San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-08-07

SIR"
In the three days that followed the
transfer of funds and property at the re-
cruiting rendezvous took place, and Mr..
Noel stepped in, vice Lane, relieved and
ordered to join his regiment. The for
mer was having delightful time. A
guest of the wealthy Witherses could not
long be stranger within their gates to
the Queen citizens, and every afternoon
and evening found him enjoying hospi-
talities of the most cordial character. At
the club he had already become hail-fel-
low with all the younger element. and
had made himself decidedly popular
among the elders, and every man who
had not met that jolly Capt. Noel was
eager to be presented to him. He was
ready for pool, billiards, bowling or a
drink the moment he got within the state
ly doorway; and, as he sang, whistled,
laughed, chatted and cracked innumera-
BILE jokes during the various games, was
acapital mimic, and could personate Pat,
Hans or Crapaud with telling effect, his
presence was pronounced by every one
rs better than solid week of sunshine
something the Queen City rarely, if
ever, experienced.
Poor Lane, on the contrary, was near
ly worrying his heart out. He had gone
to the Vincents' the very evening on
which he had seen the father Of the
family off for New York, and had
nerved himself to put his fortune to the
test-to tell her of his deep and devoted
love and to ask her to be his wife. That
she we'll knew he loved her, without
being told, he felt sure must be the case;
but beyond belief that she liked and
trusted him, the captain had not the
faintest idea as to the nature of her feel
ings towards him. He was modest
fellow, as has been said. His glass told
him that, despite pair of clear gray
eyes and decidedly soldierly cut to his
features, he was not what women called
a handsome man; and, what was more,
there were little strands of gray just be-
ginning to show about his broad fore
head and in the heavy moustache that
shaded his mouth. Lane sighed as he
remembered that he was in his 36th year.
How could she care for him-fifteen
years her senior? Lane rang the door
bell that night and felt once moro that
his heart was beating even as it did at
o'clock when he was ushered into the
awful presence of her father.
Miss Vincent has not left her room
today, and is not well enough to come
down tonight, sir" said the servant who
came to the door, land Mrs. Vincent
begged to be excused because of Miss
Mabel's needing her."
II am very, very sorry" stammered
the captain. please say that Mr.. Lane
called" they had known him so well for
two months as Mr.. Lane that he could
not yet refer to himself by his new title),
"and-and would call again tomorrow,
hoping to hear Miss Vincent was much
better"
And then, detected and miserable, and
yet with something akin to the feeling
one experiences when going to dentists
to have tooth drawn and the dreaded
wielder of the forceps proves to be away,
Lane retreated down the broad stone
steps until he reached the walk, gazed
up at the dim light in the window which
he thought might be hers, mathematical
himself for his lack of self possession in
not having asked whether there wasn't
something he could bring her-some-
thing she would hke-for the simple
hearted fellow would have tramped an
night all over town to find and fetch it
and then happy thought occurred to
him: women always love flowers" He
ran to the next street, boarded a west
bound car, and was soon far down town
at his favorite florists.
"Give me big box of cut flowers
the handsomest you have" he said: and
while they were being prepared he wrote
a few lines on a card, tore it up, tried
again on another, and similarly reduced
that to fragments, and finally, though
far from content, limited the expression
of his emotions to the simple words:
"Do get well by Saturday at latest.
cannot go without seeing you. F. L."
"Where shall we send them, sir?" ask
ed the florist, as he came forward with
the box in his hand.
Never mind; I'll take it myself" was
the answer, as the captain popped in the
little misSive.
And when he got back to the house the
light was still burning in the window in
the second story. and the doctor had lust
To Be Continued.