San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-10-09
.BAFFLED CONSPRATQRS.
By W, E NORRIS,

worth knowing" to phrase
which may perhaps be misleading. yet
is accurate enough for its purpose-and
without giving herself much trouble
about it she was always able. to bring
together people who were likely to get
on well together Percy Thorold, for
example. got on remarkably well with
Miss Leslie, whom he took in to dinner.
and in whom he was delighted to recog-
nize girl as yet untainted with 1.-THE
something that infects the world"
The world. at which we are all apt to
ra;i as wa approach middle age. is doubt
loss what We choose 10 think il or make
II In tbe oriHion of this rising states
'fan It was melancholy failure, inhab-
id by millions of toilers and sufferers,
and governed by few thousands who
mon the whole, used their power selfish
" anl unwiselv He was Conserva.
-,v+ .'s"ausa he believed that, bad as the
-E:&t'"r state of things is. it would be
Wen '"DrSt- were the toiling and suffer
Ng millions to get the upper hand: at
heart and IN theory he was probably an
advanced Radical The upper class, to
winch he himself belonged. he consid-
"ral to be almost. ifnOt altogether. rotten,
Allowing ii no virtue save that of cour-
2g'. and foreseeing without desiring its
inevitable submersion Probably he
would have entertained higher opinion
u it if Lady .Belvoir had been a good
wo:uan. but he had not pushed self
analysis quite so far as to have OWNED
shat circumstance
70 such peSSimist il was naturally
refreshing to encounter young woman
i rs Own station whose ideas were
,i"no,a AMI direct. who did not affect the
'H.Nforlnrd sE@pticism which has be-
on fashionable. who had brought a
3ia"lhy clear intelligence to bear upon
'6lSe:npo"a:y politics, and who did not
i the least despair of the future glory
mi greatness Of her native land
Il think Won are quite wrong to sheer
It pahr'S. Sh- said after she had led
sim to cnNtile certain views of his to
le": 'an,l | don't believe You are sin
'er- either If yon IRE really convinced
'i;t all your party or any other party
ares for Is Office, and If you yourself
iDat care for II. why do you waste your
inc IL the house of commons when YOU
l!gnt be hunting. or shooting. or bud
ing roses or amusing yourself in some
lrlStnt healthy way?"
'Baca,lS. | am idiot enough to be am
.i:ious. suppose. he answered. with
lr;ly OF his shoulders Because like
- other fools | really rather enjoy the
lea of being pointed at and gaped at"
No: because yOu hope to leave the
world little better than you found Il"
Oh. am not SO ambitious or so san
;ulHa as all that" answered Thorold.
luEhi2g He shrank. as most English
nrn 90, from aScribing high motives to
H!uSelf, and even from hearing them
!>rribed to him. Still. he knew that the
Grl's estimate Of him was true enough.
nj how could he he!p admiring her
-s.,t.ktiOn in having discovered secret
rhlch he had been at such pains to con-
r.il: He found. too, that there were many
,JiltS in respect of which her tastes were
irhtIcai with MS own. She WAS very
8Nd of music, she loved a country life;
X did not particularly care for what
n had seen of the society of London
lJr was she more paSslOnately devoted
. dancing than girl of her age ought
20 be
All this made her pleasant compan-
lOn IN spite of her sex. and after all it
Vas not the poor things fault that she
!&d been born a woman. AS for the
tner women present. they We're women
i the world and by that fact alone
'dious for the time being in Thorold's
YES Therefore 1t was that he scarcely
poke word to anybody but Miss Leslie
he whole evening and that, when he
COX his leave. Lady Belvoir looked at
nm with a peculiar smile and raised
-yebrOws.
Already" she said
Already what he inquired
Already consoled Don't mind me,
pray: my vanity Ia proof against any
wounds of that kind You see, my deaI
Percy haven't the shadow of doubt
that could whistle you backif wished
which heaven forbid!
Thorold's laugh did not very success
fully conceal his annoyance.
You have my full permission to try
ne could not help saying,
Thanks: but | won't take advantage
Of your generosity | have too vivid
recollection Of certain lectures. You will
never have to lecture Dorothy Leslie,
who is nice girl in every way and will
suit you admirably. shall have much