San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-07-31


of her slipper and regarding It's little French
3 heel with interest On the contrary did
not sleep at all
| "No?" looking incredulously at the smooth,
fair face and bright, happy eyes well,
fatigue always tells more the second day
But what did you have to keep you awake,
prayS
| Excitement perhaps" Even as she speaks
Z she feels the treacheTOus color steal into her
face and turns her head away that Helen
may not see IT,
a did not half like the way you ran of
last night" continues Mrs Rodney. II
think Il was very rude and very unfair to
/ Mr.. Allen. What was the matter? Was
your head so bad as Mr.. Carew made II out,
or was IL put up for the OccasiOnp'
No my head was not aching at all. ] did
not know where Mr. Allen was so / accept
ed Mr.. Carew's escort There was no harm
in it,"
81 don't think 1t was proper, and If were
Joe Allen I'd never come near you again"
What a loss it would be-"
well" says Helen, rather exasperated,
"'m going to have lunch. Please don't
come down in your wrapper, Nelly"
She leaves her alone, and she, this foolish
ly, happy girl, going to the glass, scans her
face earnestly. IL feel like GiCCndOlin. |
could kiss my own face for sheer happi-
ness"
Then she dresses, such pretty dress it Is,
and runs down stairs to find luncheon well
begun.
well" says Mr.. Hathwell, submitting
patiently to his pets caresses, Il really
thought | was not to see you to-day, but here
you are as spruce and trim as a chrysanthe-
num-"
81 did not mean to desert you so, DOME,
but ICds so tired this morning"
And was the ball a success? And were
you the belle you expected TO bey'
That was. was the prettiest girl in
the room"
Dear me- what hard looking set they
must have BEEN" says Mr.. Hathwell, laugh
ing, But Helen says GROSSLY:
Really, Nelly, your vanity Is unbearabe.
You are always harping on your looks"
"Well, | do prize the one gift I'm blessed
with; it's all I've got and | try and make
the most of it,"
"Ah, Nell" says the minister, rising from
his barely tasted lunch. All, Nell, my dear.
you should not let it be all. Remember that
the wiSeSt man God ever made babe US think
of beauty as vain"
But you do not think 50, DOniep' cries
the girl, clasping both her hands upon his
arm and looking at him with her lovely eyes
(her mothers eyes. Pm glad you are not
Solomon. should not like you one bit il
you were"
lie looks down at her fOndly, half sadly.
"l on should be better girl, Nell," he says
Your mother was good as well as beauti-
full" and he unclasps her hands and leaves
her.
What has come to Donie?' cries Nelly,
resuning her seat and sweetbreads Have
you already reported my SINS HelenT'
81 have not said word"
well, he is not often 50. | suppose my
being late for prayers this morning is the
cause"
AS if you were not late every alternate
morning of the year." says the other, push
ing back her chair and speaking rather con-
temptuOuSly.
Eleanor does not answer There is no use
in dSputing an unpleasant truth, besides
she is in no humOr for disputing to-day.
She has left the table and the half demolished
sweetbreads and tongue for the benefit of the
flies. She is staring out of the window down
at the white day-llieS and tall hOllyhOcks,
which, in spite OF the July sun, are blooming
brayely.
I'm going to take a nap this afternoon,
so please don't disturb me, Nelly" says Mrs.
Rodney, pausing at the door.
Il shall not disturb you"
II only ask you" continues the other
because the last time went to sleep you
set BirdO and TrcO to barking as if the
house was on fire"
Nothing short of general cOnfagratiOn
will make me awaken you to-day, so 20 and
enjoy your SiCstn as only you know how"
Nothing loaIn Mrs Rodney departs. Then
Eleanor takes her hat and SIrOllS across the
lawn down to the gate. 1t is three O'Clock.
L.
but the dogs and they are too sleepy to move.
So she opens the gate and goes across the
meadow and seats herself on the StIle close
to the road. There is no one passing Just
now, nothing but flock of geese which are
walking about IN search of their dinner. 1t
is very shady here and then stiles are rOman-
tic places to sit on especially when shaded
by great heavy oak trees.
But Eleanor is not doomed to solitude. He
of whom she has been thinking all this
bright, warm day, is coming, not with any
apparent haste towards her. His hat is well
pushed over his eyes his hands thrust into
his pockets, and he has rather a hang-dOg
look about him, nor is his frame of mind a
very happy one. He has been telling him
self all day what cOnSummate fool he has
been, and now, though fully aware that three
o'clock on a hot July day is scarcely advis-
able for calling, has started out on the prin-
ciple that sooner begun the sooner over. But
he is not prepared for meeting the end half
way us 1t were and starts as he sees this blue
clad maiden ObStructlng his way. She, how
ever, holds out her hand, crying in the hap
pieSt OF tones:
81 knelO you were coming felt it In my
bones, so came here ON purpose. Was 1t
not good of me?'
Every" He has seated himself beside her.
There is nothing else for him to do. His
hat rushes against the low hanging boughs
as he takes his place and sends host OF
81 am 50 glad you have come" she goes
on Helen Is asleep, and DOME out, and
am all alone"
No answer. He is not even looking at her.
after all | believe you are cross she
says peering up at him inquisltlyely ana
wondering what has become OF all tne love
she read in his face last night. OR per-
haps," she continues, half shyly, perhaps
you are angry with me for being so foolish
last night but yOu-yOu startled me"
II am not angry nor cross either, only
with sudden resolve, 81 have come to say
goodbye. | am going away tomorrow"
Dead silence. A fat woman with basket
of eggs passes and stares at them inquisi-
lively.
"Going awayP' says the girl and her voice
sounds odd and foreign to herself TO
morrow did you sayY'
yes"
The sun has hid his face behind a cloud.
Oyer there a bObOlink is singing shrilly.
Eleanor is glad her old hat comes so well
down on her face, it hides her blanched
cheeks and miserable eyes.
81 had letter this morning which neces-
states my speedy return" he goes on I'M
easily. at is from the young lady to whom
am engaged"
Engaged Is it night that everything
should suddenly grow so dark? Her hands
grasp each other convulsvey and her heart
seems to stand still, but when she speaks
her voice is calm and even.
81 am sorry you are going. We will all
miss you"
This is the girl am going to marry" he
says, handing her the picture in which he
has long since ceased to see any beauty.
She takes it silently. So this Is her rival,
this childish face with innocent baby eyes
and chestnut curls.
II is very pretty face" she says, and"
with pitiable attempt to smile, 81 congrat-
ulate you"
Pray do not" he says, roughly. There
IL time enough for thatv