San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-11-19
Mrs. Vernon Poarder.

was done with sue Exquisite .!"t that She
never seemed to interfere OF to put herself
forward in any way.
St. John could not read now at all. II was
miserably dull without lledrt-eaSe. When
was she coming back? Where was she now?
What doing? Was she thinking Of him?
Not likely. She wa too uncmbarraS>ed
with him to think much about him; he
would have given the world TO know that
his face was haunting her now
Presently he threw aside the book and
went and sat down at Nmas writing-table
in the corner He knew she wrote, and
longed to ask her TO let him read something;
but she had not liked 20 do 81 iJhPTtO.
She never spoke of herself or her dOngS,
and he could not even discover incidentally
whether her writing brought any grist Othe
mill.
There was need OF griSt, he imagined
there was trouble, of late especially, on the
horizon.
The VrrnOnS wee not people 10 talk f
their family affairs, but st. John was quick
witted, and he could not help percciying
certain signs OF trUuhl,.-fUr example, let
ter had arrived last evening that mad evil
IDENTIFY caused some dismay. Kate and
Heartsease had been clOSeted with their
mother for some time and to-day Mrs. Vec-
non had bad headache. But he could not
ask any questions.
There was newspaper on the desk be-
fore him. and taking it up he saw IL manu-
script lying underneath. 1t was written in
Nina's clear bold hand, st. JOINS glance
had fallen at once Oh the title-that of rO-
nance.
His heart beat fast, his cheek flushed.
The temptation was strOng-shOu!d he read?
He lifted the manuscript, and kissed it.
Surely Heartsease would not mind. His
eyes had taken in several lines now he read
on, turned the page; the language, the style,
struck him as terse and original. The sub
ject, too, was interesting; it was tale Of
the supernatural. Above all, HeartSease
wrote it.
He read ON, page after page, till the tale
was finished, and at that moment he heard
Flossie and DJti. return NJ, The manu-
script and newspap were qu ckiy replac-
ed, and Mr.. ST. JUun was seated by the win
dow when the two children came in.
After they had taken off Their walking
attire, only DGttie returned to the dining
room, and was at once taken ON to St.John's
Knee.
Il 7,
twill you do sOmcfin for meY'
"Yes, DOttie: what is it,
"Why- Oh, there's Heart raSc-iOn't
tell her p'ease.'
How st. Jnlin's heart leaped!
Not much danger OF that, DOttie," he
said, smiling "since as yet know moth
ing"
And then the door opened, and Hearts
ease came in, and went to her table, laying
down packet wrapped in brown paper.
Where have you been all this timer?
asked St John, with something both in
tone and look that had Heartsease been
older she would probably have noticed, but
she only pointed 10 the packet and laughed;
II have been To the Strand" she said.
ITO fetch thatT'
Yes, to fetch that. | shall take 1t some
where else Tomorrow, though it'svery little
good"
perhaps you may have better luck next
time" said st. John gently.
Heartsease shook her head.
"Oh no, | think shall take to selling or
anges; literature doesn't pay"
you are. oyer-yOmg to say that. In
time"
"Oh, In time" interrupted the girl with
kind of bitterness most rare in her; land
meanwhile" She stopped and bit her lip.
IL must go and see how mother is" she add
ed directly, and left the room.
When she came back ST. John was alone,
reading, or seeming to read.
Heartsease went to her table, put away
her manuscript, and drawing forth another,
began to write.
Meanwhile Mr.. st. Johns conscience was
shifting him heavily; he felt horribly guilty
he must confess his sin.
He rose, dropped his book and going to
Nina's table, drew up chair and sat down.
The girl lifted her head in some surprise.
MAY l interrupt your said he, looking
very penitent, and dangerously handsome
Ia mis- penitence, "Only for few minutes"
"For as longa as you like" said HeartseaSe,
with most perfect ndiUete. Have you COM
mitted a crime?
"You may regard it as one" with a hard
ly perceptible glance down to the table.
II? What do you meanF'
81 read the story that was lying on your
table"
Heartsease flushed crimson, and her grey
eyes flashed angrily.
st. John had never seen her angry before,
and she looked more lovely than ever.
You ought not to have done IL, )" she said (;
ut was not right"
She was trembling with emotions she
could not have analysed-her very yexation
was in truth because this man, Of all people,
had read what she thought stupid, and he
must have laughed at it. and laughed at her