San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-09-29

H
Il never wrote Mrs. Talbot line in
my life saw Ill Adrian. more and
more puzzled
You viii tell me next | did not SEE
you kissing her hand i'm the limr-waIk
last September pursues Florence
flushing hOtly with shame and indigIIa-
ton.
you did not" he declares vehement
| ly. Il swear il. or what else are YOU
| going TO accuse me: never wrote tn
her. and never Kissed her hand"
1t is better for us not to discuss this
matter any longer" SaysMiSS Dclmaine.
rising from her seat. And for the
| future | can nOt-will nOt-reah to YOU
here in the morning. Let us make an
end of this false friendship now at
once and forever"
She moves toward the door as she
speaks, but he, closely following, over
takes her, and. putting his back against
the door, so bars her egreSS.
He has been forbidden eXertiOn of
any kind, and now this unusual excite
ment has brought a color to his wan
cheeks and a brilliancy to his eyes.
Both these changes in his appearance
however only serve to betray the actu-
al weakness to which. ever since his
cruel Imprisonment, lie has been a vic
| tim.
Miss Delmaine's heart smites her.
She would have reasoned with him,
and entreated him to 60 back again to
his lounge, but he interrupts her.
Florence do not leave me like this"
he pleads in an impassiOned tone.
You are labOring under delusOn
Awake from this dream. | implOre YOU,
and see things as they really are"
Il am awake. ana do see things as
they are" she replies sadly.
My darling. who can have poisoned
your mind against me?' she says, in
deep agitation.
At this moment. as if in answer to
his question the door leading into the
conservatory at the other side of the
room is pushed open. and Dora Talbot
enters.
"Ah, here is Mrs. Talbot" exclaims
Sir Adrian eagerly; she will exOnerate
mel"
He speaks with such full assurance
of being able to bring Dora forward as
witness i'll his defense that Florence,
for the first time. feels a strong doubt
thrown upon the belief she has formed
of his being monster of iickleneSs.
What is it | can do for your" asks
Dora, i'll some confusion. OF late she
has grown very shy of being alone with
either him or Florence
You will tell Miss Delmaine." replies
Adrian quickly, that | never wrote
you letter, and that | certainly did
nOt-yOu will forgive my even mention
ing this extraordinary SuppOSitiOn. |
hope, Mrs. TalbOt-kiSs your hand one
day in September in the lime-walk"
Dora turns first hot and then cold,
first crimson and then deadly pale. So
it is all out now, and she is on her
trial. She feels like the veriest crimi-
nal brought to the bar of justice. Shall
she promptly deny everything Or-NO
She has had enough of deceit and in
trigue. Whatever it costs her. she will
now be brave and true, and confess all.
81 do tell her So" she says, in a low
tone, but yet firmly. Il never received
letter from you, and you never kissed
my hand"
"Dora!" cries Florence. What are
you saying! Have you forgotten all
that is past?"
Spare me-" entreatS Dora hOarsely.
in an hour, if you will come to my
room, | will explain all. and you can
then Spurn me, and put me outside the
pale of your friendship if you will, and
as | well deserve. But. for a.. pres.
OllI' iSSCpJ iSSll ttllIt llldi ITO lONt
passages ever occurred between me and
Sir Adrian, and that | am fully per-
Suaded his heart has been given to YOU
alone ever since your first meeting
FLORENCE. you believe her. queS-
tiOns Sir Adrian besppchimgy. at is
all true what she has said. | love you
devOtedly. If you will not marry me,
no other woman shall ever be my wife.
NV beloved take DitV on mel"
Trust i'll him. give Yourself freely to
him without fear" urges Dora, with a
sob. lie is altogether worthy OF you"
SO saying, she escapes from the room,
and goes up the stars to her own
apartment weeping bitterly.
Is there any hope Tor me-" asks Sir
Adrian OF Florence when they are
again alone. Daring; answer me, do
yOu-can you love me-"
"! have loved you always-always,"
replies Florence III broken voice.
But | thought fearcd-Oh, how
much | have suffered"
Never mind that now" rejoins Sir
Adrian very tenderly. lie has placed
his arm round her. and her head is
resting in happy contentment upon his
breast. For the future. my dearest,
you snail know neither fear nor suffer-
ing II l can prevent It,
They are still murmuring tender
words of love to each other. though
noise as of coming footsteps in the con-
seryatory attracts their attention. and
presently CAPTAIN Ringwood. with his
arm round Ethel Villiers's waist. comes
slowly into view.
Totally unawara that any ono 10 in