San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-10-21

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yet she felt her cousin was less grieved 1T
having offended her than afraid. She did
not really forgive him, because she was
sure that the feeling that had dictated mis-
conduct was still In his heart; and she
knew that he had spoken falsely when he
owned only to thoughtlessness. She smiled
little, glanced keenly into Roland's face
from her long thick lashes, and took the
rose he offered.
"Neyer mind" she said gently. 81 am
very impetuous, Roland. Thanks for the
rose. will wear it,"
She took IL and gave him her hand. He
drew her towards him and kissed her
cheek; and for the first time, lima colored
under her Cousins caress, and drew back
quickly from him.
"Come down soon," said Roland, with
inward citation noticing her confusion; and
lima promised.
She put the rose in her dress and went
down. Mrs. Sabine called her to her side
and complimented her on her leap, about
which, it seemed, Rose and jamie had been
"bragging." E.i'
lima laughed, and tried to turn the con-
versation from herself; and the announce
ment of dinner came to her rescue. At
dinner she was placed next to Roland, Sir
Philip being opposite between Rose and
jamie. Suddenly, while Roland was say
ing something to her that she hardly heard,
for she was listening to what Darrell was
saying to her aunt about the opera in Flor
ence, Rose exclaimed
"llma, have you robbed my pet tree Of
that lovely damask rose?" ..#.
"No," answered the girl, starting, but
laughing too; 81 did not take 1t. Roland
gave 1t to me-" ..s... ....
"Then Roland is the thief; but you arc
welcome, my dear"
81 am sure she would have been equal
ly welcome if she had taken it," said Mrs.
Sabine, smiling. "You must treat this
like your own home, lima"
"liow good you are, aunt Sabine ~ re-
turned lima gratefully, the quick color
flushing her cheek but the deeper because
she knew that Sir Philip had looked At
her.
Roland glanced ut his dark face, and
wondered whether his gift had thorn for
him. Sir Philip however read all the sto-
ry of the flower as plainly Is If It had been
written on the table before him, and hs
smiled to himself IS he saw the young
Squire's look and OWNED what passed
within him. "He dare to think Of Offering.
his love to Ilmaw was the naughty OAR
relps thought. Welded to him the girl
would indeed be "mated with clown" !.
Mrs. Sabine felt anxious on her sons
account. She could not help seeing that
Ilma's great beauty and fascination had
| made q deep impression on Roland, and
she might we'll ask herself what the end Of
| life was likely to be, with such brilliant
| confederation as Sir Philip Darrell; and,
| even if Darrell had not been on the scene,
Mrs. Sabine had too much good sense not
to see that there was no community Of
thought between the young Osnsdian aud
her Cumberland relative. Nothing was
| revealed through Iima's wearing the rose;
| but she felt certain that Roland meant
more in offering it than the girl had any
| idea of.
After dinner Roland claimed his game
Of chess, and more pleased to do so because
| he knew that Sir Philip would have asked
for music. Rose protested against "stick-
ing lima down to chess" but lima said
| she had promised, and Roland had not the
| good grace to release her.
81 won't promise to be very grave over
| it," she said, as her cousin drew up the
| chess-table. "I am sure that you will beat
| me-"
'Not he" remarked jamie frankly;
"Roland is very bad player"
CHOW do you know that lima 10 bet
ter?" asked Roland, beginning to set the
| men.
"For shame, Rolw said his sister,
"You might have made a pretty speech
then. Remember, lima is city-bred and
used to all that sort Of thing"
And she moved away, while Roland bit
his lip, wishing he had Sir Philip DarrelPs
golden tongue. He used to call it "con-
founded foreign palavering" at one time,
but Cupid alters some mems estimate Of
the graces of life.
Roland aud lima were left pretty we'll
alone, for Sir Philip and the rest were at
the other end of the room, and there SEEM
ed to be good deal of fun going forward.
lima lOnged to join the group, but she did
not like to play recklessly, and Roland
was long over his moves.
"Oh, Roland" she said at last, "don't
take month over move, there's good
boyw
Roland looked up. lima leaned back,
clasping her hands behind her head, and
met his eager look with one of indiffer-
ence.
"You see," he said, 81 am not thinking
of the game"
'sThen L wish you would, or shall read
. book while you are meditating."
."Ilma, why are you so cruel!"
His tone and look startled, even fright
ened her; but she was too young to know
how to meet such an advance. She turned
pale, but her eyes flashed angrily.
"Don't be foolish, Roland, Or"
81 am not foolish, lima" he interruDt-