San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-11-30
CHI LUN G.;
A BIT OF HUMAN NATURE.
BY DAVID CHRISTIE MURRAY.

This was as good as an appeal for help,
and Arthur, rising from his own seat, walk
ed to where she sat. She offered him her
palette and the sheaf Of brushes she held in
her hand. As he took them he touched her
fingers, and this mere momentary contact
thrilled him all over. He feigned to examine
her work, and looked as cool as acucumber,
but he had hard work to maintain his aspect
Of indifference.
II want the work to be my own, and you
must not do too much of it, Mr.. Lawrence"
said Olivia, 'but do please give me that lit
tie bit of shadow"
She arose from her seat and motiOned him
to take it. He obeyed her, and she stood be-
hind him, with both hands on the rail of the
chair. She leaned over him, and he could
feel her breath warm upon his cheek. He
concentrated himself resOlutely upon the
bit of shadow, and succeeded so perfectly
to her liking that she clapped her hands.
He gave her back the palette and brushes,
but kept his eyes the while upon the picture,
not trusting himself so far as to look at her.
He was genuinely ashamed and angry.
II may tell her some day." he thought to
himself. But how dare l want to make
eyes at girl whom have only known for
fortnight" He felt that if he looked at
her at that moment his glance would betray
him, and in his own mind he was thorough
ly persuaded that it would seem like an in
suit to her if he should suffer q passion of
such sudden growth to declare itself. 1t was
unfortunate that young man of his ideas
should have fallen in love so hurriedly, but
then these things happen in their own way,
and Love, no more than other fevers, de-
mands, the permission of a patient before
making its attack. 81 haven't seen Chi Lung
to-day" he said, still staring at the picture
with his head held deceptively on one side,
as If 1t were studying its color and proper
tons.
Nor /" said Olivia. 'Shall we go to see
himp The doctor says he is greatly better"
Now Lawrence had had no other idea in
his mind in mentioning Chi Lung than to
procure an excuse for being out of Oliyia's
society for little while, so that he might
discipline himself. At first this inexperienc
ed young man had doubted the solidity of a
sentiment inspired by few chance ex-
changes of the eyes, and then he had resolv-
ed that an inquest into the lady's spiritual
graces should at least be made, before love
was permitted to grow any further. Now
he was fully decided that her mind and
heart were as unrivaied and as beyond
rivalry as her person, and still he was no
better satisfied with himself. "A little pot
is soon hot" he would say to himself, figur-
ing by his vulgar prOverb the rapid beating
of his own heart. Surely no sterling nature
was ever thus affected. He went on theo-
rizing in this manner, though experience
had long since knocked his theory to pieces
D..s. a N... n
than demonstrate the extreme shallowness
of his own nature.
When Olivia proposed to accompany him
on his visit to Chi Lung she intruded her
self, without in the least thinking of it, be-
tween the picture and his eyes, and he could
not help looking at her. His eyes wore
commonly a thoughtful look of kindly
gravity, and were by no means difficult for
man, woman, or child to meet But Olivia
meeting their glance was abashed without
knowing why, for they held yearning
hungry look which she could not under
stand. She could not understand either the
singular sensation which this glance awoke
In her own bosom, but she blushed and
dropped her eyes, and looked and felt self
conscious. This was new thing In her ex-
perience. No young man had ever looked
at her so before. There was pause of two
or three seconds-altogether a gulf of time.
'Shall we go and see Chi Lung?o said
Lawrence, feeling this silence growing more
and more awful.
"If you like" she answered, shyly.
II have frightened her." said Lawrence.
miserably to himself. ''She will never be-
at ease with me again." He had felt how
impassioned his own gaze was, and when
she blushed at 1t, there had been such a
downright physical aching In his breast and
arms to caress her and comfort her in apollo
Ky for his fault that 1t was hard to resist II,
though he felt this inspiration to be nothing
more or less than madness. And IL young
man has really offended pretty girl by
staring at her, trtu he mend matters by the
offer OF such an apology as Lawrence's heart
prompted him to maker
Olivia was not offended, but she was GER
tainly little puzzled and alarmed. Her
heart beat, her color came and went; she
could not have told, had the world been Of
fered as a prize for the solution of this prob
lem, whether she were pleased or displeas-
ed.
The granary, where Chi Lung lay, was ap-
preached BY long corridor on the ground