San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-10-21

ld>t'I IMAM 'Hdt .4uA INT IOVA w ~
gentleman and the girl that's goin' to
save him
And with a flash dip and a
swirl she was off, and the Black Duke
was off, too. Gaddy Banford put up
feblc clamOr as his guest swept by
him.
oh. but my dear fellow-no. but l
say-She's simply chatting you, you
know
Hand over my stick, will YOU" in
quired the duke affably. And don't
come trotting along after me. either.
She's not expecting you. YOU know
rather not" He swung buoyantly off
toward the rcd curtain, bestowng a
benign nod On the diverted audience.
He brushed aside the red curtain.
and passed with one great stride
through the door into the black alley.
The door swung TO behind him. lie
drew deep breath. and turned his
head; and there she stood beneath his
light with a black scarf over her
golden head and black cloak over
her silver dress. She had one hand
10 her heart and was breathing quick
ly in little light gasps.
Were you waitin' long, she asked,
Il never stopped Mt all TO change a
stitch. / was afraid for my sou! you'd
be gone. Was it long you waited:'
"FOrty-two years, said His Grace.
"Foyty-two years and three days
lie watched the rose flood up 10 her
lashes at that. but the joyous eyes
never swerved from his.
All. we'll" she murmured. Il wait
ed seventeen my own self and | not
, half the size OF you. Have you missed
me then, truly" she whispered.
i've missed you since the day |
drew BREATH" he told her, and his
voice shook. "Biddy, is it true:
Things don't happen like this, do
they? No one out of dream ever
had such hair-no one out of fairy
tale such eyes. Biddy, would you
laugh like that If it were Il dream
Il would that" she remarked with
| decision. Its u fine dream and Il
grand fairy tale and the truest truth
you ever heard in your life. l knew
twas you even when you were
scowlin, but those lights were in my
eyes. so l couldn't be sure till you
! smiled
"R;ddy. how did you know
She. pushed the scarf back from
those Golden bubbles with a gay Ses-
ture OF impotence.
We'll. why wouldn't | know: That :
4 Queer way to talk to a bright
girl, Didn't my own Aunt Dashcen'
she that was all the family l had till
ran off and took London for one,
tel! Inc that Id be the grandest dancer
that ever leapt. and marry the finest
gentleman that ever walked. as big as
Il giant and black as devil and
handsome as a king: And she ought
to know. surely. what with reading
in tea and clear water as quick as
YOU and me in Good Book. 1t was
the wicked. cunning Old thing she
was, rest her SOUL
rs she dcad:'
"Shc is that replied Aunt
Dasheen's niece cheerfully. -Or Id
never be here TO tell it. She kept
light hold of me IS if 7 were a bit OF
gold. for all that she sOrrowed and
sang how was more trouble to her
than her monkey from Egypt. II Tim
Murphy and his brothers hadn't been
coming 10 show the Londoners how TO
jugglc glass balls and brought me
along TO hold the things, Id be in the
wee room tending the fire and the
kitten this minute, instead Of standing
under a light in a silver dress with
my heart in my hands,
Il wish / could thank her." said the
duke.
Its little enough you have to
thank her for" replied his Biddy
blithely. "Shc was crosser than most
and cooler than any. If she hadn'
seen the bit about me in the tea,
she'd have dropped me straight out of
] the window. But there was my grand
| gentleman and the rest of it to give
her patience. Wed at seventeen, dead
at" She caught back the words
defIly. Death to your dancing,
she'd keen saying. You could than;
her for that, maybe-or perhaps twas
because / danced you stopped scowling
and you'll not want me TO leave
off,
"Biddy. its true then-yOu're only
seventeen" His voice was touched
with strange pain and wonder.
Hear him. now-only, indeed. I'm
seventeen the day"
And | past for;y-two.' -
Are you no more than that" She
asked softly. However, in all the
world could YOU get so great and
grand and fine in that little while:s
"Oh, " he cried. docs laughter take
the sting from ali that's ugly. Laugh
again then; there's worse still Heaven
help us. darling-I'm a duke z -
as that all:" she inquired regret
fully. I'D have thought a king NJ