San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-02-02

LoIOoIS lrOnu Ju6 Tts5lllciio e,e'S NJ
clew. Lane wrote to Mabel every day
another thing that made him culpable in
the eyes of lords less uxorious-and she
was besieged by the other wives with
questions as towhat was going on in the
field. But what he wrote her OF Hearn
she would tell no one, not even Georgia
who never asked.
SIT has been hard ordeal for Hearn,
as any one can see," wrote the captain.
'He has aged and changed greatly. The
youngsters had planned sort of love
feast for him, but he begged them that
nothing of the kind be held, and he has
really Stunned society since rejoining.
He claims that all his time is taken up
with his troop, and of course we are very
busy; but there is something behind it,
and / think You know"
She did know, and yet could not tell.
1t was her penance for breaking faith
with Georgia. The latter had forbidden
that she should tell to any one the fact
that Mr.. Hearp had indeed offered him.
self and had been refused.
Bua Lane iearnsd II soon enough.
From the moment of his return W ie
regiment the young soldier spent most
of his time, when off duty, in the society
of the captain, and one night in the full
ness of his sorrowing heart he told his
friend Of the bitter disappointment that
had come to him. He loved her deeply,
had asked her to be his wife, and she
! had gently, even tearfnlly, but positive
| ly, said no, 1t simply could not be. He
had begged her to give her reasons, and
| she refused. She assured him of her
faith, respect and esteem, but pointed
out to him that in every way possible
| since the trial she had striven to avert
line declaration winch she flahlxly con-
fessed she could not but foresee. He was
| forced to admit this, and could no
longer press her for reasons, since she
had plainly discouraged his suit. Yet it
| was hard-very hard.
Lane simply could not understand.
SIS there any one else?" he wrote to Ma
bel, an6. Mabel said she was sure there
was not; but she was equally sure Geor-
gia meant no. Mabel herself was even
more perplexed than the captain, since
Georgia had gently but resolutely for
| hidden any further mention Of the sub
| iect between them. And now, with the
utter inconsistency of her sex, pretty
Mrs. Lane was all eagerness to discover
and demolish the barrier to a match
which month ago she would hrye OPP
posed because it seemed inevitable.
Then came joy in which Mrs. Lane
for the time being forgot her perplexities.
Capt. Fred obtained seven days leave
from the regiment and few as straight
| to her arms as circuitous railroad route
could carry him. BE greeted Miss Mar
shall as cordially as ever, but he did not
call her Portia as he had intended, be-
cause Mabel warned him in letter that
| it served to revive associations which
were not all Joyous. 'Icalled her Portia
long before she met Mr.. Hearn," was
Lanes stout reply; "but if she doesn't
l like it. that's enough" Maj. Kenyon
| was hidden to dinner the evening of his
Homecoming, and of course many Of
the garrison people happened in, and so
there was nothing but general chat.
But two evenings later, when the major
was sitting in the big armchair and dis
coursing on some of his favorite hobbies,
he preached anew the matter Of Judge
Hearns letter urging his son to quit the
service.
ssHaye you never heard Hearn's an
swer, major?' said Lane. "He read it
to me before sending it, and Thought it
so good that kept copy. Here it is"
/ Miss Marshall was sitting at the table
under the bright lamp as Lane began to
read. Mabel noticed that she leaned
forward, shading her eyes with her
hand.
81 have thought it all over, my dear
father. The offer you make me is one
for which thank you with all my heart
Few men could quit the service under
better auspices, or return to home
more loved or friends more loving, and
| yeti cannot. Ten years of my life,
| perhaps the best ten, have been spent in
profession which with every year pre-
sents new fields, new studies and new
| requirements. have worked honestly
have won friends and, in all modesty
may say, good name. Admitting all
You write of this recent attempt of the
papers to blacken it, my friends here
tell me that it but proves the strength
of my record that even concerted news
paper assaults could not harm me in the
eyes of right thinking people.
| 81 love the duties. | am deeply at
tached to many of my comrades. can
be very fair soldier, and might only
make very poor lawyer. For these
reasons think l ought to stand where !
Il ~ DIT +boro 20 still onotbar raoeo,,