San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-05-24

at all, it was my aunt's. / had drawn it from
the bank Just before came here. She needs
it-must have it the first thing tomorrow
morning to pay the rent"
~ think persons in our set suppose you and
your aunt to be very well off," said Mary
quietly; you dress so fashionably."
"Oh, am handy and make things go
long way" explained Miss Millington. "My
aunt supports me-she has a very small in
come-and now have lost her fifty dollars!
Oh! what shall doi"
Mary Devereux was sadly perplexed. She
counted the money in her own purse-twenty
dollars
Dear Miss Wilmington" she said, Twill this
be of any service to youi 1t is all have by
me-"
Miss Millington gathered the crisp bits of
green paper to herself, but heaved another
sigh of despair.
Thanks" she munmured family, "but it
is not enough. | must have fifty dollars.
Then my aunt can settle her rent, and | will
repay the sum by degrees-after l am mar
ried."
The case was so urgent that Mary felt jus
titled is going to her husbands private desk,
where, to her great delight, she found twenty
five dollarsl
Miss Wilmington absorbed the financial re-
enforcement with some appearance of salts
faction, but her voice rang with added trag-
edy as she oueried where the remaining five
dollars were to come from.
Never would the proposal have been put
by Mary DevereuX that the servants should
be appealed tot II was Miss Millington who
suggested the necessity of laying the case be-
fore them as women and sisters. Good Great
uresl Their hearts were as soft as their hands
were hard, and between them the needed five
dollars were without difficulty raised.
Scarcely had the arrangements reached
this happy conclusion when Paul Devereux
returned.
"Still here Miss Millingtonl" he exclaimed,
in his pleasant hearty voice. 'eftad of it.
Stay dinner and go to the theatre with US
this evening""
And OIL such pretty present as he had
brought home for his wife. A handkerchief
Of finest French cambric with frill and en-
treteux of Valenciennes, and the letter NJ
embroidered in one corner. "Just like my
darling husbandl" said Mary Devereux>, kiss
ing him furtively when Miss Millington's back
was>turned.
At dinner Mary showed her new treasure,
which Miss MilIington greatly admired.
How sweetly prettyT" she exclaimed ex-
aiming the dainty mouchoir with her eye
glass Marked with your initial, MINNIE
too, by the way" 9
One which you will soon lose" quoth
Paul archly.
"Oh, no, you mistake" she replied, my
name is Matilda"
The dramatic performance was interest
ing. The three, young people were in high
spirits @until just as they were departing
when Mary Devereux made IAN annoying
discovery She had lost her new lace hand
kcrchief
Paul was more than annoyed he was
downright angry The little article had cost
money, and he said there was no sense in los
in his wife's hap not five minutes before;
where could it have got to2
The natural inference was that she had
dropped it, and all three looked about the
floor of the theatre, whence the crowd had
now departed.
If ITS found, I'll save it for YOU" said an
employee of the place; call tomorrow"
Meantime Pauls quick eye observed a
strange thing. Miss Wilmington, who was
condoling with his almost fearful, wife, kept
her right fist tightly closed; but Between the
little finger and the palm thereof a shred of
lace was visible.
Without with your-leave or by-your- leave
Paul wrenched this article out of her grasp
What's this2" he cried.
1t was the missing handkerchief
rs this joke'" he exclaimed, glaring an
grily into the blanched face of Matilda Mill
ington.
The woman, who had covered guiltily I'M
der his accusing glance, took heart of grace
at the word he kindly used.
YES, yes, quite So" she gasped, with a
hysteric laugh; "ajoke-a mere joke"
1T is a very bad one, )" he retorted savagely
The three walked in silence to the street.
There Paul put Miss Millington into a hack,
paid the driver and sent her home alone.
Mary Devereux was terribly shocked at
the occurrence. Naturally she told her hus-
band of the peculiar incident of the after
noon, which had resulted in her giving Miss
Millington $50
at was all a trickl" exclaimed Paul, pac-
ing up and down their small drawing room
in his agitation; "the woman's a swindler-
indeed, a thief"
The secret of Miss Millington's elaborate
dressing seemed to be suddenly revealed to
Mary's mind
I'VE will drop her acquaintance, of course"
observed the little wife.
"Ah, but that will not absolve us of re-
sponsibility in this matter" cried Paul, ex-
citedly. II must not shirk the moral duty
which is obvious here. must tell George
Rockford of all this"
Mary wrung her hands in sympathy with