San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-11-17

more disturbance, that, one way or an,
other, the matter must get settled quick
"; and, with ever-increaSing uncertain
ty, to question himself as to whether he
really wanted to marry her or not.
He hardly thought that he did, dur
ing the greater part of this mornings
visit. In the first place, she greeted
him with indifference, and that natural
ly veXed him; then she sat almost in ST.
lence, and left Aunt Susan to talk to
him; and it always had tendency to
try his temper when Aunt Susan talked
to him for any length of time. Then,
when she began to speak at last, she
chose to be satirical, and even said a
sharp little sentence once, modelled for
the express purpose of turning him in
to ridicule; and when she did this he
colored with a hot natural anger that
one might have thought would have
saved him for the rest of that day from
any further tender thought concerning
her.
But-unhappily perhaps-when she
saw that she had hurt him, though she
had meant to hurt him, the girl was
suddenly ashamed of herself; and, know
ing that she had done wrong, she re-
pented, and tried to undo the wrong.
She had hardly been civil to him hither-
to during his call, but now, pricked by
remorse, she became courteous to him;
she let him devote himself to her, and
worry her with his talk; she was half
thinking of Something else all the time,
but she made as If she were attending
to him TALL from penitence, because she
knew she had said what she had no
business to say; and after quarter OF
an hour the end of it was-this:-
lie stood leaning his back against the
window, with his face turned to her,
and they talked, and the happy minute
passed, till at last, after quarter OF an
hour or so, she said again half family,
flushing little-"I think ought to
co." and then suddenly after that, when
he did not answer her, she looked shyly
up and their eyes met.
He had been long time in trusting
her; perhaps he had never yet trusted
Der altogether. He had said to himself
a hundred times before this that he
would 90 away without speaking to her;
him flor he knew that she cared for
him in degree), but because he thought
if he went without speaking she would
forget him presently; and, if she only
loved him in such a way that absence
could make her forget him, he said to
himself that it would be a thousand
times better that they Should part for
good now. His pride-which was
stubborn enough quality in him-had
led him astray here: he had been too
proud to trust her, or to do justice to
her. He did not know how dearly she
loved him, nor how utterly in her own
heart she had broken down every frag-
ment of the barrier that she had once
set up between them, nor how high she
had exalted him who had looked down
upon him once. He thought that there
were moments probably when she look
ed down upon him still; he had never
vet been able to rid himself wholly of
the suspicion that, if she accepted him,
land should he ask her, she tCOlGId &C
cept him, he could believe), she would
feel in the innermOst depths of her
heart that she had stopped to him; and
George Gilbert with all his virtues was
too proud to bear the thought that in
marrying him his wife should think she
stopped. And so he had almost resolved
that he would 60 away and say nothing
to her; and he had no thought of break
ing his resolution when, just now, at
ter She had spoken these last words,
she lifted up her eyes to his face.
But that look that she gave him was
such timid, appealing, wistful look.
II think ought to CO." she said with
her lips; but her eyes said-"I want to
stay with you; will you let me go?" and
all at once, as he read this in them,-
for it was so plain that he could not
fail to read it,-all at once his resolu-
tiOn went to the WindS,-he stood up,
the color came to his face. Almost in
voluntarily, after a moment or two's ST.
lence, he held out his hand toward her.
"Why should you go?" he said hur-
riedly; and then instinctively the two
palms met and clasped.
1--WE have so little time left now to
be together. 1 cannot bear not to be
near you'll" He said this hardly know
ing what he was about.
But she knew, and gave little, sud-
den, quick, short, breathlesS, happy sob,
and let her fingers close about his hand.
And then,-after moment more,-she
had heard two passionate words. MY
darlingl" he had called her; and there
was no more room for hesitation, nor
need of explanation, nor even of more
words, after that.
She had pretty fondling way, when
she was happy and being caressed, of
pressing her cheek against the lips that
kissed her, with a little soft uncon-
scious pressure, as dumb creature
might: when arms closed round her that
she loved she had childish way of
nesting into them. For months before
this time he had been saying to himself
~ dare not show her how love her:
with her light nature how could she
ever understand it, or care for it?" But
now! Well, he was about as reason
able as most lovers are,--in spite of his
wooing, about as cautious, as wise, as
ooo1 l,Salol che loonf har nhaaly