The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1889-09-06
BLENDA.

BLRNDA.
"The woman has behaved so badIv {,
shlftily; those green-eyed women are al
ways shifty" 81
The speaker was a tall, fair 6orid
youth OF some twenty-four years of ACE
the locality was smoking-room in Fl,
house Of Mr.. Horace Ashton. the VOL,
known surgeon, and the hour. to be nre.
oise, was i've o'clock on a dull Noyembe,
evening. - go '''
.You see, she first Of all encouraged #
and led me to believe that she and bs,
husband would be very glad to see Tina
married to me (she is only Tina's stem
mother, you know, aud then, when nv
olg brother came on the scene and bera1
making up to my little girl-as he does
every helress-why, then Mrs. Fowler
cooled of, like the snob that she is and
told Tina that she wasn't to dance 81
much with me and that-in short Il
wasn't TO be. It was a horrid shame
don you think so, Horaceg'
1T sounds rather unfair. But nerbons
Challoner doesn't really want 10 MARI
Miss Fowler" -- )
"Oh, yes, he does. He admires her
immensely, to begin with, and then she'p
nave I'VE thousand a year. He'd marry
WITCH for two more. You know what
ne IS; he doesn't care for Tina: he
aoesnt care for anyone, but himself
while -" --'''---'
But don't quite see what I am to
do' what part I am to play, or how l can
serve you BY coming to this supper nartv
tonight interrupted Horace. sbarnIv
ne aid not mean to be unsympathetic
but he was very tired, ana he had heard
50 often how much, how very much. his
young friend, Hon Humphrey ChalIoner.
cared for the beautiful Miss Fowler.
:. - .s-apt ronr oni-;ar. and vonr
which you cannot give unssleyou
have seen the family. 1 want YOU to
take particular notice of Mrs. Fowler.
and to tell me what you think of her.
She Is years and years younger than her
husband; and some people admire her
immensely. She is awfully vain,
should add, and more accessible to fiat
terry than any one I've ever met. and I
believe that you might talk her over.
Horace, if you would only take the
trouble. You see, you are clever and
I'm not, and ChaIloner is an elder son
and Fiscount, and I'm Younger son
with nothing; and Tina is only eighteen.
ana does not come Of age until she is
twenty-five, and she says it'll kill her to
wait 80 long, and-and altogether we
haven't hundred-to-one chance of get
ting married unless somebody or other
lnterFenes in our behalf. Captain Fow-
Ter wouldn't oppose Us, I'm sure, if he
were left to himself; but his wife is
against me, and he is a mere lump of
clay in her hands"
"AH right; III come to the supper,
then, as you are so anxious about It.
'And you'll be there by IL :3Ol'
'tGood.
And, true to his word, at the hour
named Mr.. Ashton presented himself at
the door Of Captain Fowler's residence. a
small house on the east side of Davies
street, Berkeley Square. He did not
look forward with much pleasure to the
eyepilg's entertainment. for he disliked
strangers, and he hated supper parties,
but he was glad to oblige Humphrey
Challoner, Of whom he was very fond.
Upon entering the dining room Mr.. Ash
ton found himself In the midst Of a very
lively party that numbered among its
mernbers two pretty Americans, two
wealthy young Guardsmen-to whom the
Americans were laying siege-the Fowler
family, and Captain Challoner, whose ac-
count Of the family Mr.. Ashton soon prst
nounced 70 he correct. sue<
Mrs Fowler was a dist. .ery - no
man, but not Ice witb-.aiy PsTI.y W
preston Iaosas l5icasing one her OK
- a-7.led ffstnkness, and her man
- - Sessgested an almost morbid vanity.
enc haa little air u making a speech
every TING she opened her thin lips. Miss
Fowler WIS simply lovely. and far too
charming 70 be married for her money.
Captain Fowler was palpably under his
vie s thusab-a ciinless being whose
huia character evidently took the impress
Of the strongest hand that grasped it.
"A hopeless case thought Horace,
after the first few minutes talk with his
hostess. ''This woman is an arrant snob,
and the bare idea Of becoming mother
in-law to a viscount has turned her weak
brain; she won't give in"
Presently the conversation, which was
somewhat general, turned upon defective
postal arrangements. One of the Ameri-
can ladies had lately posted, with her own
fair hand, letter to a friend in the Re
gents Park that had never reached its
destination. Think how many an i'm
portant communication may have boon
LOST" she exclaimed,
"Letters are never lost" said Captain
Fowler, speaking with all the assertive
temerity Of the weak. If letter IS
rightly addressed and posted, it it deliv-
cred"
''Not always, interpolated Horace. 81
could tell curious story"
"oh, do, ," interrupted a chorus Of fc-
male voices.
''Ashton tells a story awfully well,
exclaimed Humphrey Challoner.
''Piease tell US your story, Mr.. Ashton, "
murmured Mrs. Fowl in patronizIng
tone.
SIT is an incident, an episode, rather
than a story, - said Horace. "a story, We
are told, demands three things begin
ming, middle and an ending. My tale
has only beginning. And now to be-