San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-01-14

L " dll 10 w NlbllN. mamma. size
says entreatingly, lust fora Little while:
! shall be all right Jnen. BnI there Is
one thing you can do for me" she cries,
breaking suddenly ont OF her terrible
quiet. "Neyer-never-mention his
name to me again.
Poor Mrs. Rivers is thoroughly cast
down. and Ronnie scarcely less SO.
How shall we receive him if he calls
Tomorrow" asks her mother. when
poor Cecil has crept away from them
up to her own room TO cry her heart
out on her bed.
Just as if nothing had happened.
Cecil, of course, will not appear. | will
make her go for walk at that hour. so
that we can truly say she is not in.
Mamma. if only for Cecil's sake, do not
let him see we care about this thing"
SO the next day. when Craven calls at
his usual hour, Mrs r verS is as nearly
as possible the same to him that she
has been during the past month. Per-
haps some subtle change in her manner
might be noticed by very acute OBJ
server, some vague irrepressible shrink
ing from all more open cordially: but
beyond this her demeanOr is perfect.
As for ROnnie, she is a degree more
sad than angry. She maintains an al
most utter silence; but every now and
then Craven. glancing at her. wonders
vaguely why her eyes are 50 large and
mOWnful, her whole manner so full of
an uncertain depression.
HIS wonder on this point. however,
IS indeed vague. as his whole mind is
filled with longing 10 see particular
lOunging-cha near the fire Occup ed
by little liSsOme figure whose smile is
wont to beam at him. half rOguiShly,
half with tenderness not to be de-
scribed. Where is she nOw-his little
sweetheart?
Where is NJ IS Cccil?" he asks at last,
unable to restrain his Impotence any
longer.
She has gone for a walk, think"
replies Mrs. Rivers, STOPPING to poke
the fire.
Let he do that for you" says GRAY
en-. taking the poker from her. She
has gone to the garden, perhaps He
is kneeling on the hearlh-rug. and is
looking very earnestly up into Mrs.
Rivers'S face, with his pleasant honest
eyes.
81 think nOt-certainly not-she did
not say exactly where she was going"
returns Mrs. X VerS. evaSively.
ROnnie at Tn signs audtbly, and
Craven, turning, looks at her sharply.
Something i'll her expression evidently
strikes him as beng peculiar, but he
says nothing, and presently turns the
conversation into another channel.
81 have a friend coming to stay with
me next week" he says-"a friend of
yours, too, think. | met him i'll Lon
don. and he almost asked me to invite
a 10 nli
very we'll"
Il dare say. We lived some years in
town." responds Mrs. Rivers. lndiffer-
emily. One gets to know 50 many pcO-
pie there"
ROnnie evinces no curiosity either
about the new arrival at the Court; so
Mr.. Craven goes on
I'm rather sorry he is coming Just
DOW. as | am bound to be III town in
the morning, and Sha' be able to be
back for fortnight. am afraid there
fore he will have only slow time of
it,"
He rises to go; as he does so, ROnnie
rises too, and follows him into the hall.
Il think" she says, in Il ,One that
falters Sllghtly-"I think G SSy went in
the direction OF the btech-wuOd."
Before he has time to thank her for
this hint or wonder at the StrangeneSS
OF her manner, she has disappeared;
and, somewhat puzzled. Craven makes
his way toward the wood she has men-
toned.
Just as he enters it, he encounters
Cecil coming toward h III. her head
slightly bent, her face rather paler than
usual.
How dye dO?" she says, quite calm
ly, but without an accompanying smile.
She let's her hand lie i'll MS unSympa-
thetlcally, and then draws it away al
most before he has time to know it was
there.
Il was unfortunate to-day. thought
| should have found you wllhm'-wIth
an attempt at cOrdiality. though some
inward III sgiv.ngS have cast a shadow
on his usual IghI-heartedneSS.
For the future. think yOu must not
expect always To find ME in" she re-
plies, with faint smile.
Why he asks, aStOnished at her
whole treatment of HIM.
Because winter is at an end. and the
line weather temptS one to 60 out" she
says, COldly.
For that reason one loves the fine
weather" he returns, STRIVING against
his growing anX cay. May not some
times accOnphny you N your rambles|
"NO. think not. When | go for
walk in these quiet woods. prefer my
own company to any ones. a strange
fancy, and rather egOtlStlcal. is 1t not?"
1T is very unlike yOu"-gravely; then,
unable to control his uneaSineSs any
longer, he saws, anXiOuSly. Nv hat has
happened that Won treat me like this?
What have done to your
"Done to me?"-haughtily. Moth
ingl"
Il am going to town this evening,
Cecil. shall not be back until"
Il must ask you not to call me
Cecil" says the girl, quietly, and with
a certain amount of dignity. Il must
always be Miss Rivers to gentlemen
acquaintance"
Am | only that? Only an acquaint-
ance?"
There is a world of reproach in his
tone.
Eyes, only that"-remOrselessly.
And yet Yesterday"
do not speak of yesterday" she eX-
claims. putting up her hand impulsive-
", as though to ward off something
that is hurting her.
"As you will. of course" he returns,
in tone nearly as cold as her own. Il
have no claim, of course. to be cOnsid-
cred even a friend. May say good
bye to you, and let you finish Your walk
in peace? am going away this even
ing"
where are you going?"
"TO my aunt-Lady EtOn."
"Ah. to your COUSIN Lady Maud"
"Yes, if you like. Who was telling
you of it? The Major"
YES, the Major. lie told me every
thing"
81 don't know when 1 shall be back"