San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-10-21

mented by sauerKrauU, MISS Hartman
was eminently healthy
AS for her amiability, it was simply
without limit. Miss Hartman was i'm
pervious to the petty worries of life.
One of her friends always declared that
nothing less than an earthquake would
ever cause her the least agitation.
Henry Henshall called upon this portly
maiden in due time, and her appearance
| filed him with vague alright.
His artistic instincts told him at once
that he need never expect from her either
| sympathy or even interest in his plans
and his aspirations
But his promise to his father dwelt in
his mind sacredly intact He would be
martyr and he must feel some consolation
in that. Most men do.
| 1t is well to reflect that one is martyr,
even though too late to be included in
| Fox's book
The face of his unknown ideal blotted
'FRONT.' his mind the large, immobile feat
ures of Miss Hartman the instant he left
| her, and he felt that as reward for his
sacrifice he could at least indulge in the
| luxury of thinking of this strangely met,
| strangely lost woman.
Lena Hartman was motherless, and had
recently engaged as companion a woman
whom Henshall regarded with underlined
mistrust. She was light haired, blue
eyed woman, who years ago must have
been extremely handsome, but her feat
lres We're now hvid with care Her
movements were furtive and catlike, and
she seemed to regard the life she was
| living as unreal.
| what induced you to engage her,
Lena?" asked Henshall one day, with the
privilege of newly made fancee. He
had glided into this position in such an
unutterably commonplace manner that
the chains so easily forged were hardly
CALLING.
Because she interests me-" declared
Miss Hartman. II feel that she has a
history. You always tell me, Harry.
that l am the most unromantic being on
earth. know it. l can, however, APP
preciate romance in others, though am
aware that you think even that impossi-
ble."
| Mr.. Henshall sighed. He wondered
stupidity if Lena would feel interested in
his own brief, pointless romance.
He dimly saw the jealous demon rap
ping for admittance at the smooth doors
of Miss Hartman's placidity. He saw
the baffled retreat of this demon. He
declined to admit even the possibility Of
Miss Hartman's jealousy.
His acquaintance with women was
very slight. He imagined that the pas
sionless affection evinced for him by his
promised wife was one of those airy
trifles, the presence or absence of which
was but of slight significance to the well
fare of the woman.
One morning Mr.. Henshall called at
Mr.. Hartman's house, more with the OBJ
ject of reporting for duty" as he styled
it in mental irony, than with any well
defined object in view.
| Mr.. and Miss Hartman We're out, he
was informed. Mrs. Smith, the chaperon,
was at present the only member of the
family now at home. She was in the
drawing room, ventured the domestic,
discreetly.
Henshall never knew afterward what
it was that prompted him to enter in
stead of leaving the conventional card
| to indicate his unsatisfied visit.
He told the servant he would stay for
time and wait the arrival of the father
and daughter. Then leaving his hat and
cane in the hall he walked to the door
of the drawing room, and with slight,
premonitory knock entered.
The room was unlighted save by
full, red shaded lamp that cast pink
effulgence on objects in its immediate
neighborhood.
The young man saw seated on low
chair close to the lamp the apathetic
form of Mrs. Smith, the chaperon. She
had not heard his knock and remained
seated, her hands folded lstlessly in
front of her, her head bent slightly for
ward, until the sound of his light foot
fall reached her ear. Then with start
she rose and placed her hand upon the
region of her heart.
"You alarmed me, Mr.. Henshall, she
declared, with an attempt at smile
that was a signal failure. II did not
| expect anybody, because Mr.. Hartman
and Lena have gone out. Let me see,"
hesitatingly. II think they went to
reception at Mrs. Van Auken's house ON
the avenue Did-you-wish"--
Nothing, interrupted the young man
with a reassuring smile. II thought
woti,d come in for few minutes and
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