San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-11-18

went to the Manor House; there was q
grand fete TO be given to the tenantry, and
Paul for the occasion had bought his
beautiful young wife q dress of white
muslin. with bright ribbons. When she
had put it on, with flower in her hair,
she looked so lovely that he was startled
at her beauty, She read his admiration I'm
his eyes.
"You will own" she said, ''that dress
makes some little difference All. Paul. NJ
had but jewels and rich dresses, such as
ladies wearr'
You would not look more beautiful, Is
may. Now you gladden. my heart, then
you would gladden. other hearts, and
should not be so happy, love"
lsmay never forgot that day. She locked
round the magnificent roOms-on the pis-
lures, the statues, the superb hanginE.
the furniture, the rare fiowers-and her
whole heart ached with longing. She
looked on the faces of the ladies-soms ef
them county leaders of fashion-and she
saw none that could be compared with her
own. She watched the hundred evidences
of wealth, and her very soul seemed ON
fire with the eagerness of her wishes.
"Why is there naught for mel" she said
to herself. why should others have
money, luxury. and splendor. while i,
who am fairer than they, must pass my
life in lonely cottage, counting each
shilling as spend it."
She saw the glances of admiration cast
upon her; she heard one ask another:
who is that beautiful girl'" and her
vanity was fiattered. If, so plainly attired,
she could produce this marked sensation.
what would she not do when magnificent
ly dressed
In the midst of her excitement and
pleasure she could not refrain from n0ta-
cling one thing-among all the crowd Of
men there was not one who surpassed IN
appearance her husband Paul. 1t was the
first time she had mixed in socSty, or had
seen what is commonly called the world.
She had imagined that all those who bore
noble names would carry the impress Of
those names on face and figure. Here
were lords, baronets, and esquires, but she
saw among them no face more noble than
Paul's, no figure more manly: she heard
no voice with so true a ring, she saw no
smile so luminous and frank.
HE is one of Natures noblemen," said
the young wife to herself, and her heart
grew warm as she looked at him. She
had thought that among people SO greatly
above him in position he would perhaps
show some mdttudtse hOnte-some shy
embarrassment or confusion; but on his
frank, noble face there was no trace Of
either.
There's somewhat in this world amiss !
Shall be unriddled by and by"
said Ismay to herself, as she watched him.
IF it were not so, Paul would occupy one
of the grand places these men cannot an
so wOrthily as he" She saw gentlemen
of position talking to him, seeming deeply
interested in his conversation. She NO
ticed another thing-his love was like a
watchful presence round her; he never
forgot her; he seemed to be always think
ing of her comfort, of what she would
like; and again the young wife said to her
self:
mo one could ever love me as Paul
does"
There came over her a vague kind Of
wonder as to what she would do without
his love. She might as well be without
food to eat, fresh air to breathe Life
without Pauls lovel She smiled to her.
self at the idea, and he, watching her
from distance, came to ask her why she
smiled. She looked with frank, sweet eyes
into his face.
81 was thinking what the world would
be like to me without you," she replied,
land cannot realize it."
Heaven grant that you never may,
sweet shall never know what the world
is without you, for could not live if lost
you"
The time came when they both remem.
bered those words.
So the struggle went on in her mind
the passionate longing. the eager wishes,
the thirst for pleasure, the craving for
wealth, doing battle always with the love
of husband and child and the spirit of CON
tent
She had lOnged for fortune, and it was
coming to her; she longed for power and
position, it was to be hers: but she was
unconscious of it, and said to herself at
times that her life would be spent in
dreams.
One morning she sat in the garden max.
ing faint pretense at work, but the needle
had fallen, and the white hands lay listless
and still She sat under the shade of 3
large elm-tree, and the sunbeams falling
through the green leaves were like hals
around her, heightening her marvellous
beauty. She was engrossed in her day.
dream of that golden future when the
little maid-servant came to tell her that .
gentleman wished to see her.
She lose hastily, crimson flush on her
fair face. A gentleman to see her! Who
could it be?
Before she had time to ask the question.
she saw gentleman entering through
the garden gate. He advanced toward hen