San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-12-31

SOhSChblutS iicAs Iulo lAiOuSlL gave ueT
self possession.
Ladies' and gentlemen" she began,
Il did not learn speech; where | came
from we did not make them. Some time
shall sing you my thanks. But | feel
now how kind you are. A little while
ago / knew nothing of You. and now we
are friends! Your belief in me will help
me to deserve it. All this seems hardly
real to meas if it were not possible. 1t
is not l who speak to you, but the music,
that is the reason of my being here. And
yet should like to have you like me for
myself-else should feel very lonely.
have only my music TO take the place of
my mother and my father. 1t is great
deal, know, but not quite everything.
And cannot help feeling almost as if
it stood between me and you. 1t is
disguise that must wear. and know
that the disguise is better than what is
beneath it,"
Here her eye happened to encounter
Jocelyn's. He was gazing at her appar-
emily in much anxiety, and his lips
seemed to be forming some voiceless
words. The prima donna did not know
what he meant, but she stopped and re-
fiectad that she was thinking aloud in
stead of making speech and that what
she was thinking had more reference to
the blue eyed man with the brown beard
who sat on her right than to any one else
in the room: whereupon blush rose to
her face, she murmured something hardly
articulate, and sat down. Everybody
smiled and applauded and seemed to be
much pleased.
"My God what an actress" muttered
MIR. Beaufort to his neighbor, Mrs. March.
The delicious audacity of that last SEN
tence was inimitable"
''She must be very clever" returned
the lady. yelling her business mouth
with the bouquet she carried: but how
very noticeable her foreign accent isl
"Ach! well, my dear, it has been
long time before l could come to dalk so
as one would not know | was German"
put in Miss korner charitably. made
moiselle shpeak very well for be-
ginner."
They say the Russians are a very
Sdperstitious people," remarked Mr..
Planter, putting up his eye glasses; Il
must remember to ask Miss Mariana
whether she has ever investigated any
| of the phenomena. She looks like a
medium herself; should like to investi-
gate, under vigorously scientific tests.
the range and quality of her abnormal
capacities"
''Since meeting Mile Mariana" said
Mr.. knight, addressing Wallie, but gra-
ciously pitching his voice SO as to be over
heard by the diva, Il no longer marvel
at Russian despotism. | should be a
slave myself were l her countryman-
nay, my slavery has begun even as it is"
by George old fellow" whispered
Jocelyn aside to the general, hanged if
didn't think for moment the girl was
going to give us away"
Don't you believe it." the general
mumbled in reply. 'She amt going to
give us away, nor give herself away,
neither-rot to you, anyhow, and don't
you forget it,
The dinner came TO an end. the ladies
Withdrew, and the gentlemen presently
followed them to the drawing room.
People were already arriving for the
reception, and the room was getting
| crowded. 4 number of immaculate
young gentlemen, in tight fitting even
ing dress, were reaching over their shirt
collars to get glimpse of the notorious
Mariana There was an unintermittent
| buzz of talk that made it difficult to
hear anything that was said. The la
dies were numerous and brilliantly
dressed, but many of them looked a
little uneasy, as if they suspected they
We're assisting at somewhat hazardous
enterprise. The prima donna wore on
her breast locket set with diamonds
that had belonged to her mother
"Say, Whitman" said one of the
young gentlemen above mentioned to
another, did you notice the locket?"
Haven't been able to get up to her
yet, confound it! Does she speak En-
glish?'
Pretty well. | believe; / spoke
French with her Full of the devil!"
what about the locletp'
Given to her by the car of Russia,
before he came into the business"
'sDy Jove! Say, does fellow have to
be introduced, or can you go right up
and talk to her?''
"Oh, sail in. She won't mind These
women always like to be taken by
Storm" So Mr.. Whitman struggled for
ward to try his luck as stormer.
Bellingham, after wandering about
| rnSflaSSlr. In the 1,-nu-I t,.rincr 70 loan