San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-10-20

Ntlt l'b NtHh az lttNN lllt ludlNtl pup
erly. iutrUd to "cl differently, | can
tell you. Now | have left college. my
time is my own, | mean to stick to this
little difficulty until 1t is done away
with and the girl won
Rex lowered darklv above his moth
eT. an evil look in his duSky eyes, the
picture Of for e and resolve. His
mother shrugged her thin shoulders
and said pepvishiv:
Il don't see why yOu should try ia
compel jess = To- nA Won wife; you could
live vrrv conf. shy uVOn your in
come, il you W"". ! only keep within
bounds, and be content. as your father
was. with quiet dccorous life"
But will not he content, ma mere.
so why worry me with such prOsy talk?
want the girl as much as her money"
Just because you have been denied
both. II was ever so with you from
childhood. Wen. | hope your plans,
whatever they are. will not bring you
into trouble"
do you mean to help me, mother? I
warn yOu that if Jessie iG not my wife
before the years out. I'll marry that
pretty actress you bother your head so
much about. and live abroad"
Don't say that, Rex. Id rather see
you in your grave than bound to that
wicked woman"
she is not wicked, only just as de-
IiciOusly naughty as she dare be, and
the jOllieSt little wretch in England. |
wish all women were such good com
pany. Here comes Jess; not another
word of Dolly as you love me-
Mrs. NemmimOre sighed as Jessie en-
ttra,l Lar ,,lnpl-, CT 81
sentiment. She was taStefUlly attired
in a black lace dress heavily beaded
with Jet: the bodice. cut square, showed
her white neck and left bare her beauti-
ful arms.
Crimson peoples nestled behind her
tiny ear. and a broad sash of the same
deep red kept her skirts in place.
Rex thought he had never seen her
look more lovely, and he tried hard to
win forgiveness for his rash and ill-ad-
vised freedom: but in vain. she was
barely civil, and that only out of con-
sideration for her aunt who looked
worried and weary.
Dinner passed in moody silence;
when twas ended Rex brought an East
crn wrap and asked Jessie to go out on
the balcony with him as he wished to
speak to her.
Fearing, for his mothers sake, to
rouse his rough temper again, she con-
Sented. placing some red roses in her
bosom as she went.
Mrs. NennimOre took up a novel with
a sigh of relief, and watched them as
they stood on the mOOnlit balcony look
ing towards the silvery Thames.
Rex lighted a cigarette. and between
the puffs, said in that cool tone of his:
I'm sorry veXed you to-day, Jess,
but you fire fellow so with your dis
dainful beauty, that one loses his head
before he knows where he is"
JeSSie's lip curled, and her thoughts
flew to one man who never lost his
head, but was always steady, true, reli-
able and tender.
Rex, not noticing her silence, said:
"IIOw beautiful the river looks to-
night; will you be sorry to leave it?''
Leave it, What do you mean?"
81 mean that | intend to take my
mother away for while on account of
her failing health, and, of course, as
you are under her guardianship, you
will accompany u.s."
Jessie felt as though an icy hand had
ClutChed about her heart. To leave
Richmond and be taken away from
BOb's protecting presence had never
entered her head. 1t was too horrible.
all her boosted courage seemed to de-
Sert her.
Rex saw her CONSERVATION, and
laughed hooking laugh as he said:
on don't seem to relish the idea,
Jess, but you must submit for once; the
journey cannot be delayed on any pre-
text
a feeling of despair and defeat came
upon Jessie. 1t wanted but a few
months to her freedom, yet what might
not this mans evil strength compass in
that time?
She knew how vain it was to struggle
against his decision when it had once
a tool in his hands whom he could use
to his own purpose; Jessie knew she
must submit, so she said lightly:
"One place will be as uncomfortable as
if your society must be in
flicted upon me. When do we go?"
Il have not yet decided; soon, at any
rate, and considering you must submit
to my society, my pretty vixen, should
advise you to do so with civility. Come,
be friends; I'm too fond of you to be
on ill terms"
Jessie shuddered as he put his arm
round her waist; she disengaged herself
silently for she saw her aunt had fallen
asleep.
As she bent over the balcony the
roses dropped from her bosom to the
garden below: someone standing there
in the shadow picked them up and
pressed them to his lips. which were
hit, ,,ngp.a,, e., h,, nj.
put his arms about the woman he loved
with such reverent, adOring devotion;
saw, and dared not interfere for her
sake.
Still, he could haunt the house and
keep an unseen, unsupported guard
over her whom his heart held dearer
than life, his pure innocent girl-lOve.
Oh, it was horrible to think that she
was compelled to live in the same house
with the man who prosecuted her so
cruelty, she who was his, his very own,
by every law of love. and who was only
from him for few months.
Bob longed to leap upon his rival and
fight for his lady-lOve, hand to hand
with his foe, as knights of old have
done; passion lifted him out of his
wOrkaday world and inspired him with
a desire to defend his darling against
all the world.
But wishes were powerless, and he
knew he should but increase her trouble
by seeking to help her now.
So he waited with hot resentment
tempest in his mind, waited
till he saw Jessie outlined against the
yellow lamp-light. the faint moonbeams
the pallor of her passionate
face; then he saw Mrs. Vennimore
come out and stand beside her niece.
A second later Rex brushed close by
him in the shadows, with his hands
thrust deep into his pockets, and putting
n niuar fttrinncly hto taafh