San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-07-22

and for moment or two | was target
for all manner of accusations, till l was
able to restrain my choking laughter and
retaliate in kind. Milly Mortmain caused
much excitement by declaring that she
had extracted from all anonymous man
at the dancing class the night before an
opinion about every girl III society; but
as, when she was met by the immediate
question, 'Oh, Milly! what did he say
about me?" she vowed that she was
bound to secrecy, it was generally al
lowed that she was endeavoring to hoax
us; for of course no girl would hesitate
to break such a promise as that.
By the time we had finished our coffee
| know was quite ready for the men to
join US, and fancy that most of the
girls felt as did; but we were forced to
wait for some time, while every now and
then we heard the most tantaliZing bursts
of laughter from below. At last they
appeared, Mr.. Temple leading the way.
expected him to make for my side, but
it seemed understood that the men were
to talk no more to their partners at the
table, but were to devote themselves to
other girls. Just as l began to fancy
that Bran Boullter was looking in my
direction tall distinguished looking
man who'had been presented to me be-
fore dinner, and whom l had some diff
Guilty in remembering as Mr.. Middleton
Hall, came up to me.
He bowed with grave elegance of
manner, and began at once, not little
to my surprise, to speak to me of my
father, whom he said he remembered
with feelings of great respect and graft
tude He explained to Inc the reason; it
was only, l think, that about the time
when he was admitted to the bar he
made great blunder through which
very important case in which my father
was interested was nearly lost, and that
my father instead of being very angry
treated him with much kindness and pa
thence. confess that this conversation
of Mr.. Halls Jared on me. The topic
was quite at variance with my lively
mood, and when Mr.. Hall spoke of my
father could not help feeling slightly
conscious. But though Mr.. Halls pres
ence was somewhat irksome to me at
first, l found myself, after some time,
becoming interested in his conversation.
He began by asking me, but without
any of the customary affectation, how
liked going about, and then, instead of
annoying me with stale compliments and
threadbare prophesies, talked very SEN
sibly and very well about the necessity
for social intercourse and the impro-
priety of judging the aims and effects of
society by the internal feelings of pleas
| ure or disappointment experienced by
any member, of it. "If," said he, 1--WE
are called upon to decide between the
| fanatic hermit and the empty headed
| fop, we are apt to declare in favor of the
former, since his actions appear to us at
least to be grounded upon reflection; yet
in many cases we might find the hermit
was actuated only by the sting of disap-
pointment, the sway of avarice, the sug-
gestions of spite and resentment, or the
inability to conquer some morbid phys
ical propensity-and that he possessed,
no more than the fashionable butterfly, a
logical conclusion by which to justify
his habits and actions.
"Idon't mean to say" said he, smiling,
"that think fop the most admirable
object in nature, but I'm not sure that
he deserves all the abuse heaped upon
him. And | dare say misanthrOpist
| might Just as well cloak his feelings
under the disguise of folly rs proclaim
them in the character of a hermit" He
said good deal more, to which list
ened intently, feeling quite sorry to have
him go when he rose to leave me, and
stopped him eagerly when he began to
apologize for the dryness of his converse
ton. AS he moved away, voice behind
me said:
Il will answer for Mr.. Halls dreams
tonight"
turned to behold Bran Boullter lean
ing toward me. | need not repeat what
he said. It was the second time that
evening that | had been cOmplimeuted
on my eyes. Some Of the girls were by
this time going off to small dance at
Leila Girard's. but Lofty begged the rest
of us to stay, and so we gathered together
round the little tea table, and Lofty
made us all take q second cup of tea.
What jolly hour we spent together.
Bran Boullter and Mason Temple were
more amusing than | had ever I'M
agined any body could be; and though
| afterwards discovered the innate
spitefulness of that little wretch Hamel-
in Towne, at that time l could not
but be delighted with his descriptions
of people and his mimicry. 1t was
10 o'clock before we got away. Bran
Boullter and Mason Temple put us into
the carriage, and Bran gave my hand an
exceedingly affectionate squeeze as he
said good bv--atnd I'm not sure that |