San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-10-30

yawning for about the twentieth time,
when suddenly the door of communica-
ton between the two rooms opened,
ane, acknowledging Gabrielle's pres
ence merely by silent inclination of
the head, Mrs. Hill quietly came into
the room.
Gabrielle had risen as the door
opened, intending to come forward and
make some courteous little speech, but
somehow as she caught sight of the
widow the words for moment hung
upon her lips unspoken, and it needed
an effort after that involuntary pause
to say them. She hesitated little as
she began.
II am staying here such long time.
l hope-I hope am not in your way?
This shower is lasting so very much
longer than l thought it would" she
said.
1T is very heavy shower. You can
not go till it is over" Mrs. Hill re-
piled.
you are very good"
And then, a little uneasily, Gabrielle
sat down again; and Mrs. Hill sat down
too, and began to work.
For few minutes Gabrielle held her
peace and did not say another word.
She sat looking at the fair, pale, i'm
movable face as it bent over its sewing,
till, in spite of her former ridicule of
Mr.. Warrington and the others for
their desire, as she expressed it, to get
up story and make mystery out of
nothing, an eerie sort of feeling began
to creep over her. For the woman was
so cold and self-possessed and passion
less-so beautiful, and yet with that
strange look of utter Indifference about
her, as if she felt that her very beauty
was mockery, and scorned it too, and
put it, as far as she could put it, away
from her.
How in the world can woman be as
lovely as that, and yet look as if she
cared nothing about it? thought Gabri-
ellie to herself in blank amazement
And the thing seemed so unnatural to
her, and so astonishing, that after she
had sat for three or four minutes in 81
lence she began to feel-as she herself
described it afterward-as if she was
sitting with some one who was faSci-
mating her with some uncanny spell
which nothing but speech could break.
So, having come with considerable rap
idity, to this conclusion, Gabrielle who,
to tell the truth, loved silence very
little, proceeded to open her lips.
81 wonder if you will let me introduce
myself to yOu?" she said abruptly, ris-
ing as she spoke, and coming to seat
nearer the other window.
Mrs. Hill at this eXordium laid down
her work and lifted up her eyes to the
girls face, but she made no answer,
and so Gabrielle went on.
- have not card with me, but am
Gabrielle Lynn, and we are friends of
Mr.. Warrington, and we have heard
about you from him."
"Mr. Warrington was so good as to
call upon me-" Mrs. Hill said compos-
eddy.
"Yes-he told us so. And-and he
interested us about you. You are quite
brielle, trying to feel at ease, and to en-
ter upon ordinary topics of converse
ton.
Eyes; I have never before been in
any part of the westof England"
"Then what can have made you come
here nowp" Gabrielle was sorely tempt
ed to inquire; but of course so frank
question was impossible, so instead of
asking it she merely said-"Indeed?"
And then she had to cough a little
cough to fill up the silence that succeed
ed; for Mrs. Hill, having made her
single statement quite concisely and
distinctly, seemed to consider that it
was neither necessary for her to repeat
it, nor to add anything further to it.
So pause followed Gabrielle's polite
'Indeed?" until-still bent on follow
ing any course in preference to the
course of holding her tongue-Miss
Lynn after minute began afresh.
MAY | speak to you of what you
were saying to Mr.. Warrington about
taking pupils? He told me that you
wanted to get some-but perhaps you
would not mind telling me something
more? | don't think he seemed to
know whether you wanted young child
rem or elder ones" said Gabrielle.
II could only teach young children"
Mrs. Hill answered. Her face had
shown an evidence of something re-
sembling interest in this last speech of
Gabrielle's; she had looked at least as
if she was listening to her, which she
had hardly done before. II could only
teach young children" she said. II
should not care whether they were boys
or girls: but they must be children. for
l can only teach English and French,
and a little German-and music, if they
should want music" she said, adding
the last words with an appearance of
unwillingness.
I'VE may hear of some one who is in
need of governess. If we should, we
will be sure to speak of YOU" Gabrielle
said. And then after a moment she
added in a quick, impulsive kindly way
II should be so glad if we could help
you at all in getting what you want"
THANK you-you are very kind"
Mrs. Hill said these matter-of-cOurse
words as if at first she meant to add no