San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-12-10
THE DIAMOND BUTTON
FROM THE DIARY OF A LAWYER AND THE
NOTE BOOK OF A REPORTER.
By BARCLAY NORTH.

cottage, which elsewhere might De calleu
a mansion, yet as compared with its
neighbors it is small.
1t has many angles, short towers and
high ones; many gables, curious win
dows, like eyes, in long sloping roofs-a
recessed balcony here, and verandas
cropping out there, in unexpected places,
and tumble of corners, projections and
angles, yet all orderly. harmonious and
artistic.
On the veranda which adjoins the
porte cochere, young lady PAGES up and
down with evident Impotence. The sun,
slowly sinking into the west, sends its
rays shooting under the roof of the ver-
anda and lights up with golden CLEANS
the shining hair of Flora Ashgrove.
The house is the summer residence of
Robert Witherspoon, and therefore the
summer home of the lady.
The roll of carriage wheels in the dis
lance attracts her attention, and she leans
over the railing.
The carriage turning into sight, she
views it with great expectancy plainly
manifest on her beautiful face.
In a moment more she is enabled to
ascertain its occupant, and as she does so
a smile of relief wreathes itself about her
rosy lips.
The carriage draws up at the steps and
the occupant who alights is
Harry Fountain.
She greets him with suppressed joy.
She hurries him off in charge of
servant, bidding him to hasten to a meet
ing with her on the veranda as soon as
he can remove the stains of travel.
Then she seats herself in one of the
willow chairs which invite repose. She
leans her head upon her hand, her elbow
resting upon the arm of the chair, and
she relapses into deep study.
The thoughts she INDUCES are evident
ly not pleasant, for she frowns and her
face is dark.
Thus she sits when Fountain, newly
arrayed. rejoins her. He says gayly:
"You perceive how obedient l am.
You command and am here"
She looks at him gloomily and says she
is glad to see him.
Il should only know it," he retorts,
''by your saying so, ma BELLE"
She looks at him angrily as she re-
plies:
You can be very gay under all the
circumstances Is the distance from New
York so great that you feel perfectly at
ease here"
He looks down upon her somewhat
puzzled, for he is standing in front of
her. He draws chair closer to her and
sits down very deliberately.
Flora" he says slowly. but gazing at
her steadily, "your moods are inexplica-
BILE. For the past three weeks have
not understood you. When | saw you
last in New York you were nervousness
personified, and you treated me at times
with disdain, and sometimes | imagined
positively with aversion. Then comes
your imperative summons to come hith-
er, disregarding as nothing my reasons
for remaining in Now York. Now, tell
me, what is the meaning of your strange
conduct"
you have then observed nv con-
duct?' she returns, with an expression of
'Can you find no reason for it,
Upon my word l cannot. If you
have fault to find with me speak out,
and don't resort to innuendo."
"Innuendo," she repeats, with fine
scorn in her tones. Harry Fountain,
are you a hypocrite, or the coolest
blooded man who lives?"
81 l. Il, 4.
plies II shall advise your uncle to
consult physician
Don't treat me as if were a child"
she answers, passionately. Il am en-
titled to your confidence if to nothing
else. Does not your conscience reproach
you, or have you none?"
The charge of Withholding confidence
from you comes with but ill grace,
Flora" he said sternly. II jeopardized
my chances of peace, comfort and happi-
ness in this world in order that might
give you my confidence. You hold every
secret of my life-you know that of me
which no other person in this world
knows"
Except one-except one," she cried
passionately leaping to her feet and
striding up and down the veranda. "Ex-
cept one, and from the consequences of
that one would save you at the risk of
my own life and honor, though it seems
to me hate you, hate you for it."
Fountain regarded her with amaze
mcnt, and his face grew pale as he NUT
tered under his breath, us it possible
that she can have been informed by some