San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-11-19
CHAPTER VI.

anXiOuSly To her sister the following even
ing, SHORTLY before dinner.
Scarcely any better" answered the elder.
81 was going to tell you, Hrartscase, that |
cannot 90 this evening. Mother must not
be left, and F!Os,e isn't the same, even
she were not engaged for tonight"
Il came t. say" said Heartsease firmly,
that if mother was not very much better,
would stay with her"
Certain not The off + was primarily
made to You, and you remember | was the
last who went TO the theatre" The prudent
elder sister would not say to the younger:
''St. John would Lot thank us fT the ex-
change You may stay If you choose, but
l shall stay So. don't know if mamma
would ike YOU 10 90 alone with Mr. Stu ohm,
but think she would not mind"
HeartseaSe pleaded and begged but all to
no end. Katie was inexUrable, and finally
kissed her sister, laughing, and told her to
run off and tell st. John how matters We're.
HeartSea,e went slowly towards the draw
ingrOOm, wishing very much that she could
have remained at hOmr in Kites stead, and
yet dimly conscious That her disappDint-
ment in losing the pleasure would have been
keener tan her sister no; Tor tie plays
sake She had m'.st fnr-Giten " hat that
was-but Tor the sLNr GI being with Albert
st. John. Sill, lie u g'I:ir.r,r Hates COM
pany.
ST. John was alore int c drawing-rOom,
and , the 2 r. emf rcd h !O-kId up with
such SUD en- glt over all his fee, that
any one else than Ilcartse&Se herself would
have noticed it without fail.
He rose up and led her forward to chair.
"What is the matters? he sd d, smiling.
"You look very solemn. lOUrmother Is no
worse, is she"'
"0h no; but she is scarcely better, and
Katie won't let me stop with her. lwan'e
to stay and let Katie 90 with you, but She
wouldn't hear of it. | am so sorry"
80 am for her-and it is very kind OF
you to wish to take her place, and Of Ter TO
refuse to let you. Of course | should have
been only too pleased ii she could have
come, but there seems to be no help for it..
Now, am afraid this speech was not quite
truthful.
Certainly, st. John was generous enough
toregrct that Katie should lose the pleasure
of going to the theatre, but the delight OF
having Hcartsease to himself was so great
as to outbalance his regret OH Katie's &C
count.
The most magnanimOus Of lovers would
not have felt differently under the .circum-
stances.
But Heartsease was not quite satisfied.
She glanced at her companion wisifully.
"N-nO," she said slowly; "Only-'
"Only what? You will come, will you
not?' asked st. John quickly, unless your
mother does not wish it,
''She would not mind, think. We have
not asked her; we never disturb her when
she has those headaches"
The girl wanted t. find out whether St.
John would have preferred Katle's cOIhpan-
ionship, but she could not pos 'ibly ask the
question. and, besides, she had dim unac-
knowledged feeling, somewhere in deep
corner of her heart thar he would rather
she herself went
ST. John saw that she was perpleXed, and
smiled to himself. but he asked no question.
What part of the house are the orders
for?' asked HeartseaSe.
ibid not tell you? A private oox, tirst
tier, second from the stage"
THE best position in the house" said
Heartsease, wondering who could have
given the orders, for she knew there was
scarcely any paper" at the Vaudeville just
now. THE School for Scandal" was draw
ing crowded houses. DO we walk?'
mo; we shall have hanson. If you are
ready at twenty minutes to eight that will
be quite early enough"
Very lovely Heartsease looked when she
came into the drawing-rOOm, punctual to
the time named, in a black velvet gown, and
carrying the furred mantle in which ST.
John had first seen her.
She had casually alluded once to that visit
of hers to st. Peters, EatOn-squaTe, and he
had replied carrlessly that he knew the
church well, but had not pursued the sub
ject.
Ladies can be punctual, Mr.. st. john"
said the girl laughingly 10 him.
He was ready, and stood by the mantel-
piece.
"Fasten my gloves please, Katie" she
added, holding out her hand; but st. John
stepped forward
II protest." said he, against being de-
prived Of my privileges"
Heartsease turned to him with the slight
est possible change of color, and surrender
ed her pretty hand.
Katie cOvertly watched him as he deity
performed the task, and settled her lips and
nodded sagaciOusly-a mental nOd-as she
moved away.
A few moments later, st. John and Hearts
ease were seated side by side in hanson
bowling rapidly towards the Strand. All,
what happiness this was to both, though
only one fully OWNED the cause!
st. John looked down at the exquisite
face so close to him with a wild longing to
draw it yet closer. lie could not do that,
but he tenderly folded the Opera-hoOd-
Katies handiwOrk-rOund her head.
Good people IRE scarce" he said, as she
looked up with smile and softly-spoken
"Thanks"
'Oh, am strong" said she; Il never take
care of myself
Il must take care Of you then" "Will you
let me do so always?' was on his lips, but to
utter the words would have been taking adj
vantage Of her.
She smiled agatha bright happy smile
but did not look at him this time. and pres
emily the cab stopped at the theatre.
Hcartseasr noticed as they went to the
box that the bOx-keeper showed an unusual
amount Of Difference to her companion, and
when they were seated she remarked, laugh
ing:
That man treated Won rs il you had been
Iar Prince 90. hata.'
Did hr? ,l.I It. j I'm. fitting his lin:
4.