San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-02-18


| igeuLly watching the moonlight on the flying
fields, or making every now and then some
disjointed attempts at conversation with
| Mrs. Stuart.
At the station Miss Bretherton's carriage
was waiting; the party of gentlemen saw
| her and mrS Stuart who insisted on taking
| her home, into it; the pale, smiling face bent
| forward; she waved her hand in response to
| the lifted hats and she was gone.
"Well," said Wallace, with a world Of in
| curry in his voice. as he aud Kendall turned
eastward.
lit has ncen an unfortunate business" said
Kendall abruptly. ~ never did a thing
worse, think or spent a more painful half
| hour"
Wallace's face fell 81 wish hadn't bored
you with my COMPOUNDED affairs" he ex-
claimed 1T was too bad"
! Kendall was inclined TO agree Inwardly, for
be was in n state of irritable reaction; but he
| had the Justice to add aloud: at was who
was the fool to undertake it. And | think,
indeed, it could have been done, but that cir
cumStanceS, which neither you nor l had
weighed sufficiently, were against 1t. She is
| in a nervous, shaken state mentally aud
| physically. and before had had time to dis
cuss the point at all she had carried it on TO
the personal ground. and the thing was up"
she is deeply offended then"
Not mt all, in the ordinary sense; she is
too fine n creature; but she talked Of the con
tempt that you and feel for herr
Good heavens" cried Wallace, feeling
most unjustly persuaded that his friend had
bungled the matter horribly.
"yes," said Kendall deliberately; Icon
Tempt that was it. don't know how it
came about. All know is, that what said,
which seemed to me very harmless, was like
| a match to a mine But she told me to tell
| you that she made no further claim on
Elvira So the play is safe"
, the playi" cried Wallace vigorously,
a sentiment to which perhaps Kendars silence
gave consent. But | cannot let it rest
there | must write to her."
II don't think | would, if were you," said
| Kendall Il should let it alone She looks
upon the matter IS finished She told me
particularly to tell you that she was not
vexed, and you nay be quite sure that she
isn't, in any vulgar sense. Perhaps that
makes it all the worse. However, you've a
right to know what happened, SO I'll tell you
as far as remember"
He gave an abridged account Of the con-
versation, which made matters little clearer,
though by no means less uncomforta-
BILE, to Wallace When it was over they
we're nearing Vigo street, the point at which
their routes diverged, Wallace having rooms
in the Albany, and Kendall hailed hanson.
"If | were YOU" he said as it came up, II
should, as | said before, let the thing alone
as much as possible She will probably speak
to YOU about it, and you will, OF course, say
| hot lilo bI,tI I'm Sba WON'T
take up the play again, and if she feels a
GOODNESS towards anybody it won't be toward
YOU"
There's small consolation in that" ex-
claimed WaII&co.
Anyhow, make the best of it, my dear fell
low" said Kendall. as though determined to
strike a lighter key. Don't be SO dismal
things will LOOK differently tomorrow morn,
ng-they generally do-there's no tremend-
Gus harm done. I'm sorry | didn't do your
bidding better. Honestly when l come to
think over it, don't see now could have
done otherwise. But | don't expect you
| to think So"
Wallace laughed, protested and they
parted.
A few moments later Kendall let himself
into his rooms, where lights were burning
and threw himself into his reading chair, be-
side which his books and papers stood ready
to his hand. Generally nothing gave him q
greater sense of Uien-etre than this nightly re-
turn, after day spent in society, to these
silent and faithful companions Of his life
lie was accustomed to feel the atmosphere Of
his room when he came back to it charged
with welcome. 1t was as though The
thoughts and schemes he had left warn
and safe in shelter there started 10 life
again after a days tOrpOT, and thrOngeC
to meet him. His books smiled at hin
with friendly faces, the open page called
to him to resume the work Of the morning
he was in every SENSE at home. Tonight
however, the familiar spell seemed to have
lost its force After a hasty supper he tool
up some proofs, pen in hand. But the frs
page was hardly turned before they haC
dropped on to his knee. 1t seemed TO him a.
if he still felt on his arm the folds of a green
fur edged cloak, as if the touch of soft
, cold hand were still lingering in his. Pre-
Sentiy he fell to recalling every detail Of tn,
afternoon sCene-the arching beech trees, tn,
rich red and brown of the earth beneath
tinged with the winter SEEDLINGS of the trees
7 the little raised bank, her eyes as she looket
up at him, the soft wisps of her golden brown
hair under her hat What superb, unap
prOaChable beauty 1t waSl How living, how
rich i'll content and expression!
Am in love with Isabel Brethertonp' h,
asked himself at hast, lying back on his chail
} with MS eyes on the portrait of his sister
Perhaps Marie could tell mel don't un
derstand myself don't think so. And if
were, am not a youngster, and my life is {
| ~, ,l,y f,,1l I,,1l