San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-12-14

laugh WAS his highness's safe and
neutral reply. His private opinion was
the creature" looked deuced handsome,
and 30 she did in her own loud 0atrs
fashion.
sSFleur de Marie is certainly pretty"
admitted Mrs. Somerset East, raising her
eyebrows, "but still consider her taat
soft pou tade, don't you kn9T, white as
marble and as cold, hear,f what fam
Gus Galatea she woad hSre made. BY
the way, haven't seen her on the beach
this morning. All, yes. there she comes.
Who is that nan walking by her sidef
Do you know him, Renei lie haunts her
like shadow He doesn't look like one
Of her own set. Do you know him I"
asked the fair critic, turning round and
whispering.
"Yes; met him at Lord NockaLowt'.
in tie spring. He's well known on the
turf; did a big thing at Ascot last June,
made quite vi, l believe. on 'Tctrarch'
He goes by the name OF Nick Newen"
"Is that Cuthbert Neweni" exclaimed
Mrs. Somerset East, tursng round to
stare as only pretty and well-born wo.
pan can do with impunity. "Ah, know
Ris-fathsr proud as Luoifer. It's to be
hoped his son is not thinking of marrying
that pretty little prima donna; but Of
course he won't"
"EIey sg she refused Sir Harry Lothian
last season"
"Dont believe it." was the lady's
prompt response. 81 can'sNmagine how
men can run after that sort Of women,
however pretty they may lie. Just look
at Eewen-why, positively, he peers into
her face in way would never allow,
know, and looks as if he would like TO
swallow each word that falls from her
lips. Just see, they are moving away
now. No, they are thinning back this side
-hushr and Mrs. East raised her Chi
nese pagodaxl like parasol, and lowered. it
over her eyes that she might stare
thro6 01ts broad fringe Of lace at the
Fleur de Marie, whom in her heart Of
hearts she envied, and whose costume
and couture she invariably copied, al
though, as the young singer passed, she
drew in her slken skirts and gathered
them round her feet.
Yes, IL was true, as the fashionable
magpie had said, Newen had haunted
her like her shadow ever since her ar
rival at the Dolphin fortnight before.
He knew it, but he also felt that he had
nevertheless advanced not one step near
sr to her real self, in spite OF his best Of
forts, in spite Of walks and talks and ex-
cursions into the country, and moonlit
converse on the pier, where the world
gathered to enjoy the GOODNESS Of the
night hours, to the sound of dream-like
music, and stirring Of FLASHING waves.
He was looking-nay, peering into her
face, trying TO read in her calm blue eyes
the expression he had so earnestly tried
to call forth, but in vain.
He only so far could fatter himself she
was his friend, and that in a most aggra-
vatingly frank fashion. Platonics are
very unpalatable to lover, and such, I'M
doubtedly, was Newcn.
Yes; from that first evening, that first
look from eye to eye, he had felt she was
his fate for veal or woe.
Now, however. he was not so sanguiue
Either this Fleur de Marie had already
given her love to another O. else she was
a most finished coquette, only feigning in
difference to fan the fame of his passion.
He would not own to himself that she
might be every way free and yet refuse
him. Such a thought hurt his pride. Any
how, he was determined to put an end to
the uncertainty on the first opportunity.
He lOnged to throw himself at her feet
"All the world seems here, and l know
no oHe," said Fleur de Marie, turning her
face towards the gay -colored moving
mass, ebbing and flowing, like 2 human
tide on the sands below-fOr they were
now standing on the promenade.
why, here is one Of your friends COM
ing down from the cliff Ne replied,
catching sight Of Lorita, surrounded as
usual by body guard, with whom she
was laughing and talking noisily while
she descended the slope, Using her para
sol as walking stick.
"She is no friend Of mine, Mr.. Ne&en."
There was no scorn or malice in the tone,
only, perhaps, a shade of sadness, for
which her cavalier could not account.
Gan you say as much for her compan-
ion, mademoiselle
The words had scarcely left his lips
when he regretted his speech. 'She will
think me impertinent," he thought, and
so she evidently did. He saw her sweet
face fiusl. from brow to chin at his words,
then she turned to him and replied
quietly:
81 shall cancel that remark of yours
from my memory. It's unworthy Of you,
Mr.. Newen. Come, Miss Hurst, it is past
one o'clock; the band has ceased playing,
and it is hot. Let us go back 10 lunch"
There was nothing for Newen to do but
to raise his hat and drop behind. As he
did so, the Leopard and her party passed
the little group, looking back over her
shoulder with smile Of unmistakable
meaning, and glance at Newen out Of
her bold black eyes which heightened her
rivals color.
There were half.a dozen men with this
woman. but one walked by her side, car
ried her gloves and handkerchief, and
seemed to ensross all her attention.
Only this one did Fleur de Marie no
tice. His face was turned sway, but she
felt that he had seen her as he went by,
and the bright flush faded from her
cheeks. leaving her very pale.
Lorita Leorarii had been forced Ia
own, although only to herself, that, on the
stage, Fleur de Marie was as far above