San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-08-07

CHAPTER XIV.
| ITO cry TO the sea that roared to us, to sigh
To the winds, whose pity, signing back again,
| Did US but loving wrong"
The Tempest.
1t is noon of the next day. They have
dawdled through the preceding one, have
strolled down to the beach and found odd
shells along its shores. They have talked
with FlOrine on every subject, botany in
cluded, and have just watched her departure
for other climes. But to-day Helen's face
wears no longer its limp, woe-begone express
sion. On the contrary it is wreathed in gay
smiles of expectancy, for to-day, oh, fair
red letter day, she with Ran will leave this
detested place, with its half-cooked bread
and wabbly fish, and, oh bliss above all, in
less than week she will be on her way TO
the Old World. Eleanor looks just the
same; she has no such delightful prospect in
view. She will spend two more dull, stupid
weeks here, and then she will Of her hus-
band sees fit go to some little hole in the
mountains. Gladly would she return to the
city and there brave the summer weather
had not such thing been forbidden by the
doctor. At present she is standing by the
window of her room, while Helen kneels
beside her packing Daisy's trunk.
THE boat will surely be here by one, will
1t not Nell?' questions the latter, raising a
flushed, anxious face to peer out on the rip
pling waters.
81 should think So"
IF we were not TO get off to-day | think
should die |" says Helen, rising and shutting
down the trunk with snap Poor Nell"
(stroklng her hair caressingly), "hOtO pity
you"
do you. Sometimes | pity myself"
The sharp boat whistle breaks in upon
them. Helen flies down stairs with happy
eyes and scarlet cheeks; her sister follows
more slowly. The small carriage is tOiling
up, the poor little pony looks leaner than
However flnD1 m tn 10
door of the Grand Hotel and there stops
with self satisfied expression on his poor,
patient face. The Professor jumps down,
while his wife comes gladly forward to greet
him.
Ran, dear Ran, how glad am to see you.
have been stagnating here"
"And you" says Allen, coming to where
his wife stands grave and cold, shave you
been stagnating, tOOy
She has given him her hand in greeting;
it lies cold and passive in his.
No" she says, looking up at him. mo;
II have been very well satisfied"
They stand, these two sisters, with their
arms about one another. They have not
stood thus since they were little children in
the old days. EleanOTs eyes are brim full
of tears; 1t does not take very much to call
them forth now. Helen's face is real
April one, tears and smiles mingle there to-
gether. She is sorry to part from Nelly, but
she is so glad to go, so heartily thankful to
COL The Professor and Joe are standing at
a little distance, deep in the enjoyment Of
their cigars. A little way off some children
are playing. DAISY is watching them half
enviOusly. In five minutes the boat will
start; she has but five minutes more to look
at Helen.
''You will write me long letters, won't you
dear~ she says, with pitiable attempt to
smile, "long letters like used to get when
you were away at school"
''0f course will"
"All about everything you see, and when
you come to anything Uery pretty you must
think of and wish for me. Will youp'
That will but see, Ran is calling me.
Pm afraid it's time to CO."
Goodbye Nelly" says Ran, kissing her.
"Take care Of yourself and make Joe bring
you over to US soon. Yes, Daisy, Pm going
right now"
"Do not forget me, Helen" cries Nelly,
with her arms tight clasped about her sisters
neck; write to me often, often"
"Indeed yes" returns the other. You
shall hear enough Of me promise you"
Then she forcibly unfastens Eleanor's
arms, and with a hasty farewell to Joe fol-
lows her husband.
And Eleanor stands there with streaming
eyes and watches the steamer as 1t plOughs
its way through the water. Her husband
comes to where she stands and touches her
arm.
"Dinner is ready" he says, 'if you have
done crying we had better go in. Are you
readyg,
So together they enter the long, solemn
dining-room. Mr.. Aliens temper is not
much improved by the bill Of fare; it is the
first time he has ever taken dinner here, and
he is not prepared for the inevitable. Hay--
ing abused the oysters to the full extent OF
his vocabulary, he pushes them aside and
falls to the chicken which lies mournfully
before him, deluged in melted butter. But
istence, and In his death is as obstinate as
he was in life. Joe gives him up in despair.
do they have anything here fit to eat
he exclaIms angrily, pushing his plate away
and turning to Eleanor. by Jove, Nelly, you
have not eaten a thingP'
ut is a little worse than usual to-day" re-
turns the girl YEARLY. 81 am not very hun
CRY, and Pm not TO- of oysters; sometimes
they have really good eggs"
"Do you really mean to say so? Well, at
all events, we will see If the wine is as
abominable as the rest Hi! you waiter,
The wine is brought and proves to be de-
cided improvement upon the viands. 1t
mollifies Mr.. Allen considerably.
Drink some, Eleanor" he says, "it may
give you little color; you are white as
She drinks obedIently. but the pretty color
which he has desired fails to come. After
they have killed as much time as they can at
the table they go out on the beach. Eleanor
sits down UPON the sand with her hands
folded and looks out on the sea. Her huS-
bands stands close beside her INDUCING in
that never-failing comfort, a cigar.
"What deuced little hole this Is" he
says Grossly, looking down at his wife for
affirmation, but he gets no response.
HAS i done you any, good, Nelly"
II really can not say"
allow have you existedp These two hours
have been enough for me-"
Exist? Oh, i do very well"
She has lifted her eyes to his; sad eyes
they are.
"You shall not stay here long, Nelly. Can
you pack up tomorrow and 10 awayT
Yes; II you wish Il"
1--WE will go to the mountains; that will
do you more good than sitting here listening
to these eternal waves"
~ like to hear them"
"Well, don't; but what are we TO do this
evening. Should you like to go sailingP"
Her Indifference vanishes, her voice sounds
very eager "0h, 50 much; have not been
once and l have SO lOnged to CO."
Then we will go this evening, and To-
morrow evening we can have drive. have
already engaged the horse. l will 90 and
see about the boat now"
So he leaves her and she watches him un-