San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-06-02


Mrs. Nugent put aside hers with more
sedateness.
Really, Jasper" she said sharply. as
she rose, 81 have not patience with yOu."
Then she too rusted away in the wake
of the lovers, leaving her son in blank
amaZement.
Are they all gone mad I" he asked his
father.
There is something we don't under
stand" answered the Squire. IL only hope
CulvertOn is not playing fast and loose
with my little girl. 1t was rather risk
sanctioning the engagement at all"
1t was Culverton who returned first /;
and very black and angry he looked.
"1s Dolly coming backr asked the
Squire anxiously.
"Presently." he answered.
81 think l ought to have some explana-
ton of all this" said the Squire, putting
on his magisterial air.
"Of course" replied Culverton prompt
ly. "The case is this, Squire. These peo-
pie were friends of my mother-Or rather
it pleased her to patronise them. Miss
Fox is beautiful woman who would like
to be the Countess of CulvertOn-in fact
sHc IllllOl years ago 20
be the Countess of CulvertOn, leaving my
opinions out of the question. Now l wish
to marry Dolly, for l have been in love
with her always, and would not marry
Miss Fox if my very life depended upon
it. That is the whole story; and as for
myself, / should never think of these
people a second time; but unfortunately,
Dolly is so strongly impressed with the
Do @hnt
me. whether l will or no, that the mere
sight or mention of them agitates her be-
yOnd measure"
"But what reason has she to think sol"
asked the Squire.
Chiefly because she heard, not very
long ago, of that wretchcd story of her
aunt's. l have tried to assure her that the
case is different, but it is of no use and
/ find the best plan is to prevent her
thinking about them at all, simply by
avoiding all mention of them. l don't
think Dolly is very strong Squire" he
ended.
Not very" answered the Squire grave
ly. There is no disease of any kind; but
she is so terribly sensitive"
ut was always the same" said Culver
ton. "Oh. here they are!'
as Jasper veXed2" asked Dolly as her
brother left the room.
"Never mind Jasper, my darling" said
the Mistress. "Cfive Dolly some Jelly, my
dear"
"Have glass of wine my pet" said the
Squire, as he handed Dolly her plate.
"My love-" observed the Mistress pres
emily to the Squire, .Culverton is going to
Scotland tomorrow; we think it will be
la a.. L.
there on Thursday"
"Of course, if you wish; but can we
not all go togetherl"
1--WE might" answered Culverton doubt
fully. IL say, mother, might send Mrs.
Bolsover to see everything made fit for
u.s." Mrs. Bolsover was the housekeeper
Of the Towers.
"a very good plan" said the Mistress
approvingly. "You know, Squire, Dolly
really does require change Of air. l be-
gin to think Yorkshire IL not SO braCing as
once did"
"Deane Ella air is splendid" asserted the
Squire.
But think Scotch air will suit Dolly
best at present"
"Now tell you what it really H." said
the Squire wisely. lit Is taking Dolly to
London and giving her impure air in
heated drawing-rOoms and theatres, and
then finishing her off in that horrid little
hole we went to up the Rhine"
''Oh, it was lovely!" Dolly broke out, at
which they all laughed.
The end Of it was, that few days later,
they set off together for Lord Culverton's
Scotch place, where they remained till the
end Of September; and Mrs. Nugent did
not call upon the occupants Of the Villa,
nor did Lord Culverton.
Jasper however did, not only on the
Monday, but also on the Tuesday, like
wise on the Wednesday.
1t was not very surprising therefore
that, on the Thursday morning during
breakfast, he discovered that Scotland
had not many charms for him just then,
and he thought he should run over to
Paris at the beginning of the following
week. The Mistress raised her eyebrows
and said 'Paris-in August" but no fur
ther comment was made. Nor was any
one very much surprised when the party
returned within fortnight of the time
fixed for Dolly's wedding TO find him still
at Deane Ella, not having been in Paris at
ALL
What excuse he had made TO Mrs and
Miss Cave-Fox for his mothers non-ap-
pearance they did not know; but that
they had forgiven the slight, 80 far as he
was concerned, was evident, for he posi-
lively lived there.
As Culverton had good deal to arrange
he returned straight to the Towers, only
dining at Deane Ella two or three times a
week and riding over once or twice in the
morning during the same period
II was within a week of the wedding.
Dolly, with her hat on, to be in readiness
when Culverton came to drive her to Al
lathorpe to look at a pony for her especial
use, was unpacking several presents
which had but recently arrived; and
Jasper, after roaming restlessly about the
house without any apparent aim, betook
himself TO the Villa. He returned an
hour later to find Culverton had not ar
rived and Dolly rather worrying over his
absence.
''Culverton not comet" he asked.
"No," answered Dolly forlornly, "and he
was not here yesterday. He promised to
Gomez she ended ratntontlu