San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-05-31
[This story was commenced May ~
THE last OF
THE NJ & EN- rs.
BY THE AUTHOR OF "swEEruEAHrs."

BY THE AUTHOR OF 'yWEETHEAkTS.
''One morning there came letter telling
her that he wished To he free; such a
letter, BERTHE. so cold, 50 crucl-it makes
we weep to think of it. He told her that
he felt his love for her had been a mis-
take, and that he could never love any
one as he found he loved an Italian lady
of high rank, whom he had known init
mately for eighteen months. II has not
been sudden he said; i have tried to
fight against it. l feel that my engage
ment with you came about more ~ Il mat
ter of courSe-rather from long friend
ship than from any real love; and al
though if you wish it, | will keep my
promise, feel we should not be happy
"That was not all; no mention of her
feelings-only thought for himself. She
gave him his freedom and he married
your mother But that was not all
Dolly'Nugent had never been strong; and
this great grief brought on kind of
low fever, which weakened her sadly
And besides the pain Of losing her lover.
and the humiliation of desertion, she had
yet another pang to bear.
Not only did Lord Culverton immedi-
ately marry, but, month after the we'd
ding, he brought his bride to the Towers!
Nay, still more, he even brought her here
TO see my aunt! Only think Of it! He
told his wife quite carelessly that Miss
Nugent and he at one time had some
thoughts of marrying, but that they had
seen the error of their ways. Think of
the cruelty of being obliged to hear such
a speech as that from the man she loved,
to the woman for whom he had forsaken
1. 1 y
true Nugent through it all but she had
still to endure another pang. When you
were born, your father asked her to be
your godmother and she consented
Rather than betluy to him or to any one
else how bitter was her suffering; but.
before the day fixed for the christening
arrived, my aunt was dead. She had long
been in what the doctors called 'declme.'
but what less practical people called
'heart- broken and she burst a bloOd-ves-
sci, and died She kept her promise, and
loved him for ever and it cost her her
life"
MY darling" said Lord Culverton SOL
EMMY, Il have been away from you for
five long years. | have been thrown
amongst the most beautiful and fascinat-
ing women of Europe; | have been
sought after-I will not be so conceited as
TO think for myself, but for my title and
for my riches; and yet | have come back
to you. All those five years, during
which never saw You, l never forgot
the golden haired Ilue-eyed child who
threw her arms round my neck and cried,
You don't know. BERTHE how love your"
"No?" said Dolly softly.
81 never did. made up my mind ten
years ago that would one day win you
for my own; and, oh. my dearest. if aught
come between us, then let me die, for l
could not livel If the last Bcrtram Nu-
gent broke Dorothy Nugent's heart, l
shall not follow his example. Look at me
and tell me you can and will trust me-
Il will trust you" said Dolly softly.
"My dearest" he cried 'you don't know
how happy you have made me! Dolly,
will have no dangerous delay; you know
you might change your mind this time
with a smile at the idea of it.
1.-The Nugent motto is For ever" re-
turned the girl proudly. There never
was a Nugent who went hack from his
word yet; and you may be sure l shall
not be the one to start such an objection
able practice"
"This is August" said Culverton in a
musing tone. IL shall ask for you on the
first of October"
"Ohw cried Dolly demurely. "And who
is to settle the question:"
ain the first place. YOU of course. Do
make too sure of YOU, my darlingY if so.
that is your own fault; for, if you remem-
Der, Won always used to do whatever /
asked YOU"
"Yes, / did but that will never do when
we are married, YOU know. BERTHE. |
shall be obliged then to be very cross
grained and disagreeable, or we shall
never be duarrelsome enough for married
people"
"Do the Squire and the Mistress quar-
relr
"QuarrelY" cried Dolly in amazement-
"why, we should as soon expect Deane
Ella Church to walk across the mark and
fight the Towers as to hear them quarrel
ingl No. thew never quarrel. bnt then
father gives in to mother alwaysr-with
much emphasis ON the last word.
"But you will give in to me about this"
he blended, "w6n't Won. DollvY If Won