San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-10-15
BAFFLED CONSPRATQRS
By W. E NORRIS.


marry her without taking another six
months for reflection. / have no doubt
that l am expressing Schneider's senti-
ments as we'll as my own"
Mr.. Schneider signified by a grave
bow that such was the case.
Then" said Lord GuiSe, Il am afraid
there is nothing for it but to pass the
usual sentence upon you, Thorold. The
opinion of the majority is clearly against
you, and the minority, if there is one,
had better hold its peace. Now we have
disposed of our business quite as har-
moniously and expeditiously as could
have been desired, and trust we are all
satisfied"
Satisfied" growled Moreton; well
hardly. | can answer for one OF US being
thoroughly dissatisfied. What the deuce
am l to do, should like to know? It's
all very well to tell me in an offhand
way that | mustn't speak to Lady Bel
voir for another six months, but it so
happens that | have made an appoint
ment with her, and / believe she under
stands perfectly well why made it, A
nice sort of fellow she'll think me if
don't turn up and never send her word
Of explanation"
That is precisely my own predica-
ment," said Schneider dolorously. Il,
too, have made IN appointment with
Lady Belvoir, and cannot help thinking
that am more to be pitied than More
ton, because | have reasons which he can
scarcely have for hoping-however,
won't insist upon that. But do think
that some opportunity should be given
US of Offering excuses. It is bad enough
hat we should be forced to excuse our
selves at all: surely there is no occasion
to make us behave like absolute cads into
the bargainr'
Really, Gui"e," said Thorold, you
must admit that That is a reasonable de-
Hand. What possible excuses we shall
be able to make don't know; but we
must be allowed to say something. We
can't simply absent ourselves without a
word or sign
why not?" inquired Lord Guise
dandy
Because. my dear fellow-speaking
for myself. and dare say may speak
for my partners in misfortune-we are
more or less committed. | suppose it
isn't very usual for any man to propose
to any woman without some preliminary
sort of courtship. and for my own part
certainly shouldn't do such thing unless
[ had fair hope of being accepted. You
see what a mess one gees into when one
attempts to put these non.'ensical theories
of yours into practice"
Il see," answered Lord Guise, that
you have got yourselves into a mess:
;Sit whose fault is that? You have all,
: am sorry to find, broken the spirit of
our agreement. You had no business to
commit yourselves. Now, don't know
much about Miss Leslie; but what do
know is all in her favor, so that l shall be
sincerely sorry if she is distressed by
Thorold's apparent faithlessness. At
the same time it must be remembered
that in six months from now he will be
ut liberty to explain matters fully to
her, and if she has any real affection for
MIN it ought to survive a separation of
six months
"As regards Lady Belvoir, am as
certain as l am of my own existence that
she cares neither for Schneider nor for
Moreton, nor for any other living being
except herself, and as for remembering
any man who absented himself from
aer for half year she simply couldn't
10 it. Therefore you need not feel the
slightest uneasiness about her. She will
be little surprised when you fail to
turn up; but next week she will have
clean forgotten you both-and very
good thing, too! Women like Lady Bel
Toir are one of the scourges of civiliza-
ton. To few men-of whom happen
to be one-they are not dangerous. and
are consequently rather amusing than
otherwise as study; but to susceptible
people like you they are worse than the
plague, and the very best way for you
to treat them is to run away from them.
heartily congratulate you upon being
compelled to adopS that wise course"
This harangue, which was listened to
with evident impotence, failed to pro-
duce any sedative effect upon the audi
ence, amongst whom symptoms ofmutiny
were becoming apparent. Expression
was given to these by MoretOn, who said
that although he had pledged his honor
as gentleman to act in a certain way,
if required to do so, he had never in
tended that pledge to apply to conduct
unbecoming gentleman, and that when
one found ones self between the horns OF
dilemma one could but choose to be
ii L. l., q +t.a,,,