San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-01-09

nun 1 have something 10 tell you,
Bonnie, and it must be told now. How
/ have refrained so long cannot under
derstand. 1t is always with me; was
dreaming of it now" He glanced quick
ly round, fearful that they might be in
terrupGci, more fearful that his courage
would desert him if he did not finish
then. "Bennie, ever since we were chill
dren you must have seen-in all these
late years you must have felt-what you
are to mer'
The girl turned her face aside and half
raised her hands to stay him, but the
strong clasp of his own upon them held
her still, and the eager light of his eyes
burned down on her dropped lids as he
went on, never pausing:
You must hear me out! Only Adrien
knows my secret now. God knows it is
the only one ever kept long from my
tent mate. But if l do not speak now it
may be too late. Bonnie, dear, am no
longer a boy. Today am free to act
for myself-free to tell you'll love your
With a quick gesture she freed her
hands, turning farther away from him.
A little shiver passed through her, but
the man needed nothing but his own
eager pleading.
Since boyhood | have loved You, my
darling! You have grown into my heart,
have become part of my being. Love
for you has been my stay and my hope.
All my study, all my ambition has been
to make me free-and worthy--to say,
rs l do now from my very soul, l love
you"
Again the shiver ran through the girls
blood; again the man, wrapped in the
glow of his own passion, needed it not.
"Only my God and Adrien knew
this. Now that you know it. will you
speak to mel"
For the first time she raised her face
to his; a suffering, hunted look in the
blue eyes. Then, with dull sob, she
dropped into n chair and the shuddec
shook her in its strong grasp. Bending
over her, Dale Everett, his face full of
tenderness, his voice husky with sus-
pense, whispered:
Bonnie, what does this mean? You
do notch, darling! you do not despise
me?"
The girl slowly raised to his a face far
different from the bright one he loved
so well. Intense feeling trembled on the
lips, the eyes brimmed with tears and
the voice faltered that began:
Dale, we are old, old friends"-
a Il.
words, the young soldier hesitated one
second; the next his strong arms held
her close and his lips pressed her fore
head
My darling! My own Bonnie at last!
This pays for all-for doubt-delay"-
LET me go, Dale" she sobbed. strug-
Cling. You must not! You have no
night
He recoiled as if struck heavily. She
stood still and trembling, with downcast
eyes.
WAS | mistaken" he asked huskily.
She only bowed her head lower still.
Speak" he said, more calmly. do
not be afraid to say what am not afraid
to hear" But the voice belied the brave
words it framed, and he clinched his
hands hard while Bonnie twice essayed
to speak. Then she said almost inaudi-
bly,:
Il am to be marriedr'
Married. Only one word in low
cry.
She covered her face with locked
hands, aSl turned away with the low
sob:
Today"
For some moments Dale Everett stood
dazed. Gradually over his face came
the awakening to her true meaning. A
deep, gasping breath rent his chest.
Then he passed his hand over his eyes,
but when he spoke it was almost his
natural voice that asked:
"And you love the man."
No" Bennie obeyed the strong will
like little child.
WHO is her,
Mr.. Mason, papa'S friend
And you know that he is buying you,
as he would horse, or a dog?"
The wOman's voice was scarce audi
BILE. but her head sunk lower still
What natter
The mans face did not change. There
was no tremor, but infinite contempt, in
his next words:
mo; you have no heart"
Then for the first time Bonnie raised
her bowed head. Whether the words
touched or the tone stung her she her
self hardly knew, but she looked in Dale
Everett's face with glance as firm as
his own, while infinitely gentle.