San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-08-25

with Costly Mlllc lace.
Al me 10 be Young. beautiful, and rich
All me. to be- lOyedl One evening / stood
outside the window listening to the beautiful
strains Of a waltz. | could see the elegantly
furnished room, with its pictures its flowers.
/ could see Sir Adrian Waiting with Lady
Aditha. A more graceful, handSOmeT pair
could not be imagined. | saw Lady Caryl
watching them with delight in her face.
Lady Aditha waltzed TO perfection. She
wore a dress of dead-white silk, with parure
or rubies Her fair face was flushed, her
eyes shone star-like. As they passed, his
arm round her graceful figure, her hair all
but touching his cheek, / felt that Just to
have stood so for one moment j would have
given my life.
could not bear the sight of my rival in his
arms and turned away with low despair
ing cry. ran TO the white gate by the river.
The grass grew tall just there, and flung
myself down 10 weep out the bitter pain at
my heart. There was no one TO see me, no
one to hear me; | was alone under the broad
night-sky. i could hear the bitter sound OF
my own sObS die away; and as lay there,
thought of the light of the Christmas star.
All, whittier had II led me? What should l
do?
"Gracia," said voice the sound of which
made my heart leap--"Gracia, my poor child,
what are you doing here? What is wrong"
sprang to my feet in an instant.
Everything is wrOngn' answered pas
sonately. "HOw did you know that was
hereT'
Il heard that little cry of yours at the win
dow" he replied. Nay, do not be alarmed;
no one else heard it. No one else saw you;
but did, and followed you. Oh, Gracia,
how l wish that you could be with us! How
I hate to see you shut out as you are! 1t
shall not bel!
But an angry spirit of opposition and sui
lenness came over me. Why should he care
for me when the beautiful hereSs whom he
was going to marry was there?
you cannot miss me-" | said deiiantly,
when you have all those pretty girls there"
There is no face in the room one half so
beautiful as yours, Gracia, he said earnestly.
THAT is treason to Lady Aditha," re-
turned cOldly.
Lady Aditha, contrasted with you, is like
white rose by the side of queenly dam
ask" he said.
Then why" began, but hesitated
"Why what?' he asked, with a smile
had been on the point of saying, why
do you love her best then"-but checked
the words.
"Gracia," he went on, "do you not see I
want to bring about complete, change OF a.
fairs? My mother must" lie paused,
and then said abruptly, why, child, your
face is all wet with tearSn'
He caught me in his arms, and kissed me,
with passionate murmured wOrdS-kisSed
me- he, the man whom worshipped, he, the
man who was TO marry Lady Aditha! tore
myself away from him.
'ElOw-hOw dare yOu?' | cried.
was thinking of Lady Aditha. He be-
lieved was angry with him.
II could not help it, Gracia," he said ten
derly-'1 could not indeed! Those dark
eyes of yours looked so beautiful half blind
ed by tears"
Let him kiss the tears from Lady Aditha's
eyesv' | thought; and l hardened myself
against him.
His handsome face grew pale and sad.
'Gracia," he said sOTOwfully, II thought
you cared for me-"
Once more | ran away from him because
could not control myself. If had remained,
l must have cried out that loved him.
After that, life became positive torture to
me. Every one talked about Sir Adrian and
Lady Aditha-hOw rich he was, how beauti-
full she was, and how graceful, what grand
marriage it would be.
One morning Mrs. Paterson, the house
keeper, gave me the keenest pleasure had
known for some time.
"Ah, Gracia," she said, Lady Aditha Is
beautiful; but she cannot compare with you'll
If you were lady born, she would be no
where"
And managed to extract some little COM
fort from that.
August had passed, September was come,
and the harvestmOOn was shining. The
NlSllDlS lldu Dttll Ill Tie mouse some weeks,
and there was no sign of their going. Since
the night when he had found me weeping by
the white gate Sir Adrian and had been
strangers. | avoided him, and was most mis-
cradle in consequence. | knew that he
wanted to speak to me; but would not give
him chance to do so.
One fatal morning was told that every
one had gone out | had heard Sir Adrian
ride off, and naturally concluded that Lady
Aditha was of the party. | resolved, while
they were all away and had the OppOrtun-
ty, to go to the library to obtain fresh sup
ply of books. Great was my CONSERVATION,
when | entered, to find Lady Aditha sitting
there writing! She had declined going out
at the last moment | would have gone back
at once; but it was too late.
Come in" she said; you will not disturb
me-"
| saw her look of intense surprise when
entered. She kept her eyes fixed upon my
face for some time. Then she said almost
abruptly
"WhO are yOu?'
=. l had but the old answer to give; but this
time varied it.
81 am Lady Caryps companion" replied.
She smiled graciOusly; and, when l saw
my myself in bitterness Of spirit what chance
81 did not know Lady Caryl had compan-
ion," she observed.
She never removed her eyes from my face
the whole time that | was in the room, and
she persisted in talking to me. / wanted to
go; but she asked me so many questions that
/ could not leave her.
My impression of her character from that
interview was that she was proud, selfish,
and liked money. What she thought of me
did not know, but know the result Of our
meeting. know that she must have spok-
en- disparagingly of me to Lady Caryl, must
have poisoned her mind against me, must
have told her that | was dangerous person
to have in the house; for Lady Caryl sent for
me, and, in her coolest, haughtiest manner,
said
81 thought I gave you instructions that
while our visitors remained here, you were
to keep out of SightT'
81 have done so as much as possible" re-
turned bitterly.
"Yet l hear that you have intruded upon
Lady Aditha Glynn. Mrs. Roper says 1t is a
most indecOrOus thing. However, 1t shall
not occur again. have made arrangements
for you to 20 to HerOnsdale Miss Kenyon
has school there for the education of young
girls of the middle class, and she will no
doubt consent to receive you"
81 am too old to go to school" said.
ut is question of manners, not of age"
she retOrted. Pack your trunk to-day; you
must leave Heron's Nest tomorrow"
Without another word | quilted the room,
my heart swelling with indignation at the in
justice that had been done me.
TX.