The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1885-06-16

h'NflS anu lthNtS. llcft are some love
ly sprays ~ eglantinc; how pretty they
Will he, twined round the pie-dishesl
Let us go and ask my sister about il.
We must not do IL without consulting
her, of course. The servants are already
laying the cloth. | wonder II may
help thcmp Half the fun Of a picnic IL
IN helping; don't you think soY'
81 should certainly like 20 assist YOU
In whatever You are going 10 do" he
answered kindly; and IN u few minutes
they were both Mt work spreading out
the cold collation., and decking II with
the flowers.
When all was ready a bell was rung to
call the guests together, and the meal
began somewhat silently, for after the
dispensing OF good things there was n
state Of lull, every one eating with APP
parcntly rs hearty an appetite as Mr..
Dunstan had buasted on. Champagne
cofks began Ia pop, and mirth tO How;
bright eyes danced, and grave ones
grew brighter; and any one listening to
the babel of voices and the peals Of
laughter must have counted Mrs. Ro-
lcy's picnic "A success.
But the history of nations has ever
shown that success cannot last, and
when things are nj their brightest they
fade; and all unnoticed dark cloud
had been born In the horizon, and had
risen and risen until II was now over
the very heads of the pleasurc-seekers,
all rain-laden, and the drops came pat
tcring down In large spots.
II did not matter Ia Mrs. Roley that
her superb costume would he spoiled;
she looked down at the stains, and smil-
ed, and people said what sweet tenn
pefed woman she must he. hut there
was not 81 much credit due hereafter all;
Nsara ala Il al "A. A
ing new one ON the morrow, having
the excuse that this was quite ruined.
Mr. liolcy, however, was not quite so
well satisfied, M any one might guess
from the expression Of his face, but
whether his mind was being pcrturbed
with the thought of his wife's dress
making bill, the utter ruin of his own
new hat, or the discomfort of "A wetting,
his guests could not iathom. Those who
could afford to buy new garments. and
were not delicate. laughed at the down
puur-o or, rs they said, made the best
Of IL; but Mrs. ltOlcy was not one who
only invited her rich ncighhOrs to her
parties, and some uf her friends could
III afford Ia have their dresses and hats
spoiled. Among these there was great
cutlery Tor parisnls and umbrellas, but
OF the latter article only one had been
brought. Who could have thought OF
needing AN umbrella ON such "A perfect
dayy
So Mr.. Dunstan. proiiting by his Dew
ou,hre experience. alone was master OF
the situation. lie was. for the time he
ing. undoubtedly the most important
person ui his day in that little world
Tor he wts"thrmIn with the umbrella"
Dark eyes STARED mt him, gray eyes be-
sccclrd linn. haI ! eyes implurrd him;
but II Was all IN vain; for a little wo-
man was sheltcring under hedge, with
her dress turned ruthessly over her
head, regardless Of appearance, and two
blue eyes glanced slyly toward him in
cumical tribulatiOn. and the question
rs Ia who was TO share his umbrella was
speedily solved.
For n moment Mrs. Roley allowed n
wave of annoyance to cross her usually
placid face, but the next she smiled,
and resolved upon something In her
own mind.
Unfortunately, the Swan had been
sent forward tu meet the party ut an
other point, 50 there was nothing 10 he
done Tut to walk un Ia the place Of ren-
devious, regardless of the wet grass, or
to hire boats and follow IL by water.
The latter course was adopted 10y Mr..
and Mrs. ltOley, who, seated in the stern
Of the river-tub, We're soon well protect
ed from the elements by rugs and
wraps, which she accepted freely now
that the necessity for her new costume
was decided upon.
A few young couples who had water
proofs and thick boots Tor said they had
for reasons Of their own preferred to
walk; SO that little Maud de Lara was
not singular in electing to do the same
The pedestrian party, consisting of
ten, started together, but, curious to re-
late, got separated before they had
walked a quarter of mile; which was
somewhat unfortunate, rs neither Maud
nor Mr.. Dunsian knew the way tO the
place of meeting. nor were they ut all
posted upas To its locality. Each thought
that of course tile other knew all about
II, whereas they had both been under
the hedgerow gathering flowers when
the Swan had been sent away and AZ
ragcments made for meeting her again.
But two happy young folks walking
close together under an umbrella were
not very likely to think of the Difficult
ties until they actually arose, and the
umbrella had to be held low to keep of
the rain and the wind; 81 they did not
even notice that their companions we're
out of sight, and they were totally alone.
So when they came to stile, over which
Mr. Dunstan had helped his companion,
he suddenly exclaimed, by Jove!' and
began to look about him somewhat
mxiously.
why, where are the others?" said
Maud. Are they in front or bchindpn
IL have not All idea have never
thought of them since we started
perhaps they are hiding" suggested
she.
But there seemed to be nowhere for
them to hide; the field In which they
found themselves was large, and bare
of trees, even, with trim hedge all
around II.
I'VE must have walked either very
fast or very slow, he remarked, du-
biously-"I don't know which. | was
thinking of something else. Miss de
Lara, your feet must he wet through;
you said your shoes were thick, and
they are nothing but brown paper"
"Oh, they are not very wet, thank
you" replied Maud, raising her sweet
eyes to his.
"You will catch your death of cold;
and II will be my fault, - lie continued
regretfully.
not get cold easily ut all. But |. wish |
knew where the others are. | don't
think Beatrice would approve of my
having left them; but, indeed, didn't
notice that they were gone
at is no fault of yours, whoever else
may he to blame,n he said firmly; but
| will try and find them. There, sit on
this stile against the hedge, and hold
the umbrella well over you. won't be
gone long"
II was evident that she had confidence
In him, for she asked no questions, but
simply obcyed him; and, regardless of
the rain, he ran swiftly round the four
sides nf thp field lookiuU ovar tho