San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-09-18
The Haunted Chamber.
BY 1.-THE DUCHESS"
Author Of Monica" Mona Scldly,"
Phyllis" ETC., etc.

There is no trouble" declares Flor
ence, in a somewhat distressed fashion,
turning her head reStlessly to one side.
Il wish you would dispOsseSs yourself
of that idea. And, do not stop here,
they-every one, will accuse you of dis
courtesy if you absent yourself from
the ballroom any longer"
Then. come with me-" says Adrian.
"See, this waltz is only just beginning:
give it to me"
Carried away by his manner, she lays
her hand upon his arm. and goes with
him to the ballroom. There he passes
his arm around her waist, and present
" they are lost among the thrOng of
whiTling dancers, and both give them
selves up for the time being to the
mere delight of knowing that they are
together.
Two people, seeing them enter thus
together, on apparently friendly terms,
regard them with hostile glances. Dora
Talbot, who is COquetting sweetly with
q gaunt man of middle age, who is evil
IDENTIFY OverpOwered by her attentions,
letting her eyes rest upon Florence as
she waltzes past her with Sir Adrian,
colors warmly, and, biting her lip, for
gets the hOneyed speech she was about
te bestow upon her companion, who is
the owner of a considerable property,
and lapses into silence, for which the
gaunt man is deyoutly grateful, as it
gives him moment in which to reflect
on the safest means of getting rid of
her without delay.
DOTa'S fair brow grows darker and
darker as she watches Florence, and
notes the smile that lights on her beau
tiful face as she makes some answer to
one of Sir Adrian's sallies., Where Is
DynecOurt, that he has not been on the
spot to prevent this dance, she won,
ders. She grows angry, and would
have stamped her little foot with I'M
patient wrath at this moment, but Tor
the fear OF displaying her VeXatlOn.
AS she Is inwardly matchmaking
Arthur, he. energies from the throng,
and. the dance being at an end, re-
minds Miss Delmaine that the next Is
his.
Florence mWillingiy removes her
hand from Sir Adrian,s arm, and lays
1t upon Arthur's: Most diSdaintully
she moves away with hun, and suffers
him to lead her to another part OF the
room. And when she dances with him,
1t Is with evident reluctance, as he
knows by the fact that she YlSlDly
shrlnkS from him when be enclrcleS her
waist with his arm:
Sir Adrian, who has noticed none or
THESE symptoms, going up 10 Dora, So
hclts her hand for this dance;
you are not engaged, hopper ne
says anXiously,.. 1t Is a kind OF wretch
ed comfort to him to be near Florence'S
true friend. II not the rose, she mas
at least some c9nnectlon with II.
Il am afraid am" Dora responds,
raising her llmpld eyes to his. Naugho
" man, why dId you not come sooner
thought you had torgOtten me altO-
gether, and so got tired OF Keeping par
rem spots upon my card for you"
Il couldn't help it was engaged; A
man In ms own house mas always pad
time OF 1t looking after the Impossible
people, says Adrian evaslVely.
Poor Florence! Is she SO very I'm,
posslDler asks Dora, Laughing, but
pretending 10 reprOach MN.
was not speaking OF MISS Del
NAME" says, Adrian, flushing hotly;;
she Is the least impossible person l
ever met. IL Is privilege TO pass one s
time with her. ,. 1900,
yet " Is with her you nave passed
the last hour that you hint has been
9eyoted 10 pores returns Dora quletly.
This is mere feelerr, but she throws It
GUT WIN such an ar OF certainty thag
pr Adrlan Is completely deeelyed, ana
peneyes her acquainted with MS tete-d
sse WIN florence IN the uimly Ill anCe-
io sWo,, 10 od,;., oo,oui,. oo,oi,
Mon, nc auiillUS; CoiUl ing asdlm,
og oIl oI't .h was d9I' i+ uPseU IS Htb
Ser NTH Sba fai ai' eon5I 70 i9inip% ms ne
ali acain y ' w ~
aaSin avcIaims Dora who now knows
oil she bod ramted 70 InnW nv" A-'0"'
tRnt Won must not tel me- Won have
M dances left for me y saws drian
gayly. "Come, let me see YOUR card,p
He looks mt il. and finds II indeed full.
al am an unfortunate" he adds.
al think" saws Dora, with the pref
test hesitation off You are sure IL
would not be an unkind thing to do,
could scratch out this name"-pointing
to her partners for the coming dance.
Il am not sure at ALL" responds Sir
Adrian, laughing 81 am positive it
will be awfully unkind of you to de-
prive any fellow of your society; but be
unkind, and scratch him out for my
sake"
He speaks lightly, but her heart beats
high with hope.
SFor your sake" she repeats softly
drawing her pencil across the name
written on her programme and substi-
tuting his.
But you will give me more than this
one dancer queries Adrian. as there
nobody else Won can condemn to mis-
ery out of aft that listY
avon are unsuitable q" she returns
blusbing and growimg confused aRmf
Won shall have II al vonr own wov
Gere1"giving him her ar" card .taTe
what waltzes Won will She waItzes to
perfection and she Knows II ''''
aTben tbiS and thio and th;v Oovs