San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-01-05
A MAID FORLORN.
BY THE DUCHESS.

nat may or ulIN ilOJ ne. ItluIHS
Uncle Gregory. uncomprOmisngly,
though somewhat appeascd by her gen
tleness: Il only know you never did
come. Well-eh, And what news,
eh?"
lie is. as every one knows, the most
notorious old newS-mOmgcr in town.
and is just now utterly disheartenrdh he
cause he can not attend his club. where
the choicest mOrceuMr of scandal are
disseminated daily.
very little news anywhere just at
present" answers Mrs. Rivers, absent
ly. She is anXiOusly wondering how
she shall bring IN the subject of the
country scheme.
81 hope you have not been letting
those girls ont again without yourself"
says Uncle Gregory. iraSCibly. Il heard
about that KenSingtOn trip from Major
Jervis. who saw them there. Wrong,
very wrong, my dear ElmOr; young wO-
men should never hc allowed to go any
where without their mother or guard
IAN"
Sir Sydney Walcott is such an old
friend" responds Mrs Rivers, nervous
ly. that l thought they might safely go
with him."
odd. Pooh. SYSTEMATICALLY, l
suppose. \ boy indeed. And no doubt
disSipated too"
ROnnie'S eyes flash fire.
"The present generation" purSues Sir
Gregory, knows no boys. They are all
grown up from their cradles; and girls
should not be trusted out of ones sight.
You can't be too careful. my dear Eli
nor"
Il should wish to be careful, of
course" says poor Mrs. Rivers. in de-
pressed tone.
Then make Sir Sydney discontinue
his visits. | hear from certain quar-
ter how frequent they are"
AT this Ronnie grows pale, and, lift
ing her blue eyes. fixes them beseech-
ingly upon her mother. Her mother,
though she refuses to meet her glance,
still feels deeply for her.
Il think any young man who keeps
philandering after two girls for months
together, without coming to the point
you see, | know everything, my dear
Elinor-shOuld be summarily dealt
with. have heard d good deal, and /
think Sir Sydney should get his c0nge.
If he is not going TO marry the girls, he
ought to be forbidden at the house."
"TIe can't well marry us both, poor
SOUL" remarks Cecil, demurely. THE
law forbids."
"Eh? En-" says Uncle Gregory, ir-
ritably.
AT all events, he certainly can't
marry me-" Cecil goes on, suayely, in
spite of a warning glance from her
mother, which she pretendS not to see.
Because the duke wouldn't hear of it,"
THE duke. What duke?" demands
old Sir Gregory, raising himself from
his recumbent position. to stare blank
ly at her.
"My duke" replies Cecil. boldly,
though her eyes are sparkling with
laughter. didn't you know of it? |
have made up my mind at last, and
nothing under Strawberry-leaveS will
content me"
at is only Cecil's nonsense" says
Mrs. Rivers. in an agony.
Her dearest Cecil. she tells herself, is
so incOnsiderate. and SO thOughtless;
and if the old man should be offended
But the old man IS not offended. On
the cOntrary-Strange to say-he is
amused, and gives way to Il prolonged
chuckle.
Ell? Eh?"h says again. This is his
favOrite ejaculation. SO YOU are fly
ing high. are you? Well. | wish you
luck. But"-with a relapse into his
former tartness, and glance at Ron
ME. who is sitting calm and pallid as
an early snOwdrOp-"dOn't have your
duke dangling after you for months,
making you laughimg-stOck for all
your friends"
Ronnie signs, and grows even shade
paler. Her mother. seeing this. turns
hastily to Sir Gregory.
Il agree with yOu,' she says, though
the words almost choke her. "And to
prevent any further nonsense of the
sort you speak of think of taking the
children"-they are always children to
her-"dOwn into the quiet country, that
is, if you approve of the move"
"To the country" repeats Uncle
Gregory, taken aback. Then he tells
himself she has taken to heart his adj
vice about avoiding the sullying infu-
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