San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-07-23
CHAPTER V.
~ can not choose but tell him
That I nan mt -


And now the all important Thursday has
arrived. The Saunders are Ito use then
own expressi0n) the "swells'' of the place.
having in fact the finest house. the most
servants and money bags, too, | suspect.
Fat, jolly mamma Saunders had quite
plaintiye manner Of talking about before
the war;" using il as the ancientS did theiI
Olympic games date for everything.
Papa Saunders is the opposite of his wife
"a tall, pale, cOnsumptiye looking man. with
a keen eye for money, but wOrShiping his
two daughters, FlOrne and Silvia, who are
as commonplace looking as their names are
fancy. Helen, with her usual amiabiity,
manages to get on quite smoothly with these
two damsels, who quite gush over 'dear
Mrs. Rodney" In TACT it is Helen who
keeps up the sociability between them by
her round of fashionable visits. Eleanor
openly detests them, and it is most heartily
returned. She, indeed, never called, but
contented herself with coming in the parlOr
one day (fOr the first and last time). But
after making several sharp speeches and cut
ting Miss FlOrne up in the middle of her
choicest bit of gossip, the young ladies de-
parted and cOntented themselves in future
with Helen's goOd-natured company, ignOr-
ing Miss Hathwell utterly, with the eXcep-
ton of including her name in their cards OF
invitation, two or three of which are issued
annually
Really, Nell" Helen is saying, as she sits
busily engaged in curling her little daugh-
ter's hair. Really, am In despair as to
what to wear tonight"
you've got plenty of clothes"
II do wish | could decide between my
mauve satin and my jet dress" says the
other, with sigh.
Wear the jet"
But wore that last time"
Wear the other them" Eleanor is lean
ing out of the window, idly tearing up bits
of paper, watching them as they float of. 1t
is delicious morning, morning to think
of anything rather than dress.
"The jet is the most becoming" says
Helen, still harping.
"Then why don't you wear it,"
II believe WILL says the other briskly.
st does not matter that have worn it be-
fore, and it is so pretty. Oh, Nell! do wish
you would CO."
81 don't want to CO."
But why not? Is it, (this rather hesitat-
ingly), "is it because no one has asked your
II she suspects her sister will be offended
Sne IL MISTAKEN. he girl tuIiS lTOm tiit
window with an amused look.
mo, my dear Helen, l should take pleas
ure in asserting my own independence.
don't go because | am tired of the stupid
things, and no one that like will be there"
"They are a little monotonOus, but it is
your own fault that you are so hard to
please"
'They are boring. can see that fat Saun-
ders girl now, waddling across the room
with hypocritical smile wreathing her fat,
pink face to gush out, so glad to see you,
dear Miss Hsthwell,' and she MORALLY de-
spises me-"
Helen laughs.
"And then" goes on the other, nothing
to do but talk to parcel of stupid men who
all say the same thing to you, and whom you
are expected to feed. Now if it were dance,
should glory in it."
''Yes, you do dance divinely," remarks
Helen, half enyiOusly.
do you remember" continues Nelly, "at
that last ball we were at MI. Old, the one
with the light mOustache, you know, told me
waltzed like an angel"
"What did you sayY'
II said thought singing was their strong
forte, and asked him il he had ever danced
with one"
Had hep
',He said that was the nearest approach he
had ever had, and told him was afraid it
would remain the nearest"
"Did you? What conceited speech,
Nell"
WAS it, Oh, dearl how l wish some
body would 60 by! Only q market woman
and curly dog since have been here.
What an uncivilized part Of the country we
do live in"
1.-THE Professor says he likes it."
mo doubt he does. Judging from his nu-
merous visits, l should fancy he liked it very
much.'
Helen bushes. "And Mr. Carew admires
it, too. BY the way, l wonder he did not
ask you to go to the tea, Nell"
"He was not invited" says the girl quick
ly. "He told me so himself"
mo? How strange! Well, must 90 and
see about my Dress" and she departs.
When night comes she looks very pretty in
her black dress with white roses. A very
handsome woman is Helen Rodney.
Eleanor looking at herself in the glass be-
fore going down, likes with extra care her
soft, yellow locks, thinking, perhaps, some
one may call.
But no one does. She spends her evening
reading "Rasselas" aloud 10 her uncle, an
occupation which affords him great enjoy
ment So she reads till Helen's return
makes an agreeable interruption, to her at
least
81 had a glorious time" SAYS Mrs. Rodney,
throwing of her wraps and tanning vigOr-
ously. ut was charming. You made Q