San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-11-15

Miss ROsSel looked into the schOOlrOOm
next day, just as we were having tea.
Give me some tea, please, Miss Lucas"
she said. How did you like the ball last
night?'
VERY much indeed, thank you"
WAS 1t not charming? You looked very
nice, white suited you. Run down to the
drawing-rOOm, May for ten RinutcS;" and
as the child darted off, she asked, taking a
seat near me: "Well, now want to hear,
are you engaged? Don't mind telling me-"
81 am certainly not engaged, Miss ROs-
sell"
"Oh dear, then you are not as fortunate
as l. thought we might have congratulate
ed each other"
Ifelt every atom of color leaving my face,
but spoke brayely, bending over the tea
cups the while.
Are you engaged then? Toto Mr.. Her
mon ROsse, | suppose"
She nodded and smiled.
Congratulate me, won't yOu?" bending
her beautiful eyes to meet my poor dim ones.
Congratulate me, won't you, Miss Lucas?
| think II is such a matter for COngratula-
ton. | am so fOrtunate-dOn't you think
soto win the iOve-the whole deep devO-
ton Of such man."
II hope you will both be very happy"
faltered, with the room swimming round
me, and the teacups dancnga jig before my
fixed strained gaze.
II am sure | shall. Could help it with
such dear devoted lover? | don't think |
shall be married just Immediately though,
unless he proves very impatient, but | dare
say he will" smiling and putting down her
M
now, for he hates every moment am out of
his sight; but thought would just run in,
and tell you of my happiness"
81 hope you will be very happy" repeat
ed like one learning lesson, and then as
the door closed behind her, L buried my face
in my hands.
The door opened again. but l thought it
was May coming in, and L did not move |;
like an electric shock Mr.. Laurence's voice
fell upon me, as it said:
Miss Lucas, Miss Rossel told me you
were alone, and so Thought Why, what
is the natter" bringing his beady eyes to
bear on my blurred face.
Poor little thing! did grieve you last
nightP'
"Indeed you did not" trying to get my
countenance out of the light
more of these Misunderstanding" bringing
his hand down upon the table with force
that ratified the unoffending teacups. what
say mean, and say now that | love you,
and ask you to be my wife, Miss Lucas. |
do, indeed"
ooh, Mr.. Laurence, wish you did nOtw
Utterly confused and overwhelmed, l
stood before this my first lover.
II Id, 80
'Why do you say that?' he questioned,
taking my hands and squeeZ.n NJ them. Il
have not said this without due tl"lincration
/ assure you. know that We can he very
happy together, and" with solemn deter
mination, 1--WE will be-"
ooh no, we cannOt-we will nOtr
xviii not! Do you mean to say | fear
do not quite understand YOU" with GER
tain stiffness creeping over his tenderness.
"YOu-you make mistake; we should
not be at all happy together, Mr.. Laurence"
l stammered helplessly
81 think differently" with q superior
smile. 81 never make mistakes, ! assure
you; 1t will be all right, dear" smiling con-
descendingly upon my perturbation.
but do not want to marry you" des-
pefdlely.
His cOuntenance assumed hundred ex-
pressiOns, of which surprise-unbounded
incredulOus surprise-was the dominant
one.
''You do not want to marry mer he echo
ed, as one who cannot have heard Alright,
and hesitated for moment.
Here was chance of home, indeed, and
every comfort and luxury, for he was rich,
/ knew. And he had said might have my
mother with me, and my heart was so sore
so wretched now could not stop on at
Y0xley; and where could l go when felt
it? Besides, If l accepted Mr.. Laurence,
would not that prove, as nothing else could,
that l had not been infatuated with Flora
RosseIs lover?
For moment hestated, then my better
nature triumphed. would not marrya man
! did not lOve-better the hardest work than
that. would not pretend a love did not
feel-better a thousand mistakes than that.