San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-01-13

in Pirra8iN last week. look n~ uncCm-
InUhlS well ana happy. You Wi. a ur
glad 10 hear good a, counts OF uIm, ue
WAS such an intimate frienC of yours
VERY intimate. | know few people
kr So well as ST Sydney" SAYS Mrs
Rivers. calmly, but she cOlOrs as she
says It.
~You have made the acquaintance of
Mr.. Craven, hear" remarks the Major.
presently. Il am staying with him. you
know"
| Yes. lie himself told us so just
now"
All. been here already? Sharp
work. says the Major: and Cecil, who
is earnestly regarding him. sees that he
starts little. and that slight frown
contracts his forehead. Early visiting;
wasn't it-eh?"
is it early" asks Mrs. Rivers. Ian
guidly. I'VE hardly thought of that.
You see, we know so few people down
here as yet that We make more than
usually welcome any one who is KIND
enough to break in upon our mOnOtO-
ny"
And he is just the sort of person to
make more than usually welcome"
returns the Major, with an unpleasant
smile. "lle is about the best catch
down here. or anywhere else that |
know of: but vet not Ia he caught. |
think-n0t to be caught. LA. ha."
Il have heard he is very well of"
says Mrs. Rivers. cOldiy.
Heard it before you came down. |
dare aS"-cmckling.
This is almost too much. Cecil grows
as red as rose and bites her lip. Rom
ME turns as if b, mt on annih ldling their
l,,,t N I
checks her by saying blandly-
You know all about him. of course.
Major Jervis. His father was a great
friend of yours. | believe"
"Ye-es." says the Major. SO doubtful
ly, that Ronnie and Ccc.l both decide
that the late Mr.. Craven suffered him
more than he regarded him.
Have any of You seen his place yet"
asks the Major, turn ny as If imStinC-
tlYPlV to Cecil She cOlOrS hOtlV.
We have been hardly anywhere yet;
the weather has been 50 terrible" re-
plies her mother, coming quickly to the
rescue.
splendid old place" says the Major
antique, picture ,que-pure Gothic.
You know. and all that sort of rubbish!
The drawing-rOOm is Il study III medi-
evalism, and the old china is PRICELESS"
oh, yes. those beautiful old Queen
Anne cups with the tiny gold tracing"
eXclaims Cecil, leaning forward. and
forgetting in her eagerneSS all her words
may convey to the Ma jOr.
Eth? What suspciously. Il
thought YOU said you had not been
there. Then how did you see the china,
Miss Gee l-eh:"
Il heard of it," replies Cecil, blushing
neTyOusly.
"Ilcard-eh? Very accurate descrip-
ton from mere heartay."
Really, Major" SAYS Mrs. Rivers,
Ealf smiling, YET wholly angry, Cecil
will not be pleased with you if you
doubt her word. Some day we are all
go ny over To see those wonderful
tlngS. Mr.. Craven has kindly express
Ell wish that We Nnoud 90 and look at
the old p! &C."
An. !cs. EodoU IT, grOwls the Major.
Not That tank / NOdlu be an adviS-
Hhle step on yOurT?rt. my dear madam.
Ii yOu will allow an old friend of the
family To We his np Mon on This sub
jet. | ShOuId say Young ladies are bet
ter out of bachelors quarters! They
are hardly suitable for Young unmar-
ried ladies. should think. Better at
madam. You are the best Judge of all
that"
Yes. think So" returns Mrs. Riv-
ers. Il little haugltily: but this terrible
old man is not Ia he rcbuked.
mo OtfrnSP," he SAYS. a word in
season. you know: and-er-my young
friend Craven * rather a gay fellow
nothing very much against him. you
know, my dTar madam. only young
men VIII he young men to the end of
the chapter! IIa-hHw
HIS words mean no hing. his manner
a great deal. \ vague SHADOW as of
coming grief falls upon the heart of
Mrs Rivers as she turns almost inStinC-
lively To look at her pretty Cecil.
Her pretty Cecil is looking utterly
unconCemed. and is simply regarding
Major JerviS with a glance suggestive
OF indifference and contempt. Mrs.
Rivers signs. and won 'erS mwardly
whether she is doing IL " st thing in al
lowing this acquaintance with Duke
Craven to ripen into friendShip-nay,
into something that may prove even
warmer than r.endShip. and more capa-
BILE of bearing fruit either of JOY or SOr-
rOw-What if it should br SOrrOw? Aft
er all. what do they know about this
young man Craven? He has fallen into
the.r lives by the merest chance, and is
literally unknown to them beyond the
fact that he is of good family and has "A
house and some cons derable property.
OF his character or his usual habits
they nave learned absolutely nothing.
And even now is not the Major throw
ing out hints of most unpleasant nat
ure about HIM?
la iS
ing Major JervIS about Craven COurt.
Yes, it is a capital place" he saws,
but draughty-yery, and HUNTED INTO
the bargain"
"Hauntedl How delicious!" Cissy
cries. clasplng her hands. DO tell us
all about it. Major"
WhereupOn the Major, who dearly
loves the sound of his own voice, gives
them Il most extraordinary account OF
his pursuit of Gee on that memorable
evening now more than week ago. He
has hardly finished his highly colored
recital when, to the surprise of all.
Craven again enters the room.
Il really must beg YOUR pardon" says
the young man, blush mg ingemuouSly.
But not until had reached home.
Mrs. Rivers, did remember about that
address for which you so wished |
have it with me now. AS | was going
to Carbery"-a village some three miles
AWAY thought might as well drop
in again and leave it with you"
"Much better" answers ROnnie, gra-
ciOusly.
All, Major; knew should find you
here" says Duke, genially. Il hope
you are max ng yourself agreeable"
What an absurd question:" cries
ROnnie. when is the Major anything
else? Just now. too. he is making him
self more than usually charming, be-
cause he is telling us ghOst-stories.