San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-10-11

up JOT YOuTSeU'
Lady Belvolr, like the generality of
perfectly selfish people, was good nat
ured.s So long us she got what she want
ed she was very willing that others also
should get what they wanted. Indeed,
she much preferred their doing so, be-
cause it is pleasanter to associate with
contented than with disconnected NOR
tails. As for Percy Thorold, he was,
perhaps, of all her captives the one of
whom she was the least proud and whose
allegiance she was the least anxious to
retain For one thing, he had wearied
her to death; for another, she was quite
well aware that he had been in love, not
with her, but with girl of her name
who had long since ceased to exist;
finally. he had never for moment sue
ceeded in touching her heart.
Consequently her feeling toward him
was one of simple friendliness, and
as she knew him to be an excellent man
in all respects Except those which she
cared for) she was honestly pleased to
discover that he was smitten with the
only girl in the world whom she ever
found tolerable as q companion. She
found various means of bringing them
together, and amused herself when she
had nothing better to do by watching
the progress of their mutual relations.
They were obviously falling in love with
one another, but were just as obviously
unconscious of it, 80 that their satisfac-
ton in meetings which they had never
arranged and their i'll concealed disap-
pointment when, as sometimes hap
pened, those meetings failed to come of,
formed pretty and refreshing little idyl
for disenchanted woman of the world
to contemplate at spare moments.
Lady Belvoir's spare moments, to be
sure, were not numerous, for she had
many irons in the fire, and these nat
urally required pretty constant atten-
ton. Still, she was not so self en-
crossed but that she could occasionally
devote a little time to the interests of
an old and valued friend, and it is GER
tain that at this period Percy Thorold's
opinion of her underwent a marked
change for the better. As the spring
and summer went on, and as his engage
ment to and rupture with his cousin
passed into the category of ancient his
tory, he became more and more fire.
quent visitor in Carlton House terrace.
He was still by way of stunning the
gay world, but perhaps his reasons for
so doing were no longer the same as
they had been earlier in the year. 1t is
only quite young and quite old men who
go into society for society's sake-the
others submit to it in order to meet
somebody; and if that individual can be
met just as easily and far more comfort
ably at afternoon tea why should busy
politician neglect public affairs for the
chance of few hurried words in
crowded ball room?
But, of course, busy politicians cannot
always count upon being free between
8 and o'clock, and that is why Percy
was unable to put in an appearance at
Lady Belvoir's one afternoon, although
be had previously given Miss Leslie to
understand that he would be there.
10y NOSA gil, Ldly DelHOlE oetlu,
when her friend entered, 81 am delighted
to see you. but I'm afraid you won't see
except me today. | did ask
Percy to look in, but have Just had a
note from him to say that he is bound to
be at Westminster"
But really | don't want to see any
body except you, Dorothy replied, with
pardonable mendacity.
''Oh, well, if you are sure of that
Lady Belvoir paused for moment and
you are sure of that" she
presently, ''Tll ring and order
tea. All things considered, don't know
that particularly care about seeing
except you, so won't send you
away"
These two women, who had so little in
common, had by this time at any rate a