San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-08-19
came IN.

came IN.
Il am sorry to have been so late for
dinner, my dear, he said, bTiskly. with
a smile toward LOttie; but | have
been driving in the park with Miss
Vane, and really it was dusk before |
knew it,
Somehow Mrs. Norton glanced at her
husband as she turned the urn, Just i'm
time to catch the quick glance Of eau
tiOnaTy warning he sent her.
Are you personally acquainted with
Miss Nane, my dear he said, present
ly, after dilating upon the beauty of the
park in its late autumn dress.
Not at all intimately, uncle Tom.
When | was a little girl she was
grown-up woman, and of course never
had occasion TO associate with her.
AS child, never fancied her, how
ever"
He laid his knife down in the act of
slicing off a delicious piece of brown
meat
You mean to insinuate that Aura is
as old as-all that"
Then Frank took up the cudgels in
his quiet, udimpassiOned way.
Il don't think my wife would 'insin-
uate' anything, uncle Tom. She simply
knows it to be fact, as | do, and any
one else who cares to think at all about
it, that Miss Nane is past forty years
old. But, then, of course, no one ever
troubles ones self about it."
Past forty Frank, always thought
you had uncommon good sense, and
judgment, and perception, but-past
forty. But perhaps yOu don't happen
to know how delicate and lovely her
complexion is-hOw soft and luxuriant
her hair is-how girlish and charming,
yet dignilied, is her manner"
He spoke as if in great triumph
That goes for nothing, uncle Tom"
IOttie said, more mildly than Frank
had expect of her. Complexion and
hair can both be bought nowadays
Il am perfectly aware of that fact.
my dear, although must admit | had
not thought you capable of suCh-suCh
Well, the less said the better. per
hapS. But assure YOU have satisfied
myself that Aura is one of those rarely
preserved women who at thirty-fOr |
have it from her own lips that her last
birthday was her thirtieth-are more
charming and mature, and every way
suitable to a discerning mans taste.
than when young and girliSh.'
And he looked strai@htly, defantly in
LOttie's eyes.
"Oh, well. she retOrted. stubbOrnly.
you'll find out some day.
Yes he answered, ~ expect to
find out that the woman who VIII honor
me by being my wife is just what |
have said She is in all respects. Frank,
don't you want tickets for the opera
tonight? I've couple to spare, if you
want to take LOttie to hear Patti. Miss
Vane and are going -
OF course, Frank accepted the tickets;
and after dinner, when Lpttie went up
to the nursery with him for their usual
half-hOur Of baby-wOrship, she declared
she would never call him by his OdiOus
name again.
"He shall he mammals darling RO-
land now" she said, holding him in her
arms, and shOwering kisses on his
sweet, laughing face, and bonny dark
eyes.
Frank laughed.
You'd better wait a little longer,
LOttie. Thirty thousand pounds is
worth being called worse name than
Tom. Perhaps the old mans disen-
chantment Will come even yet"
Its disgusting" she said.
And then she said good night to her
year-old boy, with dozens Of kisses and
hugs, and gave him back to his nurse.
u want you to go on an errand,
please, Frank, she said, suddenly, as
they went into their own room, up to
BlandfOrd's, for an invisible net and
hairpins. Will you, Frank"
IAN invisible net! What on earth is
that? Can't you see it? How shall |
know when I've got it? I'll inquire"
She gave him little push towards
the door.
Never mind, Mr.. Impudence. You
simply ask for what | tell you, pay
what they charge, and bring it home to
me-
So gOOdnaturpd Frank put on his hat
and started off to BlandfOrds, the ia
nous hairdresSer's, where he was to
buy the "inviSiblen net, to meet uncle
Tom on the doorstep, impatiently wait
ing for the carriage that was to take
him to his beloved.
There's plenty of time" Frank said,
as he stopped minute. Get your
cane. uncle Tom, and walk up to
Blandfnrd's with me-"
Uncle Tom looked at his watch.
well, | will. | shouldn't like to
keep Aura waiting, though"
There's no need to-" Frank an
swered.
And they started off, every bit of
Franks determination and tact kept
continuously on the alert to prevent
the old gentleman from discussing Miss
To n Co;,ttsGsc