San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-06-03


Dalyell is duly introduced, and a few
minutes later he finds himself bounding
along over the elastic turf of this Hamp-
shire park, his old and his new friend to
right and left of him
The sun shines brightly, glimpse of
the calm silver sea is visible from afar,
the exercise is eXhilarating, and all
things combine to make him feel in a
far happier state of mind and spirits
than he has done for many a long day.
Truth to tell, the last few weeks have
been the most anxious of his life.
Though he had known Miss Peyton ruth-
er intimately ever since she wore short
frOcks, he had never thought of her as a
wife. Only Il little month ago Lady
Charlotte preached the subject for the
first time, for, though a bad diplomatist,
this woman of the world knew human
nature well enough to avoid the danger
of educating two young people iHio afTec-
ton.
1t was only when she found, after every
opportunity given, that her son would
never naturally pay his addresses to the
mother to sound Miss Peyton-of course
it was a most unfair step towards that
young lady; but what will not mother do
to marry to her liking an only son? And
then she proposed to John to go in for
her, plainly limiting that she had made
smooth the way. But the son of eight
and-twenty took time to consider. He
did more, he ran up to town and con-
suited his tidus Achates, alias Fred War
render, one of his old regiment, who hap
pened to be up on leave.
Fact is, old feller," John had said
after setting forth his case, Il have al
ways meant to marry, have no sort of
fault to find with Miss Peyton, and the
mater is hot on the match"
Then what do you want my advice
about"
"WelI," said DalyelI, looking down
shyly at his boot; I'm not sure I'm
doing right"
And 50 YOU want to shirk the respon-
sibility on me, see. All right, old man,
work the willing horse. love response
bility, glory and revel in it; fire away.
Do you feel the girl doesn't care for yOu?"
"Oh, no! what puts that in your hcad:"
says John, looking up naively.
Then you don't love her? or what the
devil is III"
Il have never loved any one.
'Well, certainly have never known
you even spOoney for one hOur-not in
all these years"
Nov, Fred, this is a point of honor.
Ought | to link a woman'S fate with
mine merely for the reasons | have
stated: Have a right to talk Of love to
girl who while l admire and like her,
leaves my heart as cold aS-aS it has
ever BEEN"
My dear boy, of course you have.
Listen to me- There is no necessity to
bring to marriage grand romantic pas
sion or any nonsense of that sort. The
question is not how much you love your
wife, but whether you are likely, after
the knot is tied, to love somebody else
more. Now you are safe as churches
never to do that"
We'll, hope l have too much COM
mon deCency."
ITO be sure you have, but l didn't
mean that, meant you won't be tempt
ed. Now look at my precious wife.
She accepted me with positive aIacrity,
after a five weeks acquaintance, and
having to start for India we were mar
ried in three more. Well, you know the
result.
Alas"
Alas be hanged. Shes gother punish
ment and | my freedom. | was wildly
spooney, admit, but it was for the fifth
eth time. So was she for perhaps the hun
dredth. Well, two years after she bolts
with little Fitzcramp, of the artillery, her
excuse, as she keeps on writing to me,
that he was her fate, that she had never
really loved before. Now she calls me
all the names she knows because won't
apply for a divorce! Merci. | don't
happen to approve of divorce and con-
slider the spectacle of a woman happily
married after boiling from her first hus-
band to be highly injurious to public
morality"
You argue from all this that one is
quite as well off without any violent, SEN
sible passion before marriage as with it,"
Il do" said the mentor, ''and better a
hundred times"
And so ended the momentouS inter
view.
John returned to Hampshire, cheered
his mothers heart with a willing con-
sent. and after the briefest wooing found |
himself the betrOthed of the best match |