San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-10-15


gether Lord Guise threw himself back
in his chair and laughed until the tears
came into his eyes.
Upon my word" he exclaimed, this
is about the best joke | have ever heard
off,
1t may be-" answered Percy rather
grimly, though some people might think
that it was little spoilt by being so i'll
uatured."
III natured! What do you mean?
You look as if You meant me, but hope
you aren't so unjust as that. Is it my
fault that three men over whose actions
have no control-except the limited
control which they have been so kind as
to give me-have seen fit to play the
fool at one and the same time? | suppose
| may call that singular coincidence a
joke without giving offense, may | notY
Yes; but what you are chuckling
over is the way in which you have check
mated US all. Idon't deny that is funny
only don't call it exactly friendly"
"Thorold, you are very ungrateful.
Much as | dislike matrimony in the alb
stract, | fully recognize the fact that
well to do men with domestic proclivi-
ties are bound to marry, and if my voting
for you would have done you any good
you should have had my vote. TO the
best of my knowledge and belief Miss
Leslie is unexceptionable; but Moreton
and Schneider, you see. think otherwise.
can't help that"
And have only myself to thank for
the absurd fix that am in. That is true
enough, suppose; but at any rate have
to thank you for suggesting this foul
project. What on earth made you do it?''
Lord Cruise lighted fresh cigar, tuck
ed one leg under him and swung the
other too and fro lazily.
My dear fellow" he replied, Il will
be perfectly candid with you. confess
that started this society with special
as well as general object, and l trust
you won't think me unfriendly when
tell you that that special object was your
welfare. You are so evidently marry
ing man that foresaw how easily you
would be captured again, and wished
to protect you against widows and girls
in their fourth season and other design
ing persons. wasn't even quite certain
that / might not have to protect you
once more against Sybil Belvoir herself,
for that woman is SO capricious and so
malignant that nobody except a harden
ed philosopher such as am can be con-
sidered safe from her,
Il only wish she would try her hand
on you" exclaimed Percy, who was not
at all gratifed by this avowal of benevo-
lent interest in his private affairs.
II sincerely wish she would" answer
ed Lord Guise with a laugh; chat would
keep her out of mischief for time and
it wouldn't do me any harm. But You
may depend upon it that she won't She
prefers to practice her arts upon an I'M
fortunate wretch like Moreton, who had
the audacity to imagine that he could
resist her, or upon a millionaire like
Schneider, whom she may have thought
of marrying. | wonder whether she
would have married him? They say she
has been outrunning the constable of
ldOOS Ou hIlONs
II don't know anything about it, re-
turned Percy impatiently; lit is no
business of mine, and why you should
look upon it as your business l can't
think"
For the sake of my weaker breth-
ren," replied Lord Guise, Il feel it my
duty to keep watchful eye upon the
ways and wiles of the other sex. Schnei-
der will live to thank me with tears In
his eyes"
Possibly, and dare say it is because
am more selfish than you that l don't
care little bit what becomes of Schnei-
der. What l should like to know, if you
could tell me-but of course you can't
is how | am to account to Miss Leslie
for my extraordinary behavior, As l
fully intend asking her to be my wife in
January next | must manage to ind
some reason which won't sound hope
lessly inadequate for taking no notice
of her between now and then"
That's easily done. Go to Persia, or
China, or Japan, or some such place.
Parliament will be up in a week or two,
and you won't be wanted again before
February, so that you will be quite free
to leave the country. Tell her you want
to study the working of the Chinese con-
stitution, or that you are anxious to pick
up some specimens of ancient Japanese
art before the last of them is sold"
YES" agreed Thorold gloomily, II
suppose that is what shall have to say.
should think there was very little
chance of her believing me, though"
Lord Guise shrugged his shoulders.