San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-11-13
NOT PROVEN;
ESTHER HILLS SECRET.
BY eEoReIANA M. cRAIK.
OR

evenings; he did not do 1t always, DuJ
he did it often enough for his summons
to arouse no comment from the others.
This evening after dinner he sat read
ing for an hour or more in the drawing
room, and she thought that he was GO
ing to punish her by keeping silent to
her all night; but punishment of that
sort was hardly, perhaps, much in Guy
Dunstan's way; at any rate it was not
the one that he adopted now. He was
not the kind of man ever likely to break
woman's heart by leaving her alone.
He rose from his chair at last when
he had put a mark into his book, and
met her eyes for moment as hepasSed
her by, with look as if he did not see
the pathos and the pleading in them.
Then hepaused for moment at Helen's
side to say some affectiOnate word or
stopped there suddenly and turned.
Mrs. Hill, can you come to me for
half an hour?n he said in his most bust
ness-like tone; and she answered quick
ly "Yes, land rose up with her heart
beating, and, like the passionate fool
iSh woman that she was, blessing him
in her heart. For she had been in the
right in what she had said and done,
and he had been in the wrong to be
angry with her for saying and doing it,
and yet it seemed to her now-fOr this
moment at least-as if all she wanted
was to be forgiven by him.
She followed him to the library, and
he said to her at Once-"I have couple
of letters that want you to WRITE"
and then she took her place, and he die
tated them to her.
Neither of them said word about
anything else to the other, till both let
tiers were finished: then, at the end of
them
THANK you; that, will do for to-
night" he said; and it seemed as though
after that, if she chose, she was free to
go.
But she did not go. After two or
three moments she went toward him in
stead. as he sat over the fire, and said
to him suddenly:
You must not be angry with me-"
II am not angry with you," he an
swered quickly.
You were vexed, because l would
not do what you asked me,-and | can
not bear to vex you'll"
Then why do you do it?" he said
appOsitely enough.
Il have told you why" She said this
very sadly.
''Yes-you have told me why you
want to go away; but when ask you to
give up your own wishes il the mat
ter, why don't you give them up?"
.! cannot give up my feeling OF what
is right"
But suppose it isn't right, but
wrong?"
II cannot suppose that-when 1 know
it is right"
well, but, you see. we Judge about
are going to have an argument with
me, he said suddenly. ''Sit there
pointing to another chair by the fire.
"and make your case out. 1 deny alto
gether that it is wrong to stay"
He had been speaking coldly hither-
to, but the thought of fight was like
fresh air to Mr.. Dunstan, and his tones
had warmed and quickened with his last
words.
"You have been about as frank with
me, suppose, as you are likely to.be
with any one; and if /, knowing all
about you as / do, still ask you to re-
main, what wrong can there be in your
doing what ask?" he said.
"But you do not know all about me-"
She made this answer rather family.
mol know you have secret that
you will not tell me,-but if l know
that, and trust you in spite of it-what
then? l wish you would tell me your
secret-(God knows" he exclaimed
quickly, IL don't say that to you out of
mere curiosityl)-but still if, without
knowing it, l choose to take the risk
upon me of what it may be, say again
to you-what then? What ground have
you left to stand upon?"
II cannot let you take the risk" she
said. You have been kinder and more
generous to me than any friend ever
had,-than any other creature in all this
world" she said almost with break in
her voice; "but that is only the greater
reason why l should struggle to do what
l feel is right. Oh, Mr.. Dunstan, ,, she
cried suddenly,-"I cannot argue about
than it must be at any rate; let me CO."
He made no answer to her for little
while; then all at once
"Well. you shall CO." he said. You
are wrong to be so anxious to do it, but
if you cannot be happy with us any
longer you shall go. And then-who is
to write my letters for me afterward?"
he asked quickly. He turned his face
to her, but she would not answer him.
"Will you never want to be with us
again through the rest of the winter
evenings? Will you never regret what
you have done? We have been happy
enough together, have we not? At least
have been happy, know. Come, nhe
said all at once, There are few days
before us yet. Take little longer to
make up your mind"
''Oh no, mol" she said beseechingly,
half aloud.
But suppose won't take your an
swer to-nightl And, now 1 think of it,