San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1890-06-05

raw figure rise from the back OF the
wagon, shake itself free OF fragments OF
straw. make an agile spring forward and
vanish In the interior Of the hotel. II
was fine fgure-that of young man.
His hat was pulled over his eyes and
they did not SEQ his face.
"Some one there and we were talking
80 freely" said Denise In whisper.
"Of what account is q country boor?'
said Cecilia. Besides, he must have
been asleep"
u was some consolation to Cecilia to
find that there were number OF men at
tho little hotel, and that some Of them
were young. When the fishing and
shooting, which brought them to the
place, did not take them out of reach ste
flirted with them to her hearts delight.
"Nobodies," as she often said to Denise.
"Nobodies, of courso;" but all the same
they were better than nothing. :,
When one young fellow went homo
suddenly, palo and forlorn, Denise guessed
what had happened.
"He has offered and you have refused
him." she said
Cecilia nodded merrily.
at was such fun" she said. "He went
down on his littlo knees. Heis only one
and-twenty, and is in dry goods shop.
Of course / refused him."
"But you led him on" said Denise, Mt
which Cecilia laughed more than ever.
It was after this youths departure that
ono of the young sportsmen who had at
first paid very little attention to the la
dies began to devote himself to them.
He was a very handsome young fellow,
with a ready smile and a bright twinkle
in his eye, intelligent and evidently well
educated. Even Cecilia could not deny
that this nobody was pleasant.
Once grown better acquainted, he
proved great acquisition. He was never
weary of showing them tho beauties OF
the place, which were many. He rowed
them on the river, he drove them out,
and to the great astonishment Of little
Denise he never neglected her. She was
so used to being overlooked that she had
expected it. No wonder she thought him
the most delightful person possible, and
that she pleaded his cause with Cecilia.
81 know you mean to refuse him." she
said. "But, oh, Cecilia! you could be 30
happy with him. Think it over, dear"
"Think over marrying a young man
like that! said Cecilia. "He is very
nice, but no doubt he would expect his
wife to live In n cottage in the suburbs
and be content with one best black silk.
aim higher, Denise"
81 do not think so if Charles Ceilings
by is your object" said little Denise; but
again Cecilia only laughed.
Secretly she liked Richard extremely;
but she had questioned him little, and
his answers had convinced her that no
was poor. 1t was enough. All she could
look forward to was to add her refusal Of
him to her other triumphs.
But suddenly 4 change came. She was
sitting upon the porch one evening when
two of the men at the house paused in the
garden path speaking of Richard Rodney.
"He is o nice fellow" said one.
"And very happy fellow, too" said
the other. "One of the richest young
men in New York. Rich Rodney they
called his father, and he inherited every
thing"
Rich! An eligible matchl Could it
really be? Was it possible? Oh, how
delightful! for surely he was at her feet,
and now she would not refuse him when
he offered himself; she would say yes.
After all he was handsomer, better, and
in every way more pleasing than Charles
Collingsby. She did not feel sure but
that she was little in love with him.
She ran into the house to look for Denise
to tell her the wonderful nows, but the
girl was not to be found. For once in
her life Denise he'd had an invitation OF
her own. Richard Rodney had asked
her to row with him upon the river, and
at that very moment they were slowly
drifting along in the soft moonlight, and
Richard held both the girls tiny brown
hands.
"Say yes, dearest" he was whispering.
81 love you better than life. l cannot
be happy without you"
at is so strange" said Denise. 81
thought 1t was Cecilia with you, Us with
all the rest"
"You mean that you thought that ]
loved Miss Britton" asked Richard.
EVERY one else seemed to" said Den-
Use.
"Ah," said Richard, "t.lat is possible,
but loved you at first sight, and as
happened to overhear q certain conver-
sation between you and Miss Britton on
the day of your arrival am well armed
against her fascinations. And then how
shamefully she used little Smith"
"Ahr' cried Denise. "You were the
person in the back Of the wagon that
dayy'
"Yes, was the person." replied Rich
ard. "But you have not answered me
will you be my wife"
Denise said nothing, but she let him
kiss her, and he was quite content.
"Only think, Denise" said Cecilia, as
the girl came into their little room later
on-"only think, have heard the most
wonderful news tonight. Richard Rod
ney is tremendously rich. That, you
know, alters the aspect Of things /
shall accept him when he offers"
"Ahl" cried Denise. but he viii not
offer"
"If should try to make him he will, )"
said Cecilia.
II think not" said Denise. 81 am
plain little thing, but now that we are
engaged he will be true 10 me"
"EngagedF- gasped Cecilia mot to
you"
Denise nodded and held under the light
q little hand on which an unwonted dia-
mond sparkled.
"He slipped IL on tonight" ," she said
"You knew how rich he was. cried
Cecilia, "and never told me!'
But Denise had not known She is
MrS Richard Rodney now, and, being