of admiring silence fol-
lowed this expression Of fine feeling.
The governor removed his spectacles
and rubbed them absently. Mrs. Strong
passed her gold thimble caressingly over
the daintiest Of patches in her fine dam
ask. Adrien was q great comfort to
them both
Every true and very creditable to
You, boy, /" said the governor, having
fully digested Adrien's remarks "but,
given your impalpable nothings, indi-
vidual bias must have something to do
with building mp your case, and the
bias was with Martin, If / understand
matters.
"Yes-but''-
"He was not gentleman. That ex-
plains it all The plebeian strain per-
mitted him to feel uneasiness for fear
that suspicion might rest upon him. "
This explanation of Strong's attitude
was delivered by Mrs Strong in her
mellow soprano. She could accredit any
amount of gaucherie and moral obliqui-
ty to plebeian strain in man or woman
After that Adrien had flung bis cigar
away and, taking his cap and gun, had
gone down to the stables to counter
!, mand his orders for the drag He had
lost all desire to renew hisacquaintance
with Amy Chambliss Immediately. He
had struck discordant note in the har-
mony of the day and was out OF tune
with the mild refulgence of the October
skies, the searching fragrance OF the
Mespilus plums, the vivid beauty OF the
goldenrod, the nutty pungence OF the
pecan grove, one and all of which chal-
lenged his languid notice in that short
walk from the big house to the harness
ROOM
He had been reared in the school OF
| nolite obseryances, however, 80 he had
turned at the foot of the steps and, hold
ing his cap in his hand, notified bis
mother of his change of programme. II
shan't go over to the Chamblisses this
morning, dearest. I"
az am sorry. think they are rather
expecting you You viii find Amy very
much improved She Is one of the incest
girls we have" His mothers voice was
gently reproachful.
ST remember her as gray faced lit
tie thing with big owlish eyes, large
head full Of brains and a maximum OF
freckles Is my memory correctT
Don't leave ont the large heart full
Of constancy, son."
"And she's not one Of your modern