San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-11-07
| NOT PROVEN;
OR
ESTHER HILLS SECRET.
BY GEORGIANA NJ. CRAIK.
CHAPTER XIII.

CHATTER ALL.
One day, when Mrs. Hill was going
home, she happened to say
Poor Jenny Coulson is so poorly to-
day. Her mother thinks that she has
only taken cold, but she is so laAguid
that | am half afraid it is more than
that"
And then the next morning, instead
of coming to Wrexham, she wrote this
note:-
'Jenny's illness proves to be scarla-
tina, and Harry is sickening for it too.
DIR. Marston saw Jenny last night, and
told us. Mrs. Coulson is cheerful and
brave, as she always is. have been
talking to her, and we have agreed that
for few weeks had better take lodg-
ings elsewhere. 1t will be relief to
her not to have to attend upon me-
more relief, she says, than If L were to
stay and help her, and she is so able
and active that l can easily believe that.
l am going out therefore now to look
for other rooms, and will leave this as
l pass, but of course l will not come in.
l shall have to submit to be put into
quarantine for day or two, fear, be-
fore can expect to see you again"
"Oh, that is nonsense! There cannot
possibly be any fear of infection yet,"
Gabrielle exclaimed in her impatient
way when this letter had been read
aloud.
"You see she would be too busy to
come to-day in any case" Aunt Susan
said thoughtfully. 1T is veXing that
she has to go away. don't know where
she will get other lodgings more easily.
Letme see-surely somebody was speak
ing to me the other day"
Mr.. Dunstan was in the room. He
had taken up the note after his sister
had laid it down, and was glancing over
it again.
Cant you ask her here?" he sudden
ly interrupted her, looking quickly up.
"Oh, yes!-why should we not?" cried
Gabrielle, with the light coming into
her face.
Il didn't think of it,-but-yes, my
dear, of course we could" Aunt Susan
replied little obviously. Il should
like to do it if it would be help to her.
don't at this moment see any objec-
ton. 1t Mould, of course, save her some
ITO be sure it would Oh, it is far
the best plan. Let me go and ask her
at once" said Gabrielle eagerly.
''She is not at home-what would be
the use of your doing that?" her uncle
interrupted her coolly. Besides, you
had better not go to the house. Write
a note to her presently, Susan, and send
it up." ...
And then, after another moment or
two, Mr.. Dunstan left the room, and
went into the hall, and got his hat.
will about Guy Dunstan. He like to get
his own way, and he liked to get it with
as little talk and interference from
other people as possible. He took his
hat down from its peg, and opened the
door, and sailed out from the house.
When he had reached the gate he bent
his steps in the direction of the village.
1t was small village, with but one
main street in tan easy and conven-
lent place in which to find any person
you might be notwithstanding, that
is to say, a knowledge that he or she
was somewhere about its precincts. He
walked quickly to the village, and, with
little loss of time-almost as simply and
Immediately, indeed, as if he had known
beforehand where she would be found
he overlook and accosted Mrs. Hill
toward the further end of the struggling
street.
Il thought should probably find you
here. You are looking for lodgings, are
you not?" he said to her the moment
he had placed himself at her side,
plunging at once, according to his habit,
into the matter about which he wished
to speak. And then, barely waiting for
her assent-"Well then, come home,
and don't look for them any more" he
went on. what should you want lodg
ings for? If you are turned out of Mrs.
COulson'S come to u.s."
She turned her face to him quickly,
and gave a rapid eager answer.
To you? Oh no, mol" she sand.
"Why do you say No? Do you think
we would not take you in?" he asked in
his abrupt way. MY sister is writing
to you about it-you will find her note,
l dare say, when you get home; but L
came to look for you because | wanted
to forestall her note. Are you just at
the beginning of this lodging-hunting,
or have you seen any rooms yet?
Where have you been?" ...
II have been to one hOuse-the house
at the corner there-Mrs. GibsOn's."
We'll, you don't want to take her
room, dlYou"
expensive for me-"
VI COulS6 luoy dl6 SApelSlNO' al
lodgings are expensive. Don't look at
any more of them. Will you promise
me that you won't?" after a moments
silence.
Mol can't promise that" She
spoke with little tremulousness in her
voice.
But 1 ask you to do it."
This was not said impetuously, but
with change in his tone, and very gen.