San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-12-26

VII INC bOiuch llSub VI 4hapSA
rose on my horizon had been rather marked
in my attentions TO pretty Geraldine. But
never could find out how mucn sne was GER
tain to have.
~ may have,n yawned Everton; shut girls
are very much alike and very often nui-
sauces." continued the Goth. swell, I'm off;
one more glass first" and he mixed and
gulped down another S. and b., leaving me
to compose letter to Mabel, who, with her
aunt, was staying at an old school friends
in the Isle of Wight. | was not altogether
sorry, for my Mabel had, charming as she
personally and pecuniarily was, a very high
idea of the homage due to her, and was very
exigeante as a fiance, keeping one well up
to the collar and in attendance, and admit
ting no excuses if one deviated from exact
punctuality, for which characteristic she
seemed to have inherited a most commercial
instinct from the late Plumley, who, i be-
lieve, never lost the quarter to nine bus"
for innumerable years. Therefore, it was
with mingled feelings that by return of post
l had letter from Mabel, informing me
playfully, as a reward for my protestrations
of longing to see her, she and her aunt would
run up for the day from the Isle of Wight to
have long day in town, as there was some
shopping to be done and little sight seeing
combined, and the day following l was to
meet them at the station.
| did So and remarkably pretty in her
Juno fashion Mabel looked / was rather
surprised, however, when | asked her if she
were going to Tyburnia first. She answered,
"Oh no; let the house as it stood for two
months to some Devonshire people. No use
in letting house stand idle or money either"
she said, and l really thought l could discern
a sort of ''cty" ring in her voice. This new
discovery led to some reflection ON my part.
III.
We had covered, should imagine, enough
ground to satisfy the greatest glutton in a
go-as-you-please contest in going from shop
to shop, and had "done" two picture CALLER.
les, when, thoroughly exhausted, was Won
dering how soon Mabel and her aunt, who
seemed in the pink of condition for staying
powers, if | may talk like a sporting paper,
would let me have an interval OF repoSe,
when my fiance remarked:
81 am SO hungry
Her aunt's tiorid face lit up with sympa-
thetic and delighted ardor.
And I'm hungrier than I've ever been"
she said.
"Woll, Fred will take us somewhere to
luncheon said Mabel, with a radiant SMILE
and We proceeded, with much simulated en-
thusiasm on my part and much real ditto on
that of the ladies, to a noted restaurant
Why was my enthusiasm simulated, seeing
my love of good eating cqualed that of my
fair companions! Because it is always with
the proviso of being at somebody elses ex-
pense when my funds ran low, which just
at this time they did, when, with the usual
perversity OF woman, my betrothed must
take it into her head to come to London.
Now, had been paying cab fares and ex-
hibition admissions, and therefore ruefully
calculated that by the time a recherche
luncheon and some dry Mumm had been con-
sumed very little of the small sum in my
lurse would remain there. Mabel, as her
'emark anent the hOsse showed, was q young
lady of business, and nothing could work
moro prejudically to my prospects than te
hint my temporary position to her, which
good many men with less majestic, though
as we'll lowered fiances, could have done.
No, it was a case of grin-and-bear-it, and
| with Spartan fortitude led the way into the
restaurant and ordered q most charming
luncheon, to all the courses of which tho two
ladies paid marked and appreciative atten-
| tions As had to pay for the feast saw no
reason why should not enjoy my share of
it, and was not so Economically in love as
to havo my appetite spoiled. The cham
pagne, too, did mo good, and | much respect
ed Mabel and her admirable aunt for being
superior to the usual feminine taste for sweet
wines So altogether we were very comfort
able.
Alasl the mauvias quart dheure was ap-
preaching, ard Mabel was too fond of her
oppressive punctuality to let mo enjoy my
case as we Of the b. p. Office were wont to do
Sho began to recapitulate the projects she
had for the rest of the afternoon. / careIessly
called for the bill, and while the waiter was
gone for it surreptitiously opened my purse
to find that, as | now remembered, the one
!e5 note it had coQtained had that morning,
when dressing, been put into and left in my
writing desk!
".
This hideous discovery, to use q vulgar
phrase, completely "labbergasted" me. My
two fair guests wero trifing with dessert and
too intent on their occupation to notice my
change Of countenancc. What was to be
done? Money must be had and Immediately,
and the nearest pawnbroker must be sought.
Summoning all my histrionic power (which
has been pronounced in amateur circles con-
siderable) observed, with sudden start of
recollection, that to my great annoyance
had an official appointment at the Office,
and business is business, dear Mabel" /
said, which was a sentiment peculiarly in
telligible to the heiress Of Uncle Pumley.
So sho graciously approved of my short alb
sence, and l hurried out, followed by the
not unsuspicious glance OF, the manager, only
treasured by Glancing at the rich attire and
placid contentment of the two ladies left at