San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-08-14

chief one bad woman can makel And
she was bad woman, this false love of
yours, John"
IF she had been good one, she
would have been true" l replied.
Il think" said Lance, musingly,
that in all this world there is nothing
so horrible as a bad-a really bad or
wicked wOmanl They seem To me much
worse than men, just as good woman
is better than man could ever be,-is
little less than an angel.
DO you know" he continued, his
voice trembling with emotion, Il did
not understand how good a woman
could be! Ny wife, Frances, is quite
an angel. When see her in the morn
ing, her fair face so fresh and pure,
kneeling down to say her prayers, | feel
quite unworthy of her; when | see the
Tapt, earnest expression of her face, as
we sit side by side in church, long to
be like her. She is one of the gentlest
and sweetest of human beings; there is
no one like herl"
Il am heartily glad that you are so
happy, my dearest Lance" | said.
lie continued. Il know that my talk
ing does not bore you; you are too true
q friend; it eases my heart, for it is al
ways full of her. You do not know
how good she isl Why, John, the soul
of a good woman is clear and transpar-
ent, like a deep. clear lake; and in il
one sees such beautiful things. When
my Frances speaks to little child there
comes into her voice beautiful tender
Mesa ring of such clear sweet music,
that say to myself it is more like the
voice of an angel than Of woman; 1t
io ha Nrla ah he To
anyone in sorrow or sickness. The
strange thing to me is this-that though
she is so good herself, so pure and innO-
cent, she has such profound compass
sion for the fallen and the miserable.
At Vale Royal, only few months ago.
there was one of those unfortunate
cases. A servant girl,-a very pretty
and nice girl, too, she was,-was turned
out of her miStresS's house in the cold
of a winters night; her boxes and
wages were put into the street, and she
was told to 90 to the WOrkhOuSe. She
almost went mad with shame and de-
spair. Frances would go to the rescue,
and | honestly believe that through my
wife'S charity and goodness that unhap-
py girl will be restored to her place in
the world, or that at least she will not
go, as she otherwise would have done,
to the bad. thought that most beau
tiful trait in her character"
$50 it was" replied, liking my dear
old friend all the better for his great
love for his wife.
''She is always the same" he con-
tinued, full of charity and tenderness
for the poor. You could not think how
much they love her. All round Vale
Royal she is wOrshipped. am very
fortunate man. John"
you are indeed" l replied.
He went on
II always had my ideal. l have
known many. None ever reached my
standard but Frances. and she is my
ideal come to life-the reality found,
fair, sweet and true, blonde, queenly
woman. | should think that very few
men meet and marry their ideal as |
have met and married mine. All, there
is the avenue that leads to the old
manOr-housel Who could have thought
that | should ever be master of man.
or-hOuse, John? Neither that nor the
handsome income belonging to it would
be of any use without Frances. 1t is
Frances who makes the world to me-"
The avenue was a superb one. 1t con-
sisted of tall chestnut trees standing
four deep. have seen nothing finer.
Just now the flowers were all i'll bloom,
the bees and butterflies had all been
drawn there by their odOr: the birds
were fitting in and out making grand
discoveries in the great bOughs; the
ground was carpet of flowers, white
daisies and golden buttercupS mixed
with wild hyacinthS and graceful blue
bells. We drove for some few minutes
over this carpet, and then the old grey
manor-hOuse stood before us, the pref
test picture ever seen on Summers
day. The whole front of the house was
covered with flowers, and the ivy grew
green and thick, it climbed to the very
top of the towers.
Famous ivy" said Lance. People
come to Button to look at the ivy"
II do not wonder at it," | said.
was somewhat surprised at the style
of the house. had not expected any
thing so grand, so beautiful.
1--WE shall have time for a cigar and
stroll before dinner" said Lance, as
he threw the reins to the groom; but
must see her."
But one of the servants told us that
Mrs. Fleming was in the drawing-rOOm,
engaged with Lady Ledbitter. Lance's
face fell.
"You do not seem to care for Lady
Ledbitter," | said to him.
"In truth | do not; she is county
magnate, and local horror l call her.
She leads all the ladies of the county;
they are frightened to death at her;
they frOwn when she frowns, smile
when she smiles. begged of Frances
not to fall under her sway, but | have
begged in vain, no doubt. If she has
been there for half an hour Frances will
have given in"
He turned on me suddenly, 50 sud-
denly, indeed, that he almost startled
me.
"Do you know" he said, 'those kind
of women. fair and calm, whose
thoughts seem to be always turned i'll
wards? My wife is one of those; when
one talks to her she listens with her
ewes down, and seems as though she
had left another world of thought just
for your sake. Her manner always
piques one to 60 OH talking for the sake
Of making her smile. | can just imag-
inc how she looks now. while Lady Led
bitter talks to her. Well. come to your
own room, John, and we will stroll
round the grounds till her ladyship has
retreated."
What beautiful old house it was,
one could tell so easily that a lady of
taste and refinement presided over it.
The fine old oak was not covered. but
contrasting with il were thick crimson
rugs, hangings of crimson velvet. and it
was relieved by any amount of flowers;
beautiful pictures were hung with eX-
uuisitp taste white Statues stood ont in
grand relief against the dark walls.
Your wife is a woman of taste, that
is quite evident, Lance" / said.