San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-01-06
and brush.s out of sight all the ungainly

|
Ed gave his sister picturesque ani
stirring account of his first meeting will
Mariana, their mutual captivation, whai
she had said, what he had answered
what she had answered, and what he
had said. He made it appear plainly
that his spending a hundred Thousand
dollars was a proceeding rather meritori-
ous and self-sacrifcing than otherwise,
inasmuch as it would have been I'M
worthy "A Randolph not to make a splsn-
did appearance in the eyes of the woman
he loved, and amidst such rivals as those
with whom he had to contend; and,
moreover (as he truly observed), he him
self was the worst off Of any of the fam
| lily when the money was gone. "And
of course" he added, 81 had no idea at
what rate was going it; declare, sis,
| never was more foored than when dad
wrote he that we were ruined by my
criminal extravaganza, as he put it.
Besides. we shouldn't have been ruined
| at all if he hadn't gone laundering down
into Wall street. That's the way the
money went, after all, and | can't help
suspecting the old gentleman is as much
to blame as | am"
"Well, dear, that's all right now; and
I'm glad the money was gone, since it
gave me chance to help. But, Oh, Ed
do you think Mile. Mariana minds much?
She can't think worse of me for doing it
in that way, macmillan do of my
self; but what should we have done,
you see, if hadn't done it?'
Il don't blame you bit, sis-remem-
Der that" her brother replied. I'm
proud of you; there's not another girl in
the country who could succeed as you
have. And it's great deal pleasanter
for me to come home and find the bills
paid than if I'd found You all living in
the poorhouse-which was what | ex-
pected. All I'm sorry for is-however,"
he broke off magnanimously, that can't
be helped. It's only my luckr'
Dearest boy! do tell me everythingr
ed heaved sigh. The sense of his
misfortunes, dispelled for time by the
animation of his self vindication and
anecdotes, now returned upon him. I'm
the most unlucky devil alive, and there's
no use talking about it," he declared
despairingly.
''Oh, Ed! if you can be married what
greater happiness could there be?' said
his sister, with suppressed sigh for her
own unimportant misery.
"Exactlyi but we can't"
''Oh, you can! Who says not2 Don't
ever let anything prevent your Beatrix
exclaimed with great energy. There is
sometimes bitter consolation in urging
upon others conduct which we would
fain embrace ourselves. "f you love a
person everything is right and wise, ex-
cept to let yourself be parted from them.
But that is almost wickedr
what must be must," responded Ed
in still more hopeless tone, but not
without secret hope that some method
might be devised to escape the inevitable.
Beatrix paused, thinking intently, and
with increasing agitation.
Il believe know what you mean"
she said at last, with a deep undertone
of sad affection in her voice. You think
you ought not to marry her because /
am your sister-that is, because have
wronged her. Oh, Ed, that is it! You
can't deny it, dear. You would sacrifice
all your happiness so as not to seem to
take her part against me. l might have
known that it could be nothing less no.
BILE than that; but it shall not be-you
must not dream of it'll When she knows
how sorry am-and she shall know
everybody shall know it! I'll tell you
how it shall be-" she continued, spring
ing up from the sofa ON which they We're
sitting together, and pacing up and
down, passing the fingers of one hand at
intervals over her forehead and hair. At
length she stopped in front of him.
Tomorrow evening is my last per-
Torrance" she said. after it is over
will ask Gen. lingo to tell the audience,
or perhaps it would be better if went
out and told them myself, all the whole
story, how came to take her place, and
who l really am, and all! After that she
will forgive me; I'll make her forgive
me for your sake; and then, Ed, dear"
she concluded with a misty smile and a
tremor of the lip, you need not be
afraid to make her my sister,
"It's splendid of you to think of such
thing, dear little sis!" exclaimed her
brother, drawing her down 10 him and
kissing her. But it would never do to
go to work in that way; in the first place
it might knock all your popularity on the
head. The public doesn't understand
generous and elevated conduct as do"
"No matter if they don't understand
it. Ihave already made up my mind to
one thing, shall never sing on the stage