Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1903-04-22

At that moment The fort was nearer
being carried by assault than since
the day it's steel buttressed walls had
been first barrlcaded agHinst ths
forces OF sentiment and the boiler pas
sions that como from above; for up
to this hour this stern man, bent upon
righting his wrongs OF the past, had
never once suspected that Fedora was
a mother, and the knowledge came
upon him like thunderbolt from a
clear sky.
1t would be almost impossible to
adequately measure the surprise and
CONSERVATION that overwhelmed the
marquis as he sat there and felt ths
chubby arms OF Fedoras little dar-
lings about his neck.
1t was wonderful what an influence
this new and astounding element had
upon him = he was quite dis
armed - those chubby hands upon
his face, the little cooling voice,
as trusting eyes looked up
into his own, exclaiming: "Dodo
love oo"-a man must have colder
blood in his veins than the marquis to
endure this and at the same moment
plan destruction to the little maidens
parents.
In that short time he saw great
light, such as had never dawned on
him before.
True, it might die out again, over
whelmed by the darkness of passions
sway; but the influence of his associa-
ticn with those innoeents would have
q decided bearing upon his future.
Thus Fedora found them when she
came in, and greatly she marveled at
the sudden fancy her little darlings
had taken for the mysterious marquis
OF course, their nurse was sum
moned and they were banished from
the scene; but the retreat was con-
Quoted with much reluctance, esDeci-
ally on the part Of Miss Dorothy who
seemed to have conceived great
fancy for the marquis.
Thus, the visit that he had intended
should be so dramatic, and lead to a
crisis, was of an altogether different
nature. And he came away without,
by act or word, having advanced the
desperate scheme which had SO filed
his mind on crossing that home portal
1t was not remorse-the time had
not come for that; but while the
kisses of that innocent little prattler
were yet warm upon his cheek no
could not strike the terrible blow that
would possibly blight her mother's
future happiness.
Not being IN the humor to enjoy
social intercourse with his fellows, he
avoided those who would have sought
his ornpanp .and apant the avenin4
strolIIng along Oxford stAf'e and-f &ii1
Holborn. watching the crowds, smok-
ing innumerable cigars and wrestling
with HIS thoughts.
As the hour grew later he found
himself quite distance from his hotel,
beyond st. Pauls. and even on the
border Of the Whltechapel district Of
unenviable fame as one Of the most
notorious slum districts of the mod
ern Babylon.
It was weary distance to bis no.
tel, and the marquis naturally looked
around for cab.
Luck seemed to favor him, for the
voice Of an eager Jehu hailed from
behind.
TIE four-wheeler was one Of the
night-hawk variety much the worse
| for wear, but to a shipwreclSed sailor
any port in storm is good enough;
SO the marquis, with laugh, bundled
himself inside and sang out his orders.
He might not have been so easy n
his mind had he known that couple
Of fellows swung themselves, one up
with the driver on his seat, aud the
other behind the growler.
ITO be contInued)