San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-08-20
A SLIP OF THE PEN.

There is nothing wonderful in the fact that
Dicky was at the bottom of that unfortunate
affair with Jack and Ethel.
Matters had long been in delicate and crit
ical state between those young people, Jack
had told himself over and over again that
Ethel was firt, and that he, for one, had no
intention of adding himself to the list of her
victims; while Ethel had relieved her feel
ings by repeatedly assuring herself that Jack
was cross fellow, who cared for nothing but
his books, and was quite impervious to the
charms of womanhood.
But that night at the Warringtons things
really did seem to be taking a turn for the
better. Ethel had boldly turned her back on
half dozen other admirers, and Jack, look
ing down into her honest eyes, was rapidly
forgetting the doubts and fears which had
tormented him during the past months.
There is no knowing what might not have
happened, had it not been for Dicky, who
came up to them at this hopeful stage of affairs.
his shoulders in his ears, his hair brushed to
a nicely, and with the most unmistaGable
look of mischief in his prominent eyes.
Good evening, Miss Mariner" he said,
taking Ethels hand in his and squeezing it
with empressement; and then the two poor
things, suddenly awakened from their dream
stood there chill and helpless while Dicky
fired off his accustomed volley of chaff, and
Ethel, with feminine presence of mind ven
tured on one or two little pop guns on her
own account.
Miss Mariner" he said at last, with salts
fed glance at Jacks sullen face, "have you
been into the conservatory They've put a
lot of pink lamps, and there's the most scrump
tious tete-a-tete chair you can imagine"
Poor Ethel looked up at Jack, who stood
by, furious and sulky.
He is only too glad to get rid of me. He
hasn't the ordinary kindness to rescue me
from this bore And have been so horribly
amiable to him" she thought in despair
''If she likes that popinjay, let her go with
him! I'm sorry for her taste, that's all" re
hected Jack, and In another minute Ethel
found herself actually seated in the tete-a-tete
chair with Dicky, whose large eyes were
rolling triumphantly in the light of the rose
cOlOred lamps
She did not succeed in making her escape
till it was time to go home. Jack was no
where to be seen, and she drove back in the
chill gray morning with the heaviest heart
she had known for many days.
Ethel, said her mother at breakfast, the
next morning, 'did you have pleasant time
at the Warringtons~
''Oh, yes, mamma" said Ethel, drearily
She was pale and heavy eyed; think she had
not slept all night.
And whs were therep went on Mrs Mar
liner, helping herself to buttered eggs with
CHEEKY briskness.
Ethel enumerated various people, "And
Dicky Carshaltop," she concluded, land Jack
Davenant"
The last named slipped out with exagger
ated careleSSnesS, and yet it was whirring
about i'll the poor girls head, and had been
doing so for the last five or six hours, like al
imprisoned blue-bottle in a glass.
"Jack-Jack-Jac Davenant." Was She
never to nave another definite thought again !,
by the by said Mrs. Mariner, as she rose
from table, will you send note to Florence
Byrne' want her to lunch here tomorrow
at half past the Singletons are coming"
Ethel moved to the writing table, blushing
family. She remembered that Mrs Byrne
was Jack Davenant's cousin.
Half past |, recollect," cried her mother.
as she rustlcd from the room.
Ethel listlessly took up her pen, and pulled
q sheet of paper towards her. 1t was not
stamped with the address, but she failed to
notice this, and began at once:
My dear Mrs. Byrne."
Then she stopped short, and the buzzing in
her brain went on worse than ever.
The note got written at last, all but the
signature, and then she began to wonder
dreamily if she should sign herself "Yours
very sincerely" or Yours affectionately."
Ethel, Ethel" cried her mother, putting
her head in at the door, Il am going out
Give me the note for Florence; l can take it
to the post"
Guilty and ashamed, Ethel seized her pen
and wrote hastily, but in a bold hand:
Yours very sincerely,
JACK DAvENANT"
Mrs. Byrne neither came to lunch nor an
swered the Mariners invitation. Mrs Mari
ner expressed surprise at this want of cour
tesy, and apologized to the Singletons for
having no one to meet them.
Are you sure, Ethel, you told her the right
dayf Florence is in town, know, and it is
so unlike her to be rude"
Il think it was all right, mamma, Ethe
replied vaguely, and never gave another
thought to the matter.
But on the morning OF the next day, as she
was practcing her singing in the great hol
land Shrouded drawing room, the door was
flung open to admit a benign and cOmelN
lady, who advanced smiling toward her
Mrs Byrue" criel Ethel in some surprise
getting of the music stool