The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1885-03-31

was undecided whether to shrek with
horror. to endeavOr to scare lin away
by growing like wild beast. or to lie
still and trust to chance. On the whole,
the last seemed the wisest course to
adopt. | breathed more freely when |
found he had no intention of entering
the recesses were not tempting at
night. | hoped the two men would now
remove themselves. But, alasl my inn
prisOnmeut was not vet to he ended.
Tley stood exactly in front of the en-
trance,and from my hiding place could
hear every word they spoke.
CHAPTER H.
Much as dis.kcd that young man, ]
was bound to confess that he looked
provOkingly handsome rs he stood bare
headed in the moonlight, watching the
wreaths of smoke from his cigar curling
about in the still air. could now scan
him quite at my ease. My courage had
returned, and | felt myself insured
against discovery. My only dread was
that the two men would begin to talk
secrets. In such case, my keen sense
of honor must. of course, make me re-
veal my presence. | made a firm resOlu-
ton that | would not play at eavesdrOp-
ping. Alas, for poor humanity In
minute | was straining my ears to catch
Heritage Rivers was the subject of their
discourse.
81 hope you found your companion mt
dinner pleasant One| said Mr.. Ram
say.
"Oh yes; very pleasant" replied Mr..
Hope carecssly. shes nice sort of
girl, | dare say"
A nice sort of girl. The wretched
mani hated him!
Ia a. 4.
than that" said that dear old Mr.. Ram
say.
Indeed, replied decomposition, with
out evincing the slightest interest in
the matter.
"Yes-indeed and indeed" echoed my
old friend. But. joking apart, did you
not notice she bids fair to be most
beautiful woman"
1t would have needed little more to
have brought me from my lurking-place
on purpose TO kiss that good old mani
Vincent Hope laughed quietly.
"To tell you the TRUTH he said, IL
don't think | noticed her much. She
seemed to me of the ordinary school
girl type. don't care much for school
girls"
/ dug my nails into my hands and
ground my teeth. Handsome as the
man looked in the moonlight, could
have killed him then and there.
Yet" said Mr.. Ramsay, 81 noticed
she talked pretty freely to yOu.'
The shrug of Mr.. Hopes shoulders al
most maddened me.
Yes; but sad nonsense" he said,
although it was rather amusing at
| times. or course, it's not fair to judge
her now. She is very raw, and, | should
say, rather awkward. If properly look
ed after, no doubt she will grow up to
be a decent sort of young woman"
Raw and awkward lie spoke of me
me, whom many of my school friends
called Queen Heritage, from the stately
and digniiled manner was supposed 20
ASSUME at times. A decent sort of
young womanl That should hear a
man, one, moreover, in his own opinion
a judge in such matters, gravely set
this up as the standard to which might
| arrive-if properly looked after. 1t was
| too much; the fall was too great. And
as the horrible thought flashed across
me that his description might be true,
| his prediction correct, tears Of sheer
modification sprung into my eyes. Even
Mr.. Ramsay's almost testy rejoinder
| gave me no comfort.
"Oh, nonsense, lIopel She will grow
up beautiful, accomplished, and clever
woman. You judge her wrongly. Talk
to her again in the drawing-room; there
she will be more at home"
IAN right, WILL" the wretch answer
ed. But at present | want to talk to
you about more important things than
young ladies. | have to-day been offer
ed the editorship of the FiccddHy Magd-
zine. Shall take itY"
Il congratulate you. But it is too
serious matter tOdecide out here. We
will talk it over by and by. We must
join the ladies now. | see every one
else has gone in"
Then | suppose we must" said Mr..
Hope rather ruefully, and tossing his
cigar away with a half sigh.
| waited Il minute; then peered out,
and at last ventured to creep round the
laurel and recOnnoiter. The broad back
of my candid critic was just disappear
ing through the dining-room window. |
shook my fist viciOusly at il. | watched
Mr.. Ramsay follow his guest, saw the
window close and the blind fall; then |
flew at top speed to the library; whence
/ had made my exit, entered nOselessly,
and threw myself into chair, feeling
that my life was blighted.
The room was family lit up; the door
was closed; was alone with my misery;
for misery it was-l use the word sober
ly and adyisedly, without a thought of
testing. Fortunately or unfortunately,
had heard myself appraised at my true
value. My merits had been weighed by
an impartial hand; had been judged
and condemned. | wasa failure. Raw
and awkward" "a decent sort of a
young wOman"-the words ate into my
heart. No expressions could have been
devised which would have wounded me
more deeply.
lie would give me another chance in
the drawing-room. Would hep think
not, Mr.. Vincent Hope. No power on
earth shall take me there tonight.
turn the gas up, and look at myself in
the mirror. My hair is disheveled, my
eyes are red, and | cannot help fancy
ing that my nose looks rather coarse.
Yes; 1t must be true; am not even
goOd-looking.
Beneficial as it may be for one who Is
not without vanity to learn the truth, |
hate with IA deadly hatred the man who
has revealed it to me. Solemnly de-
clare somehow that some day / will