San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-06-05
This story was commenced May ~
THE LAST OF
T III f \ u & + y + s.
BY THE AUTHOR OF "awEErHEARrs."

BY THE AUTHOR OF "SNEETHEA RTS.
Jasper dog had stretched himself at
full length in patch Of sunlight which
fell through the narrow hall windows on
the Turkey carpet. while Dolly's Persian
cat, envious perhaps of the same spot. had
cOolly made a bed Of the dogs curly coat.
and was slumbcring peacefully. The Mis-
tress had just gone up stairs, and the
Squire was in his study alone. Culverton
was lying on the wide old fashioned couch.
which stood under the great portrait of
Queen Anne in its massive frame and with
its royal crown above it.
All looked much as usual. only there
was difference dismal difference
CulvertOn had never seen Dolly before
dressed in sombre mourning robes. almost
covered with great folds of Grape; and
she came down the wide stairs-wide
enough to have driven coach and six up
them-step by step. like person who had
suddenly grown old. She never noticed
the Earl on his couch. but was passing
through the hall. on her way towards the
study, when he called her
sob, you are there 7" she said, with a
start.
"Yes; come here, child. Will you think
me rude if lie still am so awfully
tired2"
"Oh, mol"
There is plenty of room for you" he
said moving aside little that she might
sit also on the broad couch.
II did not mean. Culverton," she began
nervOusly; but she sat down all the same.
"This was to have been our wedding
day." he said dreamily, holding her hand
fast in his. IL thought we should have
all been in there" nodding towards the
dining rOom-"making speeches by this
time"
Yes" WHISPERED Dolly,with tears stream
ing down her face.
81 wish the Mistress could weep like
that" he went on; ut would relieve her
so much. Poor mother! You and | must
be very good to them both, Dolly"
81 must, and ] WILL" answered Dolly.
sand must not alsoi l intend to do
my best. 1 will be good son to them
Heaven knows" he said steadfastly.
"YOu will never be their son." cried
Dolly. 81 cannot do what you wish"
"You must" he answered firmly. You
must put your own feelings entirely out
Of the question. Dolly. Yes; | know it is
hard for you; but that is what you have
to do. In the first place, if you refuse to
keep your engagement to me, | shall he
sure during my whole life that you blame
me for this miserable tragedy which has
taken place amongst us Now you know.
Dolly, as well as / do, that ! am quite
blameless.'
"Oh-quite' echoed Dolly eagerly
"Of course we all see that"
"Still, if you throw me over. that Is
what shall always feel. You know. darl-
ing, have no near relatives, no one to
make a home for mej and it won't take
me long to go the bad utterly"
"Oh, no! After time you will find
some one else" she began, when he inter-
rupted her.
ITO do what2 To marry me? Dozens
of them, Dolly. You forget that l am
what the mothers call a good match! III
you throw me over / have no doubt that
] could be married dozen times before
Christmas. l might 60 over and ask one
of the Carruthers of Lean, or Mary Beau
vile of Low Ella-bless you, child, either
one would jump at mel"
Dolly turned away her head that he
might not see the tears Of humiliation
which were swimming in her eyes; and
Culverton, affecting not to see them, wenl
on speaking.
"But, of course | shall not do that! A
great deal though would he at your door,
if did. Six weeks of Mary Beauville
would transform me into a wife-beater,
and the end of it would be that / should
break her neck and get hanged for my
pains. / shouldn't like that. Dolly, and I'm
sure you would not, even if they did grant
me silken rope"
81 think you are very unkind," said
Dolly in a quavering voice.
mot at all. am simply setting the
whole case before you. l am coming to
another and far graver reason why you
should fulfill your engagement to me
"your father and mother wish it."
81 cannot think it," returned Dolly in
credulously.
"But it is so, child" said Culverton.-
"Now,be reasonable and listen to me. You
know, Dolly, that your father is sadly
stricken down and shaken by all this"
"Yes," she sobbed; "he looked so old
and bent to-day, / could not hep crying
to see him."
"Well, If our engagement is broken, he
will think naturally very much more of
his trouble than if he had us to look to
for strength; and, worse than that, if the
world sees that our marriage does not
Idke place, people VIII tHlnh anu say,
that backed out of il. You would not
like all England to speak of me as a cow
ardly cad, who hadn't pluck enough to
stand by the woman he lovedr
"0h, people couldn't think that!" she
objected.
But that is what they would think" he
said quickly. at is exactly what should
think myself, if l heard Of any other man
placed in like circumstances. 1 should
think so, indeedp
For some moments he lay silently
watching her. She did not speak at all.
her hand rested passiyely in his, the 9TH
err wandered restlessly among the folds
Of Grape which trimmed her gown; her
eyes roved YEARLY about the old hall,
from the full-length portrait opposite Of
Colonel Nugent of Marlborough's time
to the gaily colored sunlight gaily-sun-
light streaming through the painted win
dow halfway up the stairs-from that to
the dog and the cat lying so amicably
asleep. and thence to her own slim little