San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-08-21

DdOu.
"Her husband?"
Eyes, that is the favor"
Francis Prime stood COMPOUNDED, as If
he were doubling either his sanity or
that of his companion.
Her husband? Wishes me to become
her husbandp'
why not? She loves you"
''She is an old lady, you told me-"
Did |? | was trying to conceal from
you then that she is young and exces-
sively beautiful | will tell you more
She is worth four millions in her own
right"
"What is her name?
"That will tell you also-Miss Vir-
ginia Harlan
Il have heard of her, And she loves
me?"
Desperately: Come, sir; you hest
tate, it seems to me. This is chance
that does not come every day."
Heavens and earth, what am to
say?"
'Say you accept. You asked my ad-
vice once. and now | give it to you
again"
But l do not love her."
"a mere bagatelle. You would very
soon"
IL am of another opinion. l could
never love her, for the reason" - he
paused an instant-'.for the reason that
love some one else"
"Ah! if you are married, that settles
it."
81 am not married"
Young man, you are a great fool
then" The lawyer was really waxing
angry This young lady is the supe-
rior of any man know, You are throw
ing away prize
"That may be, sir, but if you recall a
speech | made in this Office some six
months ago, you will remember that
said was a gentleman. If | should &C
cept the offer you make me, l should be
one no longer, and prize my reputation
in that respect more than | cherish any
thing in the world"
This sounds well, sir, but it is child
ishness. You are bound to make my
client amends for your folly. 1t is in
your power to marry her, and if you are
man you will make her that repara-
ton"
Excuse me, Mr.. Chelm, it would be
foolish for US to argue longer on this
point. will call again tomorrow, when
we are both less excited. Do not think
wish time to reflect, for my decision is
final. but | should like your client to
know that | am not wholly an migrate
Tomorrow, if you say so, at the same
hour"
stop one moment. have one more
request to make of you, which you can
hardly refuse, perverse as you seem to
be- My client expressed the wish that
in case you should decide as you have
done. you would call upon her this even
ing at her own house."
Francis bit his lip. II should be
obliged to make the same answer"
THE subject, sir, will not be preached"
Certainly, then, will come"
1t was with difficulty that could re-
strain myself from rushing into the room
and falling at his feet but when knew
that he was gone. went up to Mr..
Chelm with the tears in my eyes.
Il did my best for you, Virginia. But
the fellow is right He is gentleman.
hated him for causing you such pain,
but if he loves some one else-well-one
can scarcely blame him."
II told you he would refuse me. Do
not mind my tears, and promise me that
you will come tonight"
What new mystery is this?"
Never you mind; only promise that
you will come"
How shall describe that meeting? To
begin with, went home and broke the
that my husband to be was to pass the
evening with US, and for the moment did
not break to them another bit of news
had heard before leaving Mr.. Chelm-
that'the Honorable Ernest Ferrol, hav-
ing made a large fortune in the stock
market through the agency of Mr.. Dale,
had withdrawn it from his hands in
time, so as not to have it swallowed up
by the failure, and had sailed for Eng
land. 1t was money he wanted, not me.
But both my aunts, poor old ladies,
fancied, fear. that it was the future
Duke of Clyde who was to be the guest
of the evening; and when Francis Prime
was ushered in, although he looked dis
tinguished enough to be a prince, Aunt
Helen, at least, suspected that there was
something wrong. AS afterward
learned, her air toward my lover was
distant and naughty, and as Aunt Agnes
had begun of late to initiate her former
enemy, his reception was not cordial.
But while he was looking from one to
another with some hesitation, Mr.. Chelm,