San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-09-17

4 lltlll reluctantly. Win 4 SOU WAT III OlNAn
upon her cheeks and light in her eyes
that renders her remarkable lOvelineSS
only more apparent Sir Adrian,
watching her wien heart faint and
cold with grief and disappointment, aC-
| knOwledges sadly to himself that never
! has he seen her look SO beautiful. She
advances and bows to the audience,
and only loses her self-pOSScSSiOn a
very little when a bouquet directed at
her feet by an enthusiastic Young man
alights upon her shoulder instead.
Arthur DynccOurt. who has accom-
panied her to the foOtlights, and who
joins in her triumph, picks up the bou-
quet and presents it to her.
As he does so the audience again be-
comes aware that she receives it from
him in a spirit that suggests detesta-
ton of the one that hands it. and that
her smile witherS as she does so, and
her great eyes lose their happy light Of
a moment before.
Sir Adrian sees all this too, but per-
suades himself that she is now acting
another part-the part shown him by
Mrs. Talbot. His eyes are blinded by
jealousy; he can not see the purity and
truth reflected in hers; he miscOnstrues
the panied expression that of late has
saddened her face.
For the last few days, ever since her
mOmentOuS interview with Arthur
DynecOurt in the gallery, she has been
timid and reserved with Sir Adrian,
and has endeavOred to avoid his sOcie-
ty. She is oppressed with the thought
that he has read her secret love for him
and seeks, by an assumed GOODNESS of
demeanOr and studied avoidance of
him, to induce him to believe himself
mistaken.
But Sir Adrian is only rendered more
miserable by this avoidanee, in the
thought that probably Mrs. Talbot has
attachment to Arthur. and that she
breads his taxing her with her duplici-
ty, and so makes strenuous efforts to
keep herself apart from him. They
have already drifted so far apart that
tonight, when the play has come to an
end, and Florence has retired from the
dresSing-rOOm, Sir Adrian does not
dream of approaching her to offer the
congratulations on her success that he
would have ShOwered upon her in a
happier hour.
Florence, feeling lonely and de-
pressed, having liStlessly submitted to
her maids guidance and changed her
stage gown for pale blue ball-dress of
satin and pearls-aS dancing is to sue
coed the earlier amusement of the
evening-gOes silently downstairs, but,
instead of pursuing her way to the ball
room, where dancing has already com
mencCd, she turns aside, and, entering
q small, dimly lighted antechamber;
sinks YEARLY upon satin-cOvered
lounge.
From distance the sweet strains of
a German waltz comes to her ears.
There is deep sadness and melancholy
In the music that attuneS itself to her
own sOrrOwful reflections. Presently
the tears steal down her cheeks. She
feels lonely and neglected, and, bury
ing her head in the cushions of the
lounge, sobs aloud.
She does not hear the haSty approach
Of footsteps until they stop close beside
her, and voice that makes her pulse
throb madly says, in deep agitation
"Florence-MisS Delmaine-what has
happenedp What has occurred to dis
tress your
Sir Adrian is bending over her, evil
IDENTITY in deep distress himself. As she
starts, he places his arm round her and
raises her to a sitting posture; this he
does so gently that, as she remembers
all she has heard, and his cousins as
surance that he has almost pledged
himself to another. her tears flow
afresh. BY supreme effort, however,
she controls herself. and says, in a
faint voice
81 am very foolish; it was the heat, |
suppose, or the nervousness Of acting
before so many strangers that has up
set me. 1t is over now. beg you will
not remember it, Sir Adrian, or speak
of it to any one"
All this time she has not allowed her
self to glance even in his direction,
so fearful is she of further betraying
the mental agony she is enduring.
is it likely should speak of i'll" re-
turns Sir Adrian reproaChfully. "NO;
anything connected with you shall be
sacred 70 me. But-.pardon me- still
think You are in grief, and. believe me,
in spite of everything, | would deem it
privilege to be allowed to befriend
you in any way"
at is impossible" murmurs Flor
ence, in stifled tone.
You mean you will not accept my
help'-sadly. $50 be it then. have
no right, know, to establish myself as
your champion. There are others, no
doubt, whose happiness lies in the fact
that they may render you a service
when it is in their power. do not
complain, however. Nay, | would even
ask you to look upon me at least as a
friend"
IL shall always regard you as
FRIEND" Florence responds in low
voice. 1T would be impossible to me
to look upon you In any other light"
THANK you for that" says Adrian
quickly. Though our lives must of
necessity be much apart, it will still be
comfort to me to know that at least,
wherever you may be, you will think Of
me as a friend"
"Ah," thinks Florence, with bitter
pang, "he is now trying to let me know
how absurd was my former idea that
he might perhaps learn to love mel"
This thought is almost insuppOrtable.
Her pride rising in arms, she subdues
all remaining traces of her late emo
ton, and, turning suddenly, confrOnts
him. Her face is quite colorless, but
she can not altogether hide from him
the sadness that still desOlates her
eyes.
you are right" she agrees. an the
future our lives will indeed be far dis
tant from each other, so far apart that
the very tie of friendship will readily
be forgotten by us both"
Florence, do not say thatl' he en-
treats, believing in his turn that she
alludes to her coming marriage with
his cousin. "And-and-do not be an
CRY with me; but l would ask you to
consider long and earnestly before TAX
ing the step you have in view. Re-
member it is a bond that once sealed
can never be Cancelled"
a