San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-10-29

ger II am advised to try Mentone."
Medhurst, finding on inquiry that his
companion was stranger to the Riviera.
gave him certain sage counsels as TO the
dangers OF its seductive climate, and the
two parted on excellent terms with eacn
other. The solemn young consumptive
was not useful i'll Captain Medhursts way
of business: but he was u gentleman, AMI
the society of II gentleman made pleas
ant change. Medhurst carried with him
enough of that lost soil from which he fell
to be able still to rear flower or two. II
he could have aifog,,ed to he a man of
spotless honor, he would have been glad
of any chance to G. back to his old ways
and to his old society; but he had no patri-
mOny left to him but his wits, and must
needs live upon them.
Paul Jones had gone to bed when Med
hurst re-entered the hotel, but the Major
was in great form. He had fallen into the
society of two or three gentlemen of his
own kidney, and was calling literally for
champagne, under the impression that the
walters were deeply sensible of his wealth,
his social status, and his general tone.
When he was in funds, it was the Daisy's
simple dream that everybody imagined
him to be some high and mighty person,
the geniality of whose temper forbade him
to abash the world with his title. He
lived happy in the serene conviction that
nobody could look at him or listen to him
without knowing him 80 be gentleman;
and in his confidential and expansive mo-
ments, he would brag of this gift of Ma
ture to his confederate until Medhurst
actually groaned under him. That liber-
atty with champagne among strangers
was splendid trait, to the generous brig
and's own way of thinking. When he
paid in the presence of other people, he
took out all the money he had, and threw
it about with a lordly indifference. These
characteristics were of a piece with his
brassy, good humored voice, his raking
hat, his happy and audacious swagger, the
size and brilliancy of his breast-pin, and
the multitude of his glittering rings.
Medhurst got him away from his COM
panions without difficulty, for the Major
was usually placable to his companions
touch.
where's the millionaire"
Hes gone to bed" said the Major.
"Hes gay youngster enough, but he
won't take his liquor. Says he never
drinks, except at meals, and very little
then. That's one of those confounded
Yankee institutions. Good wine is good
familiar creature'-that's all the Scripture
| know, my boy; but it's a damn good
text, though l never heard a parsOn preach
from it,"
You'd better turn in," said Medhurst.
"You will be having a headache to-mor-
row.
Headache" said the Daisy, smiling
uncertainty, but with complete friendli-
ness, at his own reflection in the mirror,
which he took for third person. Pom
merry Gren doesn't give you headache
not when it's the right sort. 1t is here,
my boy. Twenty-three francs the bottle. /"
Medhurst succeeded in getting him to
bed, and then went to his own apartment.
He was always scrupulously sober, but he
had been compelled to drink a little with
the Major for forms sake before he could
withdraw him from his boon companions.
He set candles on either side his mirror,
and producing pack of cards, sat down
there to deal and cut and shuttle before
the looking-glass. with his eyes intently
fixed on the reflection of his own fingers.
He satisfied himself that he was in perfect
form, and so undressed and went to bed.
1t was an odd thing, perhaps, that he
should have searched in the breast-pocket
of his coat before he lay down, and should
have taken from it the photograph of an
innocent looking child of eight or nine;
that he should have carried this to bed
with him, and have looked at the little
short-frocked, innocent figure SO tenderly
and so long and that he should have kissed
the picture and placed it under his pillow
before he blew out his candle for the
night. But, then. human nature is full of
oddities, and Captain MeLhurst is not the
only man whose profession and practices
are contradictory
The weather was wild next morning.
auu heavy snow was driven so violently
about the streets that few but those who
we're compelled to do il ventured abroad
at all that day in Paris. But notwith-
standing the severity of the weather, Paul
Jones was out and about all morning and
afternoon, returning to the hotel at inter
walls, stamping the snow from his shoes
and laughing in the entrance-hall, and
dashing upstairs to his apartment and
down again with prodigiOus strides He
was back to luncheon with a face which
SiONCu HUH Tic W iuu anu COHl lHdt Hc
looked as jolly as a rising sun. The Daisy
was to the full as 1orid but his was 3
glow less invigorating and wholesome to
look at. He was little puffy about the
eyes, and his temper, as he himself ad-
mitted, broke off short like carrot. The
pale, phthisical young American was there
also, and Medhurst changed his place to
sit beside him-partly with a view to leave
clear field for the Majors operations.
and partly because he preferred the quiet