San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-09-19

ment to him. She had changed and yet
the change was scarcely deinable. Her
mourning habit, a restraint and self con
seriousness in her bearing, and a shy.
lurking, half suppressed look of dread in
her face, affected him strangely. If pos
sible, she was more beautiful than ever,
but she seemed removed to a great dis
lance from him, and suddenly the fear
that he had lost her fell heavily upon
him. Where were the smiles and the
sweet words of welcome he had come so
far to find? After all, it looked as if he
been cheating himself with rosy dream
as baseless as ever a dream could be.
His first conversation with Rosalie was
tame enough. He framed awkward ex-
cuseS for having come back so soon and
with so little to encourage his visit, and
slyly upbraided her for the paradoxical
phrssing of her letter, but he could not
get to hisaesire.
She was gentle and sweet us ever in
voice and manner, the reserve and wari-
ness adding to the charm of her mysteri-
ously clouded eyes.
Il feared that you would he of to
Provence before | could get here" he
said, looking curiously at her, hesita-
ting smile on his genial, generous face.
II never did see cars lag so, and then
when at last got here and found you
gone away felt like mastery failure"
81 did not know you We're coming"
Rosale answered; land did not know
you were here until returned"
well, if you can forgive my unseemly
haste to get back we shall be good
friends" he lightly exclaimed, stumbling
after some way to reach his cid ease with
her. 81 feel guilty of accepting my own
invitation to make this visit"
why, | am sure my letter was a
model Of
Yes, know" he interposed, laughing
i little; you urged me most eloquently,
indeed, but fear you did not mean all
you wrote"
His voice had ring of cruelty in it,
as if Il pain lay at lis root. He was
aware that she was setting herself to re-
sist any attempt on his part to assume
the Old intimate relation.
Yes, meant all | wrote" she said;
and, although she smiled, there was an
unmistakable chillinesS in her tone. Il
really thought you ought not to come"
Why" he asked, putting up his hand
to stroke his mustache.
Il hardly know" she replied a little
nervously. 81 thought you might re-
greet it, You would be sure to be dis
appointed.
why should be disappointed" he ex-
claimed; and if am to be, the sooner
know it the better"
You are disappointed, you know it
now she quickly said, looking up into
his face; you must not try to deceive
yourself.
That would be impossible. 1t is you
who persist in binding yourself. Sup
pose We quarrel" he went on, lightly
chatting: lit would break up this ice be-
tween us Goodness is not natural III
this climate, is it,
He wondered at his own artiliciality as
much us at her nerciless directaess.
There is no ice" she gravely an
swered. "You imagine it, as you mag
ine-a good many other things"
80 l." he exclaimed. All, you now
too W. ! am not here installing myself
You kuow"--
Come, shall rot listen. Let Is talk
as We used to-uf what YOU have seen, of
what You have read. In your letter you
said there WAS sOuethng about Caateau
Chpnier you had forgotten to tell me-"
And SO she drew him away from !im-
self
Wien heir talk was over and she hal
lev lliln le sat for long while in Il state
OF doubt 1t was hard Tor him to belcye
that she would thus turn him adTft. and
vet he could discover no good reason why
she should love him. Re somehow felt
as if he had allowed the golden ti'Ne to
go by, and that now she had slipped
away beyond his reach.
Again aud again he rose, shooG H!u.-
self and resolved to 20 to Rosulie with
his love and his eloQueuce and win by
the sheer torrent OF his passion: but his
resolution l&psed leebly and he rctErlrd
to his moody silence.
After all. cannot endure this rich,
Intoxicating climate, he one day sa.- 80
Adelaide; II am too coarse and crude Ior
its refnements of heat and bloom and
fragrance. must 20 back in time to
see the yellow blo.-y--s on the prairies"
Il am homesick too" She replied; -
breath of mountaiI air would be Sweeter
than all the sra breeEcS the Atlantic can
afford. The doywood trees are in blrum
all over the foothills now, and | recall