San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-08-05

|
bow and sweeping courtesy. As ! grew
more accustomed to the brilliant scene !
seemed TO know instinctively who some of
! the people were Those two old danes on
the settee in the corner are kinswomen of
| the host, and their tongues have not ceased
since came in No doubt they are discuss
| ing some dainty dish of scandal That tall,
stern man moving about with an air of au
| thority must surely be the son and heir.
But there is couple that more than all the
rest excites my curiosity. The man is small
and slight and fair; he is dressed in the ex
IRENE of fashion, in pale pink satin, with
diamond buckles on his shoes His napier has
a jeweled hilt, and through it is drawn an
embroidered handkerchief. He stands near
the top of the room, and is evidently guest
of Importance, for the host pauses now and
again TO smile and say few words, which
the young man answers carelesSly III thin
bored voice. His partner is much more in
| terestlng study She is very young-not
more than l1-and has a delicate, fragile
look Her hair is piled loosely on the top of
her head, and a blue ribbon runs through it,
1t is the only bit of color about her. Her
white silk sacque falls in full, graceful folds
from her shoulders. she holds a dropping
cluster of white roses in her bands, which
nervOusly arrange and rearrange the flowers,
her face is very coloress, and her deep blue
eyes have a strained nervous look. The two
do not seem at ease in each others company,
from time to time the gentleman pays the
lady a vapid compliment, TO which she re-
spends family or not at all.
Now there is a general move toward the
top of the room. and the musicians cease.
The company gathers round "A square oak
table; Oh it are pens, ink and several large
sheets of paper. \ man III plain black gar
mentS evidently Il notary, takes a seat
Father and son stand near each other, and
on the farther side the young couple who have
so interested me, then | see the likeness be-
tween the girl and the two men opposite, and
it flashes across my mind that ] am assisting
at that betrothal scene | had heard of few
days before. The notary begins to read, the
document tells OF the dover Of the bride and
the settlements made by tie bridegroom
calling forth many explanations of wonder
and signs of envy from the assembled guests
The father and son listen with stern Satisfac-
tion the bridegroom pretends TO pay no at
tention; the bride, poor little thing, gets
paler and more nervous.
Now the reading has come to an end. and
amidst the buzz of conversation the host
rises and signs the papers. The witnesses on
his side follow, then the bridegroom and his
witnesses The notary turns to the bride,
and, smiling, offers her the pen. With trem-
bling fingers she takes it, then hestateS
Her great sad eyes are lifted appeahngly to
her brother, and seeing no hope there she
looks at her father, and a piteous murmur
that is half a sob breaks from her: "FatherH
But no softnesS comes over the stern face
1T is your turn to sign, my daughter" is
all the response she gets Despaipingly she
bends over the table and her name is added
to the rest
The business being over, the ladies crowd
round her with congratulations on the Splen-
did match, and surrounded by them she
moves away. Presently she begs them TO
leave her by the window. She feels a little
faint, she says but a few moments quiet will
soon put her right, and they leave her in the
deep embraSure. Once alone she rises, and,
watching her opportunity, slips out into the
night |, too, step through my window, and
see her fit across the terrace in the moon
light At tPe foot Of the steps man starts
out of the shadow with low AT last sweet
hearth" and catches the slender figure in his
arms for a moment Wrapping a large,
dark cloak over her white garments he draws
her arm through his and leads her few
steps, when he is stopped by hand PLACED
suddenly on his shoulder. Turning, he sees
the dark face of his lady's brother.
With a cry the girl starts from him and
filings herself between tho two men. Her
brother thrustS her aside. stand back !
have to deal with him, not you'll" But she
clings to him, and, sinking ON her knees,
promises anything if he will only let her
lover go safe. He shakes himself free, and in
another moment the clash of swords brings
wondering crowd to the windows. No one in.
terferes or attempts to go to the poor child
holding the back Of a seat to keep herself up
right Presently a heavy fall and shrek
from the girl tells what the end is. The white
figure flies to the PROSTATE man and the little
bands try to lift the heavy head. kiss me,
sweetheart" murmurs the dying man; ~
wish | could have saved you" and then all is
| still
For few minutes no one moves The
| lovers lie as if both, instead Of one, were
| dead; the guests gaze at them with pale,
scared faces, and midway between the two
| groups half way up the steps, father and son
| speak in low whisper. The moon sheds her
| calm, silvery light over all, as she would were
| the scene she nlumined happy instead Of q
most tragic one. Suddenly | see the girl lift
her head; noiselessly she rises to her knees
| then to her feet The two men on the steps
notice nothing, so deep are they in their
whispered conference. With a swift
stealthy movement she glides down to the
waters edge and before her father
and brother, warned by a cry from
their guests, can stop her, she has
| StopDal into a LIGHT DlaaSIIra boat nnOre6