San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-09-16
CHAPTER III.

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show how tedious nave been the mo-
mentS spent apart from her.
Have you brought your book, or do
you mean to 90 through your part with
out it?" Florence asks, disdaining to
notice his words. or tn betray interest
in anything except the business that
has brought them together.
Il know my part by heart" he re-
spends, in a strange voice.
Then begin" she commands some
what imperiOusly; the very insOlence of
her air only gives an additional touch
to her extreme beauty and fires his
ardOr.
You desire me to begin?' he asks
unsteadily.
IF you wish it."
"DO you wish itT'
Il desire nothing more intensely than
to get this rehearsal over" she replies
impatiently.
your scOrn of me" says DyneCOurt Bit
terly.
"Iregret it, if | have at any time
treated you with iuCiyility." returns
Florence with avCrt"d eyes and with in
creasing coldness. Yet | must always
think that, for whatever has happened,
yOu have only yourself to blame"
as it crime to love yOu?" he de-
mands boldly.
"Sir, "She eXclaims Indignantly, and
raising her beautiful eyes to his for
moment, Il must request you will
never speak to me of love. There is
neither sympathy nor common friend
| mess between us. You are well aware
with what sentiments regard you"
But, why am | alone to be treated
with contempt?" hr asks, with sudden
| passion. "All other men of your ac-
| quaintance are graCiOuSly received by
| you, are met with smiles and kindly
words. Upon me alone your eyes rest,
when they deign to glance in my direc-
ton, with marked disfavOr. All the
world can see it. | am signaled out
from the others as one to be sighted
and spurned."
you forget yourself" says Florence
contemptuOusly. 81 have met you here
| to-day to Tehearse our parts for next
| Tuesday evening, not to listen to any
insOlent words you may wish to address
| to me. Let us begin"-Opening her
book. "If you know your part, go on"
Il know my part only too well; it is to
| worship you madly, hOpeleSSly. Your
very cruelty only serves to heighten my
| passion. Florence, hear mel"
Il will not" she says, her eyes flash
| ing. She waves him back from her as
he endeavors to take her hand. as it
not enough that have been persecut-
ed by your observation-disclosures most
hateful to me-for the past year, but
| you must now Obtrude them upon me
here? You compel me to tell you in
| plain words what my manner must
have shown you only too clearly-that
you are diStasteful to me in every way,
| that your very presence troubles me,
| that your touch is abhOrTent to mel"
"Ah," he says, stepping back as she
hurls these words at him, and regard
ing her with a face distorted by pas
sion, "if | were the master here, in
stead of the poor couSin-if | were Sir
Adrian-yOur treatment of me would
be very different"
At the mention of Sir Adrian's name
the color dies out of her face and she
grows deadly pale. Her lips culver,
but her eyes do not drOOp.
81 do not understand YOU" she says
proudly.
Then you shall" responds Dyne-
| court. "DO you think am blind, that
| can not see how you have given your
| proud heart to my cousin, that he has
conquered where other men have
| failed; that. even before he has de-
clared any love for you, you have, in
| spite of your pride, given all your af-
| lection to him."
You insult me-" cries Florence with
quivering lips. She looks faint, and is
| trembling visibly. If this man has
read her heart Alright. may not all
guests have read it too? May not even
| Adrian himself have discovered her Sc
| cret passion, and perhaps despised her
| for it, as being unwOmanly?
| And MORE" goes on DyneCOurt, eX-
ulting in the torture he can see he is
| inticting; though you thrust from you
an honorable love for one that lives on
ly in your imagination, will tell you
| that Sir Adrian has other views, other
intentions. | have reason to know
| that, when he marrieS, the name of his
bride will not be Florence Delmaine."
| Leave me, sir" cries Florence, rOus-
ing herself from her mOmentary weak
ness, and speaking with all her old fire,
and never presume to address me
| again. Col"
She points with extended hand to the
door at the lower end of the gallery
| So standing, with her eyes strangely
bright, and her perfect figure drawn up
to its fullest height, she looks superb
In her disdainful beauty.
| DynecOurt, losing his self-pOssessiOn
as he gaZeS upon her, suddenly filings
| himself at her feet and catches her
| dress in his hands to detain her.
| 'IIave pity on me-" he cries implOr-
ingly; 1T is my unhappy love for you
that has driven me to speak thus! Why
is Adrian to have all, and | nothingP
He has title, lands, pOsitiOn-abOve
and beyond everything, the priceless
treasure of your love, whilst l am bank
rupt in all. Show me some mercy
some kindness!"
They are both so agitated that they
fail to hear the sound of approaching
footsteps.
Release me, sir" cries Florence I'M
periOusly.
NAY; first answer me one question:"
entreats DynecOurt. do you love my
| cOuSinp
81 care nothing for Sir Adrian," re-
plies Florence distinctly, and in a
Somewhat raised tone, her self-pride
being touched to the quick.
Two figures who have entered the
| gallery by the second door at the upper
end of it, hearing these words uttered
in an emphatic tone, start and glance
| at the tdbIedu presented to their view
lower down. They hesitate, and, even
as they do so, they can see Arthur
Dynecourt seize Florence Delmaine's
hand, and, apparently unrebuked, kiss
it passionately.
"Then shall hope still" he says in a
low but impressive voice, at which the
two who have just entered turn and
beat precipitate retreat, fearing that
they may be seen. One is Sir Adrian,
the other Mrs. Talbot.
Dear me-" stammers Dora, in pretty
confusion, who would have thought