San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-11-12
| NOT PROVEN;
ESTHER HILLS SECRET.
BY GEORGIANA NJ. CRAIR.
CHAPTER XIX.
OR

Leigh Warrington. She threw him off
because she saw he was becoming too
much in earnest, and because she is not
the sort of girl to relish the notion eth
er of long engagement, or of being
poor mans wife. Oh, have understood
it all perfectly!-but it is my belief that
if he were to ask her now she wouldn't
say No to him." Helen exclaimed one
morning in an eager and confident tone;
the reason of her making which speech
was thiS-that on the evening before
Mr.. Warrington had come to WreXham,
and made certain announcement con-
corning himself.
OF late, since the ending of the sum-
mer, Mr.. Warrington had not been so
frequent guest at WreXham as he had
been during the previous months, but
he still made his appearance there pref
ty often, and was always to certain
extent received cordially by the house.
hold; for, though some of them felt a
slight Soupcon of contempt for him, still
there were none of them who in de-
gree did not like him.-not even Mr..
DunStan, though Mr.. DunStan's regard
was not mingled largely with either ad
miration or esteem.
This evening he came in and announc-
ed his news before he had been many
minutes in the room.
II wanted to tell you about letter l
had this morning before you heard it
from any one else," he said. 1T is
letter from my uncle, Sir Henry Walk
ington, offering me the living at his
place in Shropshire. 1t is in his gift,
you know"
And are you going to accept it?'
asked Gabrielle, with her eyes opened
wide
Now the thought of Gabrielle had
been very much in Mr.. Walkington's
mind all day, and he had been consider
ably exercised on account of her; for
up to this time his philandering with
Miss Lynn had been matter of very
little consequence, seeing that hitherto
lin his own opinion at least he had not
been in apoSitiOn to take wife; but now
that he was to have his new living he
1CO.id be in position, if he desired, to
been thinking of Gabrielle, and all day
whether he should offer his hand to
that rather-dangerous and too piquante
daughter of Eve, or whether he should
go away without proposing to her, and
try to think of her no more.
For some months past, you know,
Gabrielle had been very much upon her
good behavior with Mr.. Warrington,
and had given up Tor almost given up)
flirting with him, and had on two or
three occasions rather markedly avoid
ed him; and he had been quite conscious
Of these things, and a good deal offend
ed by them; but yet for all that he was
so nearly in love with her still, that
now when it was suddenly made posi-
BILE for him to go to her and ask her to
be his wife, he could not put the thought
of her out of his head, nor keep himself
from picturing her in that new rectory of
his, making everything bright about her
with her sunny preSence-contented to
be there, and loving him (instead of
snubbing him, which was her more
usual occupation now, till the picture
made his heart beat fast.
He was a young man who, though in
many respects very inoffensive, was
not without due share of vanity; and
though he could scarcely tlatter himself
with the belief that Gabrielle was really
attached to him, still he did not feel the
to have done as to her acceptance of
him if he were to ask her. He thought,
indeed, that it was a question whether
or not she would accept him. but in his
heart he inclined to think that she
would. He felt pleasant conscious
ness that he was north a woman's tax
ing; for was he not young, good look
ing, gentlemanly, cultivated, amiable,
of unimpeachable character; cadet of
an honorable house, about to be in easy
if not in wealthy circumstances? Where
was she likely to find a better match?
How long might she not wait without
finding another even so good? He had
been going over the matter in this way
all day to himself; and on the whole his
conclusion was that the chances were
she would not say No to him. Only still
he could not quite make up his mind as
to whether he should give her the pow
er of saying No or not.
He had bent his steps to Wrexham
this evening mainly that he might get
this knOtty point settled, and, there
fore, when he made his announcement,
though he made it in the hearing Of all
the household, it was mainly its effect
on Gabrielle that he was anxious to
perceive; and when Gabrielle opened
her eyes wide on him, and made her
quick inquiry with that look of eager
unconcealed interest in his news, it
was little wonder if the young man felt
a piCNSttllV bllAlitillOIl III ITO Ntllio. IHCg
had all begun to asSail him with QueS-
tions, but with a gratified and almost
tender smile he turned first to answer
hers.
"Yes-I am going to accept it." he
said. In fact have accepted it al
ready. The living is so good a one, in
in every point of view, that any hest
tation, indeed, would be out of the |
Question-thOugh l think l need scarce
ly say" he added, that wherever go, |
l shall regret leaving this part of the |