San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-09-23


"Of whom are you speaking - TO
whose letter do you rcfer?' asks Flor
ence, a little sharply. in the agony of
her heart.
Florence! Whose letter would call
sweet except Sir Adrian So answers
her cousin, with gentle reprOach.
But it is meant for you. not me-"
says Miss Delmaine, holding the letter
in her hand. and glanCing at it with
great distaste. lie probably intended
no other eyes but yours to look upon
it."
But must obtain advice from some
one, and who so natural to expect it
from as you, my nearest relative? If,
hOwever'-puttimg her handkerchief TO
her eyeS-"yOu object to help me, Flor
ence, or if it distrpSSeS you to read"
"DiStresses me-" interrupts Florence
haughtily. why should it distress meI
If you have no objection to my reading
yOur-lOveT's-letter, why should hes
itate about doing so? Pray sit down
while | run through it."
Dora having seated herself, Florence
hastily reads the false note from be-
ginning to end. Her heart beats fu-
riously as she does so, and her color
comes and goes; but her voice is quite
SOtdI1 Nlltn ollt SlCCih0 again.
We'll" she says, putting the paper
from her as though glad to get rid Of
it, 1T seems that Sir Adrian wishes to
speak to you on some subject interest
ing to you and him alone, and that
he has chosen the privacy of the lime
walk as the spot in which to hold your
tete-d-tete. 1t is quite simple affair, is
it not? Though really, why he could
not arrange to talk privately to you in
some room in the castle. which is sure
ly large enough for the purpose, | can
not understand"
Dear Sir Adrian is. so romantic"
says Dora cOyly.
as hep" responds her cousin dryly.
ale has always seemed to me the san
est of men. We'll, on what matter do
you wish to consult me-"
Dear Florence, how terribly prOsaic
and unsympathCtiC you are to-day"
says Dora reproachfUlly; and | came
to you so sure of offers of love and
friendship | want you to tell me if
you think | ought to meet him or not"
"Why nOt?"
81 don't know"-with little shipper.
as it perhaps humOring him too much?
have always dreaded letting Il man
imagine cared for him, unless fully,
utterly, assured of his affection for
me-"
Florence colOrs again, and then grows
deadly pale, as this poisoned barb pier
ces her bosom.
81 should think" she says slowly,
after reading the letter you have just
shown me. you ought to feel assured"
you believe | ought, reallyY-with
a fine show of eagerneSs. Now, you
Of nNrfNN tltig IN VNIn 70
crafty mel"
81 should not please or crafty any
one at the expense of truth"
mo, of course not. You are such a
high-principled girl, 50 different from
many others. Then you think | might
go and meet him this evening without
sacrificing my dignity i'll any way?"
Certainly"
"Oh, I'm so glad" exclaimed little
Mrs. Talbot rapturOusly, nOdding her
honorable" head with beaming
smile, because | do 50 want to meet
him, dear fellow! And | value your
opinion, Flo, more highly than that of
any friend possess. You are so solid,
so thOughtful-Such dear thing alto
gether."
Florence takes no heed of this rOdOm-
Ontade, but sits quite still. with down
cast eyes, tapping the small table near
her with the tips of her slender fingers
i'll meditative fashion.
THE fact is" continues Dora, who is
watching her closely. Il may as well let
you into little secret. Yesterday Sir
Adrian and | had tiny, oh, such
tiny little dispute, all about nothing, l
assure yOu"-with gay lHUgh-'but to
us it seemed quite important. lie said
he was Jealous of me. Now just fancy
that, Flo; jealous of poor little mel
ut is quite possible; You are pretty
most men admire you" Florence re-
marks cOldly, still without raising her
eyes.
"Ah, you fatter me, naughty girl!
Well, silly as it sounds. he actually was
Jealous, and really gave me quite a
1t brought tears to my eyes,
it upset me so. SO to tell the truth, we
parted rather bad friends; and, to be
revenged on me, suppose, he rather
neglected me for the remainder of the
day"
Again Florence is silent, though her
tormentsr plainly waits for lead from
her before going on.
"You must have remarked" she con-
tinues presently, how cold and re-
served he was towards me when we
were all together in that dreadful
haunted chamber" Here she really
in spite of herself. The cruel
eyes of Arthur Dynecourt seem to be
on her again, as they were in that
ghostly room.
II remarked nothing" responds Flor
ence icily.
"No-really? Well, he was. Why, my
dear Florence, you must have seen how
he singled you out to be attentive to
you, just to show me how offended he
was"
HE did not seem offended at any
one, and 1 thought he was in particu-
lar good spirits" replies Florence
calmly.
Dora turns a delicate pink.
Dear Adrian is such an excellent
actor" she says sweetly, land so proud;
he will disguise his feelings, however
keen they may be, from the knowledge
of any one, no matter what the effort
may cost him. Well, dearest, and so
you positively advise me to keep this
with himY
Il advise nothing. merely say that
/ see nothing Objectionable in your
walking up and down the lime-walk
with your host"
How clearly you put it! Well,
adieu, darling, for the present, and
thank you thousand times for all the
time you have wasted on me. | assure
you l am not worth it"-kissing her
hand brightly.
For once she speaks the truth; she is
not indeed worth one moment of the
time Florence has been compelled to
expend upon her; yet. when she has
tripped out of the room, seemingly as
free from guile as alight-hearted child,
Miss Delmaine's thoughts still follow
her inclination.
Che hoo mona 20 ,,nnnt him. M dnnht