San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-08-02
This story was commenced July 2Ol
copyrighted. Al Rights RcscIrcd.J
OF MANY MOODS.


TO put to shame the iickering lamps of the
village. And where is Eleanor? She is not
| lying still with wet eyes and SOrely aching
| heart among the tall grass and flowers of the
| meadow. She has summoned pride 10 her
aid and has called a stiff, little smile to her
| face, but she can not put away the pain at
| heart much as she would like to. Alas!
which of us can, at our bidding, do away
with pain?
She has removed the blue dress on which
the flowers long grasses, and tiny insects
have been holding gay revel all this warm,
bright afternoon. She has put 1t away with
her creamy gown, decked out with withered
pansirs and striped lilies They are not hers
now; they belong to dead past. She her
self is standing grave and silent by the win
dow. She does not even turn her head when
her sisters voice breaks in upon her revery
Nelly, Nelly are you going to stand star
gazing all night?
Not quite all night"
Does not your soul yeaTn for something
more substantial than mOOnshine? Come
these mullins will II i be warm much longer"
Eleanor turns slow and enters the din
nmg-rOOm. As the bright light falls upon
her poor, pale face amt heavy, blackringed
eyes, .ielGn gives a little start of anIazcmcnt
Good heavens! Dissipation is telling
now. What on earth-? Why, Nelly,
child you look for all the world as il you had
been crying"
"DO l?''
Your eyes are about half their usual
SIZE" goes on Mrs. Rodney, calmly inspect
ing her land as red as--as herring. One
would certainly say you had been crying for
hours"
MY looks do not belle me then, for have
been crying fOr-tOr hours as you just
now termed it,"
But why?' cries the other amazedly.
"Why, NellyP'
why do people ever cry?' says the girl.
impatienty. For amusement Of course.
cried all the afternoon for sheer want of
something better to DO
81 hope you found it amusing" says
Helen, dryly.
"On the whole can not say | did," re-
turns Eleanor, rising liStleSSly and regarding
herself in the mirror. "IIOw cOnSiderate it
Sas of old Mrs. Green to get sick tonight
and so call Off DOME. ] should not like him
to see his beauty so hideOus. Bah, how I'M
ScOming red eyes are"
Hank" cries Helen, starting up" Do you
not hear some one coming I'M"
81 hear TricO barking which is an nvalu-
able sign. No doubt it is my brother-n-law
elect"
Your surmiSe is quite correct" cries a
well-knOwn voice, and the Professor comes
beamingly in to where his fdnccc sits de-
murely quiet, and behind him, with rather
a troubled expression in his light grey eyes,
is Allen. He does not seem to see Helen.
He goes straight to Eleanor.
Good evening, Miss Eleanor"
Good evening, Mr. Allen" She has re-
sumed her old place at the window. She is
still staring stupidity at the moon. Mrs. Rod
ney at herlOvers earnest request has laid
aside her work and has strOlled out on the
porch with him. They are regarding the
dark night sky intently.
II would not have bored you with my
presence tonight" saws the young man,
speaking very quickly, "lOr after last night
it does not require a very clever person to
read your feelings towards me-Ony it was
very foolish no dOubt-but | could not go
away without saying goodbye"
so you have come to say goodbye, too"
looking half wStlully at him. you are all
going Mr.. Carew told me good bye this
evening. Stay, was it this evening? Yes,
this evening. Well, he said goodbye.
What an ugly word it is"
Il have been here much longer than in
tended" he goes on, but you know why |
stayed. But now have done with it all.
am going away tomorrow, and once away
/ shall try with all my heart and soul to for
get your beautiful face
1T is not very beautiful tonight" she
says with a sad, little smile. But after all
why should you forget itY'
lie does not answer. Outside the river
mOurns low and increasingly and whip
pOOT-will in one of the dark pine trees gives
out his plaintiyc notes.
ado you remember the other day down at
the river when | came upon you porting upon
ber?"
''Why do you ask?'' he says, roughly. "Of
course l remember. Am likely to fOrgctp'
81 told you did not love YOU" she says,
dreamily. mo, do not look 50 eager. | do
not love you one whit more now, but Tiff
=" with vivid blush, ''if you are still fool
ish enough to want to marry me, | am quite
willing"
What is she saying? Is he dreaming? lie
stareS at her alnazedly.
You do not seem very eager" she SAYS,
with slow smile. Perhaps it is my vani-
ty. They all say | am vain, but | had an
idea you would be glad"
'DO you, do you mean it?' he cries, find
ing voice at last. Il can not take it in. Oh,
Nelly, darling, will you really marry me?
DO not jest with me, l beg of you"
Il am not jeStng," she says. Then as he
tries to take her in his arms she draws away.
"Stay moment, you must listen to me first
"Well%' speaking eagerly and clasping her
two white hands in his.
Il do not want you to misunderstood me-"
she says, calmly. Il want to tell you that
do not love you at all, but for reasons of my
own / want to marry, and yOu-yOu are
good looking and young and l do not dislike
you in the least"
His face falls; his eyes put away their
glad, happy look.
questions. II do not understand"
There is nothing TO understand" she
says. 81 am quite, quite willing, indeed,
wish to marry you.
"YOu do not love any one elSe?' he Gues-
tons, dOubtiully, not feeling quite sure as to
the right of this and yet not having the
strength to resist.
She winces at his words. 81 may as well
be candid with YOU" she says. II think it
only fair to you. a long time ago, no, not
so very long ago either, used to think was
in love, but 1t was only a dream. | do not
love any one now, no one at all. do not
think | am very good at loving"
But he, this other, what of him?'
81 tell you have done with him. do not
ever wish TO hear of him again"
''Then you are mine, mine forever" he
cries, jOyfully, putting his arms about her.
"Oh, my dear, what have l done to deserve
such good fOrtuneT'
ut may not be so good as you think" she
says. II am not a nice girl and you have
seen the best OF Inc, the very best for tried
"And you certainly succeeded" fondly
stroking her hair.
But l am not nice usually" she goes on,
fully determined that he shall take her under
no false ideas. 81 an Indifferent beyond
measure, and after all do not think 1t prob
able you will like me when you know me
better"
"Only try me-"
"You are young; you hardly know your
own nina III Is only my pretty lace that
has attracted you"
''Do not say any more" he cries, all the
more eagerly, because he fears there is a
grain of truth in what she says. Not an
other word; am satisfied, that is enough"
Presently he takes leave of her, a very
tender one 1t is, and she, well, she says moth
ing. And wher he mas gone and the room
is quite still and empty save for the moths
that buzz about the candles, she goes up
stairs in her own room and locks the door.
But she does not throw herself down and
cry now. No, her tears are all shed, but she