San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-08-05
CHAPTER XXI.
THAT IL should come to this!"

out my maid Why, JOe%
| Because" says Mr.. Allen, rising and
| speaking rather neryOusly, 81 should like TO
| tighten our expenses little"
Yes | can do without her" says his wife
| slowly. 81 never had one till | married
| you. ! am well used to waiting on myself"
''Then please give her warning to-day"
But why is it?' she questions, with fem
| mime curiosity. "lS your work giving way?
| Tell me what ii is. | am not afraid of pow
erty."
Its not good business year," returns
her husband GROSSLY, land I'm by no means
rich, though from the way you spend money
one would think | was millionaire"
The injustice of this remark Stings Flea
nor to the quick.
fully, why don't spend in year what you
spend in a month on champagne, cigars and
turf-betting'
lie reddens. Zone must have some amuse-
ment"
And you choose such an innocent One,"
she goes on, beginning to walk up and down
before him. 'Have you forgotten those last
races. You went Off in grand style, no
doubt you remember that, but you do not
care TO remember how you came back"
His face has darkened, darkened. II was
unfortunate. How could l tell the brute
would go lame"
81 sat up all night-hOw long it seemed
waiting for you. l did not know what had
to expect then"
stop gliding at me-" he cries angrily.
'What tongue you havep
She Is silent Then, as is always the case
with her, her better spirit cOnquers and she
goes to him.
Joe" she says looking at him with her
soft eyes, "dO not bet any more. You are
too fond of il, for oh, my dear, it is wrong.
Indeed it is"
Don't make mountains of mOlehills,
Eleanor, and don't keep me any longer"
He puts aside her OBTAINING hand and so
leaves her.
She goes up stairs to where above her bible
there hangs a picture, and she kneels down
before it and presses her lips upon the face.
"Oh, DOME darling" she cries, speaking out
loud to it, "DOnie darling, do try to be
good girl and good wife, but it is so hard,
so hard. II | could only see you again,
DOME, you would help and tell me what to
do" But the picture stares back at her from
out its velvet frame and says never a word.
By and by there comes letter to her
from Helen, long, crossed epiStle, dwelling
chiefly upon her culinary efforts and the an
gelic sweetness of the Professors temper;
but at the end she writes:
There has been some fever mot cOnta-
giOuS) in the village, and of course Uncle
Aft has been made a perfect slave. You
know he never will refuse and these peO-
pie are always dying or thinking they are,
and send for him at all hours. Naturally he
has broken down. lie has been Ill for about
week. OF course if 1t proves serious you
shall know"
Eleanor puts down the letter with a sink
ing heart DOME ill! and she away from
him! She will 20 to him at once. SO when
Mr.. Allen comes up to dinner he finds her
waiting for him with white face and
frightened eyes.
'Oh, Joe" she cries, running to him. 81
am so glad you have come. DOME is ill and
l am so miserable, but if | begin to pack this
evening" shall not need much-dOn't you
think can get off tO-night?'
what in the world are you talking abOutp'
says her husband amazedly. "WhO Is illp'
'DOnie-my uncle. See what Helen says"
and she puts the letter into his hand.
lie reads it slowly, while she stands before
him waiting nervOusy till he has done, then:
IL may go, of course"
go! what are you talking about? How
foolish you are"
Her face falls and grows paler than ever.
Not 90! Why, he is all alone. with only
Helen. Surely may 90 to him."
ut Is Impossible lie says shortly.
"Why may | n0l?' she cries, following
him into the dining room and laying her
hand Oh his arm,
because it is nonsense Nelly. He is not
very i'll; your sister will write if he is. The
Journey is very expensive, and have not
the money to waste"
"You do not mean you will not let me goy'
she cries. her large eyes dilating, her red
lips quvering. You can not mean thatT'
II tell you have not the money to waste
Eleanor"
You wish to save it to throw away at the
turf" she cries passionately. You do not
care for me or what | suffer. Oh Joe" her
voice changing from passion to entreaty,
"let me go, pray you"
DO not be absurd. / tell you it is impos-
sible."
She comes to him where he stands looking
out OF the window, and puts her arms about
his throat and lays her fair young face to his.
"Joe," she says, lifting her sad beautiful
eyes to his, Joe, L have never asked you
for anything in all my life, but now beg
you. Oh, pray you, let me go, for some
how feel If do not see him now, l never
will again."
He unclasps her hands and puts her from
him. you are too absurd, Eleanor. i am
ashamed of you"
'And you will not let me go?'
Il have already told YOU" says her hus-
band coldly. And now il you are going to
that concert you had better get ready"
All the entreaty dies away from her face
1t grows cold and hard.
"0h, you are cruel 10 me. go to a con-
cert with you indeedl Know now" she goes
without my seeing him, shall hate you; i
shall loathe and hate the very sight Of YOU
II hope your temper will be better when !
return" says he, picking up his coat and nat
and beating haSty retreat
And the girl filings herself down upon the
sofa and bursts into q flood OF passionate
weeping. Presently she dries her eyes and
rises to her feet. Her dress is crumpled, her
hair is struggling about her face, and yet
surely she heard some one entering. She
prays II is not visitor. But even as she
stands there undecided what TO do, the door
opens and welEknown figure comes to-
wards her.
do not be angry with me-" he says, hold
ing out his hand, "but could not go with
out seeing you once more"
When do you goP she says. She does
not offer him a seat. She stands there In the
full glare of light with her poor, fearful eyes
turned away from him.
Tomorrow"
There is long silence Only the clock
ticks loudly, increasingly.
"You have been crying" he says sudden
ly, noting her tear-stained cheeks and swol-
len lids. What is the matter, Eleanor?'
Nothing" striving to smile. IL am
such a cry baby. / always was"
He does not say word. lie is looking at
"And now" she goes on, after q pause.
Eve had better say goodbye You know
"And must never see you any more,
never againr
mo"
81 will think of you always. l will have
the memory of YOU forever" he Onas "a. -. -