San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-10-31

Stlll think you VIII be interested IN
her, Guy" said Aunt Susan, persuasive
ly.
II shan't be required to see much Of
her, shall Ip' inquired Mr.. Dunstan
rather hastily. Il suppose it isn't neces-
sary that she should read to me toOp"
"Oh no, dear, of course not,-nO, no;
only, you see,-she stays to Luncheon"
said Aunt Susan.
"Oh-she stays to luncheon, does
she?"
1--WE couldn't send her away at two
o'clock, you know, Guy, without offer
ing her some"
II don't grudge her luncheon. She's
welcome to luncheon and dinner too,-
and any other meals she may have a
fancy for,-only think should prefer
it if she were to let us send them to her
at her own house."
"Oh, but, Guy, that would be i'm
possible!" exclaimed Miss Dunstan, in
tone of half-alarmed remonstrance.
"Would it? Well, you know BEST
so we must submit to her, / suppose.
She won't be here tonight, will she?"
mo, no: she only comes once day,
Just for these two hours, to read to
Nelly"
aAnd Nelly likes her reading? Well,
then, if Nelly likes it. it's all right"
And, upon this, Nelly put out her
hand, and said-"Thank you, Uncle
Guy" And so the disclosure was made,
with-upOn the whOle-a result that
was satisfactory.
Next day Mr.. Dunstan saw the widow.
ibid you hear that my uncle had
come homer" Helen asked her, as soon
as she entered the room in the morning;
and then, instead of going straight to
their reading, they talked, or at least
Helen talked, for ten minutes about MIR.
Dunstan.
"Would you not rather that did not
stay tO-day?" Esther asked once, In the
midst of the others communications;
but Helen answered cordially
'Oh no; should see nothing of my
uncle Just now, whether you were here
or not. He has gone out with Gabrielle.
/ shall see nothing of him till luncheon,
at any rate"
And so then Mrs. Hill stayed as usual,
and did her customary reading; but
when two o'clock came she rose and put
her bonnet on.
Il have stayed to luncheon with you
while you were alone, but you must let
me go now; it is different now that Mr..
Dunstan is at hOme," she said resOlute-
", when Helen, really vexed at what
she was doing, tried eagerly to prevent
her.
There was no one except Helen in the
room. Perhaps, if Aunt Susan or Ga
brielle had been there to back her in her
entreaties, they would have had force
enough to persuade Mrs. Hill to stay;
but, as it was, Helen alone could not
persuade her, and she went.
But at the door, as she opened it, to
her yeXation, shecame face to face with
Gabrielle and Mr.. Dunstan just return
ing home, and Gabrielle, Of course open
ed her eyes at sight of her, and Instant
ly began to protest.
"Mrs. Hill, where are you going?
You are not going homep"she exclaim-
ed. Surely it is not more than tive
| o'clock Uncle" she said quickly, turn
| ing to him, this is Mrs. Hill.
Mr.. Dunstan raised his hat, and the
widow bowed. Then she began to an
swer Gabrielle.
"Yes-I am going home. have ex-
planned to your sister that Iwouid rath-
er go to-day"
"Oh but, Mrs. Hill"
And then there was pause. Mr..
Dunstan was quietly looking at the
too, in a veXed way. II know you are
only going because Uncle Guy has come
back was the sentence that was upon
| the tip of her tongue; but doubtful as
| she was of the extent to which her uncle
would back her, she could not say this
| while he was standing by, and SO she
| only looked annoyed, and after mo-
| ment or two
"You must not let me keep you wait
ing here. Good morning." Mrs. Hlll
said; and then-for standing before her.
side by side, they had been blocking up
the doOrWay,-Mr. DunStan stepped
hack without word, and bowed again,
| and Gabrielle said quickly--''I am very
vexed with youl"-and Mrs. Hill passed
out. and went home.
The moment after she had left them,
with a little flush upon her face, Ga
briele turned round on her companion.
Uncle, you might have said some,
thingl You ought to have said some
thing!" she exclaimed.
Ought to have said something? What
ought l to have said?" Mr.. DunstaR
coolly inquired.
"You know she has only gone because
you are here"
"Well-but if that drives her away,
how is it to be prevented? Am l to
vacate the house to her?-or ought
have offered to take lunch by myself in
the back drawing-room?" said Mr.. Dun
stan with great composure. After which,
for Gabrielle vOuchSafed him no reply
except an angry and reproachful glance,
he walked across the hall, no whit
abashed, nay, even laughing, and
opening the dining-room door-"Su-
san," he called out. Pm coming for
my first and last lunch with you, for
Gabrielle saws the sight of me has driy-