San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-11-17
NOT PROVEN;
ESTHER HILLS SECRET.
BY GEoRGIANA NJ. CRAIK.

with MIN, when, just as ne was ABOUT
to leave the room
Twill you go out this way?" Gabrielle
said, thinking to do one more parting
grace to him; and as she spoke she
opened glass door that led into the
garden.-an unfortunate movement,
for, as he came toward her--"Is it not
PLEASANT" she exclaimed. II think the
weather just now is quite delicious.
Look how the leaves are bursting al
ready!"-and she thoughtleSsly went
out step or two into the garden with
him.
Yes, it is delicious indeed" he said.
And then, after a moments silence, a
little sentimentally-"It was just in
such weather as this four years ago
that first came here" he added alb
ruptly:.
answered frankly. What a long time
ago it seems! l wonder what we shall
all be doing in four years morel"
''They have been four very memoir
able years to me-" he said in low voice.
II suppose they have" she replied a
little awkwardly. And then, trying
not very successfully-to mend her an
swer-"Oh yes, l suppose sO,-yes, they
have been that to all of u.s." she said.
Scarcely to you, think" he an
swered quickly, what they have been
to me-"
At this speech she drew back invol-
UNFAIRLY little toward the door, feel
ing the color rising in her face. Per-
haps she wished herself we'll in the
house again; but it was no use to wish
that.
"Oh, four years out of life can hard
lxy holm hoipn irnnO~tant tp ony pna -
she said, in as careless tone as she
could assume. They are sure to bring
So many changes. We have had Nelly's
illness, you know"
MAY dare to hope that these years
have been memorable to you for some
thing more than your sisters illness?"
he asked her all at once, with his eyes
fixed on her face.
and then, before he would allow her
either to escape or to reply to him
Miss Lynn" he said hurriedly, you
can hardly doubt that in leaving this
place my deepest regret must be the re-
greet of leaving you"
And with this he ventured on the
rash experiment of coming suddenly
near her, and touching her hand. \
very rash experiment indeed it was, for
an electric shock could hardly have
startled him more than the vehement
movement did with which she started
back from him. In one moment her
face was all on fire..
II beg your pardon-I don't under
stand-Mr. Warrington, we shall be
very glad to see you once more TOTO
say good-by to you" she said, all flush
ing and trembling, the face half digni-
fed like woman's, half frightened like
oh De- nd oh no
to him, her color going from red to
white, and would have left him if he
had let her, without another word.
But of course, vacillating as he had
been, having at last begun to speak, he
would not let her go so.
You cannot refuse to listen TO me If
l ask you," he said, stopping her, and
speaking eagerly. II have loved you
almost ever since l came here. | don't
think you can have been ignorant of it.
You can hardly have thought that
should go away without telling you
how dear you are to me. Miss Lynn"
he exclaimed, II will not take what you
said just now as any answer. All my
future happiness depends upon you"
(He really thought as he said this that
he was saying the truth, for the excite
ment of speaking to her had made him
for the moment thoroughly in earnestly
Il offer you everything that a man can.
You cannot go away with only such
words as you have said just now"
"Why do you offer me what you know
1 will not take?" she began to say,
nervouSly. (She was more frightened
and miserable by this time than she
had thought in the circumstances she
could have been.) "Of course | must
of 70 N Of
to me, but surely you may have seen-I
tried to make it plain-oh, Mr.. Walk
ingtOn. you cannot think that | care for
yOU." she cried all at once, almost with
a sob in her voice. Il know | used to
let you come here more than ought to
have done, and-and-I ask you to for
give me for that-but for a long time
back-Oh, YOU must have understood
you must have known quite we'll what
l Ineantl" she said.
II hardly think that know what you
mean yet" he replied quickly.
And then, upon that, all at once her
eyes flashed out upon him flor these
were not wise words for him to have
said, and the tone in which he said
them was a tone of irritation), and
You have no right to say that! If L
cared for you do you think this is how
would speak to you?n she exclaimed.
You know very well what l mean
and am very sorry-I am very Sorry
1.-THE voice began gradually to get
more humble again)-'but l have ask
ed you already to forgive me for any
thing may have done-long ago-to
mislead you, and-what more can say?
l am very glad you are going away
that will be best for both of US. l am
very glad,' she said; and gave one half
regretful half-pitifnl look into his face;