San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-08-25
Tins story was commenced August -Ol
TN CUPLD'S NET.
BY BERTHA NJ. CLAY AUTHOR OF "DIANA's
DISCIPLINE" "A BROKEN WEDDING
RING" 'THORNs AND ORANGE
BLOSSOMS" DORA THORNE,"
&C. &C.

| peCJ you W NC III NOIh' w Hat HAS Dioushs
you here?'
told her Of my thoughtless wish to see
the ''night-blowing cereus," and she did not
seem angry.
II think" she said, at would be better If
you did not speak so freely to my son. Al
| though he is kind enough to take some little
interest in you, you must remember the wide
| difference between YOU"
II have never forgotten it, Lady Caryl,
and never shall" was my reply.
That is right; do not give yourself airs be
cause you fancy you have pretty face. An
other time, if Sir Adrian, in his thoughtleSs
kindness, should offer to show you flowers or
anything else, say you are busy, and de-
| cline"
| OF course it was all right and proper; be-
tween the nameless dependant and the mas
ter of HerOn's Nest was gulf nothing could
| bridge over. But, although it was right, my
| heart beat in rebelliOus anger. oh, my love
with the bonnie blue eyes, eyes that compell-
ed me to do his will, how could l decline any
kindness he might prOffer?
All that day Lady Caryl was very thought
full. l saw that she was brOOding over some
| thing. | was counting the hours until the
| cleaning came, when should sing for him
| sing out all my love for him.
/ laid my dress of white muslin ready;
| gathered blush-rOses for my neck and my
hair. l see myself now, standing before the
mirror, tall slender figure in white dress
| the bluSh-rOSeS in the dark hair and at my
throat, my eyes bright with hope and glad
ness. | was going to see him; should be in
| the same room with him for at least two
| hours. | should sing to him of the love that
never dies, of the story that never grows old.
/ should meet his friendly glances. Perhaps
| he would even come over to me as he had
done before, and say something pleasant TO
me.
There was a rap at my door. 1t was Fisher
her ladyShip's maid. She looked with a
meaning smile at the white dress and the
blush-rOSeS.
you can take them off, Gracia," she said !;
"my lady babe me tell you you need not go
down to the dTawing-rOOm tonight"
As a cloud darkens the face of the sun, so,
on hearing these words, all my happiness
died; | was not to see him. | sat in my room
until midnight, listening to the far-Otf sound
of music and song, with the very bitterness
Of death in my heart | cried myself to
sleep, thinking of the happy girls who were
free to talk to him, of the one who had said
that she would marry him for his broad
lands and of the other who would marry
him for love of his bonnie blue eyes.
On the day following Lady Caryl was in
mOment-I met Sir Adrian in the great cor
ridOr His whole face frightened when he
saw me.
'Gracia," he said reproachfully, "why did
you not come and sing last night? L missed
you so muCh3
in the distance, and knew she told every
thing TO Lady Caryl. But the words had
made me quite happy again. If he missed
me, nothing else mattered.
In the evening, just before dinner Lady
Caryl sent for me. She was in her bOudOir, and
she asked me to write some letters for her.
Then she walked to the window. | suppose
few people care to look into the face of those
whom they are going to injure.
you will have more liberty in the even
ing now, Gracia," she said at last. I'VE
shall have visitors next week. Captain Fame,
one OF my sons Old SchOOlfcllOws, is COM
ing sac paused; then her voice grew
harsher, more sharp and shrill as she contin-
ued Mrs. Roper the Generals wife, and
Lady Aditha Glynn are coming too. Lady
Aditha is a very fine musician, so that shall
be able to dispense with your services.
There was something else coming, / knew.
was breathless with suspense, with dread.
II may as well tell YOU" she said, that
Sir Adrian and Lady Aditha are engaged to
be married; 1t is an engagement OF long
standing"
Every word fell like a drop of molten lead
upon my heart. l stood mOtiOnieSs, and |
felt ne color die from my face. Did some
keen instinct tell her what she had dOneP
She did not turn round; she never glanced at
me.
"Of course" she went on, Il am not blam-
ing you; but it is certainly an awkward thing
TO have girl in your position about the
house. am sure do not know how to ex-
plain it to Lady Aditha. must trust to your
good sense to keep out of the way as much
as possible"
What could sayP 1t was all true; but l
could not bear the truth. The last few words
reused me; their very bitterness and cruelty
stung me into passionate life.
"YOur ladyship's wishes shall be obeyed,"
replied; and my anger gave me strength TO
walk steadily from the ROOM
When l reached my chamber, threw my
self upon the bed and buried my face In the
pillows. All longed for was death. Was
ever girl so miserable as l?
1t was some time before | dared to look
this new pain in the face. Sir Adrian was
to marry Lady Aditha. 1 did not know until
that hour how much loved him-how blank
and cold my future looked.
What was she like, this Lady Aditha?
Was she tall, fair, and stately? Would he
walk by her side, look into her eyes, kiss her
hand, as he had kissed miner If he did so,
l, seeing it, must die of jealousy. l could
not bear itwand yet had X, known IHI, always Iist
because he had been kind to me, because
from the height on which he stood he had
looked down upon me, because in his good
ness of heart he had spoken gently TO me,
was to presume? And yet what a, happy,
thrice happy girl Lady Adit h must be!
Twas flying down the south corridor in al
most breathless haste. Her ladyship had
sent for me, and that in every case meant
speed almost ran against Sir Adrian, who
laughed at my impetuosity. l had not seen
him since heard that he was going to be
married to. Lady Aditha Glynn. Ny heart
that could hardly stand. l felt my face
grow white as the face of the dead. My ashy
lips parted, but could not speak. Sir Ad-
rian caught both my hands in his, his face
frightened, tender light came into his eyes;
but / steeled my heart against him. He was
going to be married.
"Gracia," he said gently, II am so pleased
to see you. Where have you been hiding?
have not seen you for days"
What does It matter? asked myself
recklessly. "Why should he want to see
mep He is going to marry a rich and beauti.
did he want with me?
'sWhy, Gracia," he exclaimed, "what is it?
You have been i'll; you are not happy. you
have lost all your color and the brightness
from your eyes"
What If had? 1t mattered nothing to
him, who was going to marry Lady Aditha.
"Gracia, speak to mep he cried.
He looked as though he were going to take
me in his arms and kiss me. A hot thrill of
anger passed through me- Why should he
want to kiss me when he was going to marry
beauty and wealth. Let him kiss his be-
trothed! Yet, while my whole frame trem-
bled with anger my heart went out to him.
Oh, love with the bonnie blue eyes, how
good you were to look upon! l wrenched
my hand from his.
II must 60" l said desperately; LADY
Caryl wants me-"
II had stayed there one minute longer, l
must have betrayed myself. l fastened
down the corridor, and he stood looking aft
er me, distressed and grieved. Let him con-
sole himself, thought, with the beauty and
heiress he was going to marry, Yet the low