San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-04-03
70 frankly tnat they al laughed.


'See that great long oar, mamma,
said the young lady, pointing with her
sunshade to where it hung along the
wall.
Eyes, said Windward, "that did good
service in fac race / wrote about"
''What makes it SO croolSedP' asked
Florence. r IT.. N..-..
why, it's a spoon oar" said Wind
ward. Don't you know?-you don't, of
course, but we will take You down to the
boathouse after suppsr-won't we, Petes
and show them around" 1874
Eyes, that will be splendid" exclaim-
ed Florence, unless Mr.. Stevens is
busy"
Mr.. Stevens glanced toward the draw
er, which, like Pandora's box, held all the
dangers Of representative institutions,
and then into Florence Bassetts eyes,
where lurked greater dangers still, and
said he had nothing to do and would be
very happy to go.
But first they made the tour Of the
room, except what Windward called the
Bluebeard closst-and Floy managed to
get quick peep into that-and next
round the college green and turn up
Hillhouse avenue and back through the
city green to their hotel, where supper
was ready, and Stevens must sit down
to it with them. Then finally they hur-
ried down to the boat house, where they
saw the long skeleton shens-Floy called
fhaTo nn,tina10c he l,I.
were treated to short ride in frail out
rigger skiff.
Florence enjoyed this novel experience
immensely, and no wonder. Mrs. Bas-
sett possibly thought too much of the
danger, but her daughters eyes sparkled
and her cheeks flushed with excitement,
and she talked al sorts of girlish non
sense. And Stevens, who had hitherto
admired her for her quiet. modest man.
ners, new perceived she was most charm
ing when animated. Singulariy enough,
he had thought she showed to special ad-
vantage in the dsr,nitory; bnt in the
open carriage, in the great green aisles
of the elns. it was wonderful how the
forest setting became her. At supper he
decided she looked extremely pretty
while eating, and wondered why some
women shrank from such test; and
now in tho boat, framed IN the sunset.
she certainly made most lovely picture.
Her hasty change in attire at supper, too.
seemed to make no difference. In the
brown dress she had been charming, but
the navy blue was equally becoming. It
was very curious
The next day was presentation day,
and the Bassstts duly attended the en-
tire exercises, though, to tell the truth
which the ladies were very careful not
to tell-tIle ceremonies Were rather te-
dious. But what was of sole importance
after all, they could see that Windw&rd
was clearly a favorite with his class
matcs, and that his friend also was a
man of standing and value among them.
Wednesday the older boys had their
holiday, and were left in possession of
the college grounds, to tell all their old
stories over again, and make their Gus
tom2ry annual speeches and pleas for
increased academic funds, while our
party of four, costly filling u coach.
drove about tho beautiful city and its
suburbs It was quiet, drowsy drive
for all four felt the reaction from yes
terday's excrtions-but ianSuor became
Florence fully as well as gayety.
1t was certainly very pleasant indeed,
Stevens thought, to be admitted so cor
di&lly into this winSome family circle
and share their cultured, happy hearted
and affectionate companionship. Not
that many smart or wise things were
said, but he could SEQ the family traits
of sincerity, fidelity and loving kindness
which had so drawn him to Windward
reflected in all their actions and CONVEX
sation. And Florence and a bunch of
pink rosebuds she wore On her breast
certainly went well together. He re-
called a floating item he had read some
where that in tho Malay tongue the
same word was used for flower and wOM-
IN, and he thought to himself that those
Malays were not such barbarians after
all, for, Extraordinarily speaking, women
were flowers and mon only weeds, or At
best only substantial, nutritious vegeta-
bles. How he wished he dared say so,
and how he rcgroached himself that
night because he had not said so, and
because, too, he had MT asked Florence
for bud ~ keepsake of the ride. It
would have b3oI Q natural, proper aud
delicate bit Of G.Scntion, he reflected,
AMI wouit ;,...o S-aiieI her. What
with his chagrin over the wasted roses
Of the past and his anxiety respecting
the Danger Of Representative lnstiCu-
tons" in the future StJvens made rather
bad night OF it. Bat morning came at