San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-02-17


the only sdveDurers on its blue s=panse on
they pushed, Miss Bretherton, Kendall, Mr..
Stuart and Forbes in one boat, the remaining
members Of the party in the other. Isabel
Brotberton had thrown of the wrap which
,he always carried with her, and which she,
had gathered round her in the cathedral, and
it. hay about her in green fur-edGed folds,
bringing her white dress into relief, the
shapely fall OF the shoulders and oil the
round slimness OF her form. AS Kendall took
the stroke oar, after he had arranged every
thing for her comfort, he asked herf TX
Oxford was what she had expected.
"a thousand times BETTER" she said
eagerly.
"You have a wonderful power of enjoy
ment One would think your London life
would have spoiled it a little"
AZ don't think anything ever could. was
always laughed at for it as a child. enjoy
everything"
'Including such day as you had yester-
day2 How can you play the White Lady
twice in one dayl It's enough TO wear you
out"
"Oh, everybody does it. l was bound to
give a matinee to the profession, some time,
and yesterday had been fixed for it for ages.
But have only given three matinees alto
gether, and | shan't give another before my
time is up"
That's good hearing" said Kendall. do
you get tired of the White LadyP"
YES" she said emphatically; II am sick
Of her. But" she added, bending forward
with her hands clasped ON her knee, so that
what she said could be heard by Kendall
only, "have you heard, l wonder, what
have in my head for the autumn Oh, well,
we must not talk Of il now; l have no right
to make it public yet But l should like to
tell you when We get 10 Nuneham, If there's
an opportunity"
1--WE will make one" said Kendall, with an
inward qualm. And she fell back again with
a nod and a smile.
On they passed. in the blazing sunshine,
through Ifley lock and under the green hill
crowned with It1ey village and its Norman
church. The hay was out in the fields, and
the air was full Of il. Children in tidy Sun
day frocks ran along the towing path to look
at them q reflected heaven smiled upon them
from the river depths; wild rose bushes over
hung tho water, and here and there stray
poplars rose like landmarks into the sky. The
heat. after a time, deadened conversation.
Forbes every now and then would break out
with some comment on the moving land
scspe, which showed the delicacy and truth
Of his painters sense, or set the boat alive
with laughter by some story Of the unre-
generate Oxford Of his own undergraduate
days; but there were long stretches Of silence
when, except to the rowers, the world seemed
asleep, and the regular fall Of the oars like
the pulsing Of a hot dream.
It was past before they st eered into tho
shadow Of the Nuneham woods. The mead
ows just ahead were golden blaze of light,
but here the shade lay deep and green on the
still water, SPAWNED by rustic bridge, and
broken every now and then by the stately
whiteness Of the swans. Rich steeply rising
woods shut in the left hand bank, and foliage,
grass and wild flowers seemed suddenly to
have sprung into . fuller luIurisnce than
elsewhere.
ITS too early for tea" said Mrs Stuart's
clear little voice on the bank lat least if we
have it directly, it will leave such a long
time before the train starts. Wouldn't q
stroll be pleasant frst1'
Isabel Bretherton and Kendall only waited
for the general assent before they wandered
OF ahead Of the others. 81 should like very
muchto have a word with you" she had said
TO him as he handed her out Of the boat. And
now here they were, and, as Kendall felt, the
critical moment was come.
~ only wanted to tell you," she said, as
they paused in the heart Of the wood, q little
out Of breath after bit Of steep ascent, that
l have got hold of play for next October
that | think you are rather specially inter-
ssted in-at least, Mr.. Wallace told me you
had heard it all, and given him advice about
it while he was writing it. | want so much
to hear your ideas about it. Railways seems
to me that you have thought more about the
stage and seen more acting than any one else
l know, and l care for your opinion very
much indeed-do tell me, if you will, what
you thought Of 'Elvirap"
"Well," said Kendall quietly, as he made
her give up her wrap to him to carry, there
is great deal that's fine in it. The origi-
nal sketch, as the Italian author left it, was
good, and Wallace has enormously improved
upon it. Only
Isn't it most dramatic" she exclaimed,
interrupting him; there are SO many strong
situations in it, and though one might think
the subject little unpleasant If one only
heard it described, yet there is nothing in the
treatment but what is noble and tragic. /
have very seldom felt so stirred by anything.
l find myself planning the scenes, thinking
over them this way and that necessarily"
at is very good and friendly Of YOU" said
Kendall, warmly, ITO wish me- to give you
advice about it. Do you really want me to
speak my full mindF'
"Of course | do" she said eagerly; 'of
course do. | think there are one or two
points in it that might be changed. | shall
press Mr. Wallace to make a few alterations.
l wonder what were the changes that oc-