San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-12-09


father died he had been left sole posses
cor Of about fifteen thousand a year, to-
gether with the patrimonial acres in Lei
cestershire.
OF course there was no necessity for
him 10 work under the circumstances,
and accordingly he enjoyed life after his
own fashion.
There was great difference between
these two men, and It was probably the
total dissimilarity nf their natures and
characters that made them such staunch
friends.
st. Adams was firm and determined. but
seldom lost his temper. He was studiOus
for a soldier, aud cared but little for the
empty chit-chat Of society.
He was very proud, and somewhat SEN
sitive, and would rather suffer anything
than it should he imagined that he feared
to embark In any enterprise, however
hazardous, or that he considered anything
impossible.
1t was a favorite aphorism Of his that
there was no such word as "cannot" in
the English language.
Horace Austen, on the contrary, was
weak and vacillating, hasty and irritable,
and would as soon have thought Of run
ming mile as of reading for even an
hour. He was as big a gossip as the pro-
verbal "old woman" and was never hap
pier than when detailing the latest on
dts.
With all this he was good hearted and
generous to a fault; his defects arose
chiefly from want of Thought, and were
rather those of omission than commission.
"She is certainly most beautiful girl"
observed Austen, curling the tips Of his
rather weakly little black moustache.
.Yes," replied st. Adams, rather alb
sently.
But awfully proud" continued Austen.
81 didn't think So" answered the
guardsman.
"Why, my dear fellow" exclaimed the
little diplomatist, ''to my certain knowl-
edge she declined to dance with between
twenty and thirty Of the best parts in the
room last night, and kept her card hall
empty. And when said, Ny dear Miss
Carlton, may I take the liberty Of en-
quiring why you have refused so many
dancesf she turned her big eyes full up
on me-you know the way she has, as
though she were piercing you through
and through-and replied: You may
take the liberty, Mr.. Austen. but l don't
think l should, if l were you why not,
Miss Carltonf | asked Because it will
be so much more pleasant for both of us
II you will mind your own business"
A low laugh escaped from st. Adams as
his friend concluded, and he observed:
"That was awfully good! You must
have felt rather sat uponl"
"Good, do you call iii cried Austen
with mock Indignation. by Jove, did
not think so, and know if she hadn't
been such deuced pretty girl l should
have said something rude"
"You'd only have been sorry after
wards" remarked st. Alhans.
Il suppose should" replied Austen.
"Besides, Isabel Carlton has something
about her that seems to keep fellow
within bounds, you know
"Has she. indeed I" observed ST. Adams
with languid interest. II must pay more
attention to her. was only introduced
to her last night, you know"
sand didn't you think she was charm
ingf"
IL only noticed that she was remark
ably pretty girl, and waltzed better than
any one have danced with this year."
answered the guardsman. "But you
know, old man, l am not so impressible
as you are, and don't go into raptures
over every pink and white complexion 1
come across"
"You are cold-hesrted wretch, Hsr-
ry," laughed Austen. Here are half the
loveliest girls in town signing for you,
and you don't care bit"
ITO tell you the truth" replied st. AL
bans, although it may sound conceited,
strongly object to being run after. like
a woman to be perfectly feminine, and di-
rectly she begins to set her cap at, or en-
courages a man, she loses her chief
charm"
"You needn't be afraid Of her doing
thatr exclaimed Austen. Shes very
different sort Of girl to that"
"Indeedw
"Don't you think soi" asked Austen.
~ haven't thought much on the sub
ject,' replied the guardsman carelessly.
"But honestly, old man," said his friend
earnestly, "what is your opinion of herr
"Oh, think she is very much like the
rest Of her SEX" answered st. Adams;
"easily won if a man only goes the right
way to work"
"You are wrong, Harry" cried Austen.
81 am persuaded you have made a mis-
take this time. OF course / know the ex-
perience you have had among the ladies,
but Isabel Carlton is very different TO the
majority of girls"
"All right, Horace, if you like to think
So" replied st. Adams; "but when you
know as much about them as l do, you
will agree with Inc that they are all
alike. Some are little better, some
little worse; but"
All at once somebody paused just in
front of them, and voice they both knew
exclaimed:
"How are you. dear boysi What may
be the subject of conversational 1t must
be wonderfully interesting, for you have
cut about half,a-dozen people who have
bowed and nodded to you, knocked down
four or five old women and children, can
noned against any amount of male pc
destrians, and were finally about to pass
me without recognition"
The speaker was a friend of Austen's
and an acquaintance Of st. Adams.
His name was Barbsly, he had travelled
good deal, and seemed to have brought
home the vices of the different countries