San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-08-04

self"
She stands irresolute a moment then,
"Mr. Allen" chow cold her voice can bel,
"Mr. Allen, will yOn please take me over
there. / see friend Of mine l should like
! TO speak to-"
| Her husband rises impatiently, and giving
/ her his arm, pilots her in safety to where
| among the chaperons fat, comedy lady
! sits and there deposits his wife with a sigh
| OF relief A man, tall he must be, for his
head towers above the rest is standing at
the door. Perhaps he is daZZled by the lights
| and glare, for he shows no signs of entering.
| His eyes are fixed with dazed, albright
| ened look on Eleanor and he draws his
breath hard as we do in great pain.
! Aren't you going to dance, my dear"
says Mrs. Aliens companion, touching the
| girl who sits there grave and silent watch
ing the gay throng of dancers.
Not tonight Mrs. Thornton. / do not
! care for it at ALL"
But you are so young should think
| you would enjoy it," says the other. Your
husband does not object does hep
'Oh, no. But have not danced since we
were married. have quite gotten out Of
the habit"
"And the step is very easy to forget"
says Mrs. Thornton, tanning complacently.
when L was girl | was quite crazy about
1t, but l hardly think 1 could manage it
now"
Eleanor smiles as she regards the plump
figure, the short, labOring breath, but she
Only says softly:
II think young people are always fond of
It."
Goodness me. child. how you talk. Young
people! Why you are barely out of your
teens"
81 am nearly twenty-One and somehow l
feel great deal older" She is looking
abSently down on her fan, staring vaguely
at the queer shapes and designs upon it.
"Ah,n says Mrs Thornton In a half
triumphant voice. IL knew YOU would not
be left among us old chaperOns. Here comes
someone to claim you; such a handsome
man, too. You surely will not refuse to
dance with himY'
Eleanor lifts her eyes-lifts them tn sea
Dallas Carew before her, and with the sight
come all the old time memories rushing back
upon her, memories she had thought dead
forever After all she neither pales nor be-
trays herself by any start or blush
She rises and gives him her hand, but her
voice sounds far away and there is a noise
as of the sea waves in her ears.
'Mr. Carew! why, | have not seen you for
Carew."
He bows, but does not speak. His eyes
will YOU come ON ont in The SaII with meS;
he saws after pause. "It is so warm here
She takes his arm, and together thew nick
their way through the thr0ng of dancers.
One couple whirl Dast-a girl in softesf bIne
with laughing face upturned to the admiring
grey-blue eyes bent over her.
They have gained the hall. II is cooIer
On the steps and all about are couples tiirt-
ing to the uttermost of their capacity. Dial
las leads her to where. in window recess,
there is a sofa and they take their seats.
"Why are YOU not dancingg" SAYS the
Young man, still gazing intently at her won
dering where ali that pretty red color has
fled to-cOlOr which of old he could call SO
beautifully TO her face
81 am not dancing tonight"
"But YOU will give me one waltz, will not
you; only oneY' he says, bending over her
and speaking in the old pleading, caressing
voice, a voice she obeyed then. All, she IS
mo; do not intend to dance at alIn
"But give Inc One" he pleads. do not
you remember how well we dance together?
Have you forgotten Col. YOung's? You
gave me all thenY'
All, the color has come now. 1t sweeps in
its old relentless fashion up to the very roots
of her brOnze-gO hair.
"Hush," she says, putting out her hand.
"Donot remind me of that; one does not
like to be reminded of ones follies."
ut was not folly to me-"
81 have often wished to see you" she goes
beg you to forget that night. l was wrong,
but was so young, so foolish. l did not
realize at all what | was doing. Heaven
knows am sorry, for it now! And you,
please DO not tllnK OF II any more.
Would you have me forget the happiest
night of my lite?" he says, roughly.
"You-yOu had no right to be happy" she
begins, but the words die away, for was not
she happy, too?
HAD not" ne says sOttly. Il thlnK
had"
There Is long pause. The hddles are
squeaking bravely: there Is a square dance
going on. but very few are dancing. They
are Tor the most part grum0llng that II Is not
waltz.
The young man speaks again, rather con.
STRANGELY. You know my engagement
was broken Off?''
Yes"
DO you know why%'
"How should knOw% she says uneasily.
81 suppose"-with a forced laugh-"you,
with the hckleness OF your sex, grew tired
OF her"
You are not speaking truly" he says,
peering into her dOwncast face. You used
why did not marry that doll baby over
yOnder. l was well enough content with
my doll until l met you, and even then
tried TO persuade myself was still. l
cheated myself into the belief, and l be-
lieyed 1t until left you.
"l gu must not talk this way" she says
rising to her feet. Remember l am not
Eleanor Hathwell now, and think perhaps
you had better take me back now"
hands in his. II will tell you. / have
prayed God that might have chance to
tell you, and now you shall listen TO me.
Wrong or not will not have you think you
threw away your love- for you did love me
then, though you may have forgotten 1t now:
Women forget so easily they say, and IL
loved you, too, though, blind fod that was,