San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-10-16
BAFFLED CONSPRATQRS
By W E NORRIS.

l W,
you know, and supposed it was all right.
But time comes when one feels that
there must be an end of that-that one
ought to find out what means one has at
ones disposal. and-well, if it comes to
that, what settlements one could make
in the event of ones being called upon
to make settlements. Situated as am
the process is likely to be a longish one,
and | shall have to devote all my atten-
ton TO it: so that I'm afraid may not
be able to see much of my friends for
some months to come"
This was the phrase which caused
Lady Belvoir to prick up her ears. THAT
is bad news for your friends. she OBJ
served suayely.
"Ah, wish could think so! wish
some of my friends would miss me a
hundredth part as much as | shall miss
them! But what feel is that it's inev-
table. I'm awfully particular about
these things. don't know whether
you'll understand what | mean: it's a
sort of-of honorable scrupulousness. So
long as one can't say just what one is
worth one is sailins;, as it were, under
false colors, don't you see?"
"And when you have found out just
what you are worth" asked Lady Bel
voir with perfect gravity, ''do you pro-
pose to have the sum engraved upon a
silver plate and to hang it around your
neck like the label ON an old fashioned
decanter? Or will you be satisfied with
sending paragraph to all the news
papers"
''Ah, Lady Belvoir, you think want
to swagger. But it isn't that-it isn't
really! Only events might occur
might. for instance, be thinking of mar
rying-that is, if / could dare to hope
that had any chance of being accepted.
And then the lady would naturally wish
to know what my fortune amounted to-"
"Oh. quite naturally; Ishould think it
would be the first question she would
ask"
And nice sort of fool should look
if had to answer that l didn't know.
So have determined to go into the mat
ter once for all. and as say that will
take rather long time; and l think that
while am occupied in this way l had
better retire from the world, so to speak"
DO you mean that you will so into a
sort of retreat in the city,"
"Oh, no; one can't very well disap-
pear. One must see ones horses run;
and then there will be the shooting, and
and, in short, don't think need cut
myself off from other men. Only per-
haps it would be wiser-more straight
forward, that is-to avoid the society of
ladies for the next six months. Lady
Belvoir would you think it very odd if
asked you to take no notice of me-to
behave as if you didn't know me, in
fact-for the present."
Schneider, as he put forward this re-
markable demand, grew very red in the
face; for he could not but DO aware of
the insufficiency Of the reasons which he
had adduced in support of it. He was
therefore greatly relieved to hear that
Lady Belvoir would not think it odd
not in the least odd.
when is it that am to be allowed
to speak to you again." she asked. "Did
you say six months hence?"
"Yes; in January next / hope to be
released from my-er-voluntary exile"
'Ah! And do you really imagine, Mr..
Schneider, that believe one single word
of what you have been telling mel"
The unhappy Schneider hung his head,
and remained silent. OF course she didn't
believe him; yet, since he could not re-
veal the truth, what was he to say?
She enjoyed his discontinue for few
seconds before she resumed:
Lord Guise is too clever by half, and
you, my dear Mr.. Schneider, are not
quite clever enough. How did he con-
trive to extort that promise from you
and Mr.. Thorold?"
"Oh," exclaimed Schneider, with just
indignation, IF Thorold has been be-
traying u.s.
But he hasn't; you betrayed yourself.
1t was that specified period of six months
that enlightened me, and my mention
ing Lord Guise was only shot--which,
Isee, was good one. And now, as know
so much, you may as well tell me all"
Don't ask me-" pleaded Schneider
piteously: Il have let out great deal
more than ought to have done. am
bound by pledge which rashly took
long before But really have no
business to be saying this"
"A pledge to abstain for six months
from speaking TO the lady who you
hardly dare to hope will accept you, and
who is likely to be so keen about settle
ments?"