San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-12-31

y
vertent justice in it. Perhaps, if he
knew the truth, he would despise her no
less on other grounds. But again there
was some other feeling beside contempt
at work within him. What could that
be? The girl raised her head slightly,
with doubtful, musing smile on her
lips.
There was stealthy step behind her
which she did not hear until it was close
upon her. Then suddenly Z pair OF hands
were pressed over her eyes, and her head
was drawn back. For moment she was
too much amazed to resist; besides, she
thought it must be-could not but be
some one who had a right to treat her so
her father, or even her brother Ed; no
stranger would dare! Any impossibility
was more possible than that. The next
moment she felt kisses ON her cheek and
mouth-cluTGsy, offensive kisses. She
was not screaming woman, but she
gave passionate outcry of disgust,
twisted herself free, and sprang to her
feet.
The offender stood before her, evident
ly not at all convinced of the enormity
of his outrage. His visage was wrinkled
into waggish laugh, in which he seem
ed to expect the prima donna to join. 1t
had already been made apparent to her
that the man had been drinking, but the
mist of wrath in her eyes kept her for
an instant from recognizing in him the
newly engaged musical director, Herr
Plotowski. She felt that if she had had
a weapon in her hand she could have
killed him on the spot. And he was
laughing!
"Aha! my beautiful ma'm'selle! /
catch you fair dat timer he exclaimed
jovially. "Oh. dose beautiful lips! haf
often long to salute demr
eff you ever come near me or speak to
me again" the prima donna: but
she checked herself. She would not
condescend even to threaten such a
wretch. Besides, what power had she
to carry threat into execution? Herr
Plotowski had been engaged at great
expense; he was considered valuable
acquisition. No one could lead an
orchestra more ably than he. If she
complained of him her complaint would
be put off or disregarded; nor could she
bring herself to confide the outrage to a
man like Gen. lingo. He would be
sure to laugh, and answer with some
coarse, good humored jest. In this new
world she had entered into everybody
seemed to make jest of everything.
There was no one to defend her; she
must submit if she could not defend
herself. But, as her glance fell upon
Herr Plotowski, she told herself she
would rather die than submit to such
another insult.
Her passionate indignation must have
made itself perceptible through the
callous hide of the director, fortified
though he was by whisky. The wrinkled
laugh gradually faded from his counte-
nance, and gave place to an expression
of absurd solemnity and irritation.
"You be angry dat l kiss you, eh?'' he
cried in harsh voice. LET me tell
you, lna'm'selle, l kiss all re ladies vot
sing by me. ley dake it as compliment;
if not, | make it worse for ZEN, Ell?
Plotowsli kiss all he please, and dat all
right, amt it? You ask re general, and
you find out! Now den!" And he
stalked away haughtily.
This incident would perhaps have af-
fected her somewhat less poignantly if
it had not occurred Immediately after
her interview with Bellingham, and
while her thoughts were full of him.
The revulsion was almost uncomfortable,
and made her feel as if the pollution
could never be removed. Her bosom
heaved, and bitter tears ran down her
face. A woman is helpless enough at
best, but she more than the rest, because
she was fighting under false name and
reputation. Nevertheless, she could not
retreat now nor give up the battle. She
knew that her father had incurred
pecuniary obligations to lingo which
could only be repaid through her. Be-
sides, should she let her career be de-
stroyed at the outset because a creature
like Plotowski had insulted her? Should
she not rather persevere until she had
won such position and such power as
should enable her to protect herself
against all the world? There was a
proud, unconquered spirit in her, which
asserted itself in her forlornness and dis
tress more than it had ever done in hel
security and happiness.
And, after all, she was not withou
friends. At the worst she could apply
| to her father: and then there was Ham
ilton Jocelyn, who, although rather
worldly and absurd, was really goot
man, with her interests at heart, as wa
proved by his having obtained for he,