San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-12-02
nnietude behind.

the pretty, comfortable room admirlngIy,
and exclaimed
"YOu cannot think, Mr.. Craig. how de-
lightful all this seems to me- The bright
silver and glass, the flowers, the look of
retnement-these things want woman's
tOuchn'
81 suppose you have no young leddies DOT
yOnder?"
mo; my partner, like myself, is bach
elor. Indeed, it has hitherto been too
rough for ladies; but we are improving
rapidly. We had nearly finished log
house when left; quite an architectural
mansion" added Warning, laughing.
His laugh was still frank and pleasant.
IL hope your partner is an honest man."
quOth Mr. Craig.
81 hope so too. Indeed, | believe he IL.
He comes of a respectable English family,
and has been accustomed TO the life of a
rancho since his early boyhood. He is a
first-rate judge of cattle and horses; and if
he had not much money capital to put into
the veuIure, he contributes what is quite
rs valuable-knOwledge and practice"
''Eh, I'm no that sure. There's as much
danger as profit sometimes in the knowl-
edge of penniless men,
"Oh, Watson is not pennileSS: and he is
really very good fellow"
"That is fortunate" said Mona, forcing
herself to join in the conversation. 81 sup
pose You have no other companion"
None. A chance traveller asks for hos
pitalty now and then, but he never stays
long"
1T must be Il lonely life, though should
not dislike it," said Kenneth.
81 certainly don There's freedom and
plenty of work, and when night comes one
is too tired for anything but good nights
rest"
And daur say you are mair peaceful
and content to be ava frae yon pow-sow-
die o conceited fules and grnning cheats
they ca the great world, " said Uncle Sandy,
viciously.
"Oh, human nature is pretty much the
same in the wilderness or in the world of
social life said Warning, good-humoredly.
at would be but poor philosophy to cry
ont against the world have left because
l played the fool there on my head be it
il I threw away my fortune There are as
many good fellOws-or as few good fellows
in one state of life as another"
II believe that" said Kenneth. 81
should like well to see your place, Mr..
Waring"
why don't you come ont for bit 1t
is a sort of life you would like. think"
"Eh, but he has his work cut DOT for him
here!" cried Uncle Sandy He'll find it
best to bide wi me. Moo, tell me how
mony head o cattle have We forbye horses?"
And the three men plunged into talk,
from which Mona collected that Warning
had invested almost all the capital left him
ftn,, ,,,l,, Il ,,,l
ish speculation--in a ranch near the fam
Gus redwoods on the Pacific coast, and
that, as yet he had realized very little,
though his hopes were high, and he had
evidently thrown himself energetiCally into
the undertaking.
She kept silence gladly. Warnings
presence-hiss steady compOsure, his quiet
submission to the nevitable-touched her
deeply. She lOnged to cry out
Have you forgiven me? Can | atone
for the pain inflicted"
But most probably he had nearly forgot
ten that he once loved her, and hoped to
pass his life with her. She painted to be
alone, to disentangle her thOughts-to
master the disturbance of her mind.
AS they seemed so absorbed in COnversa-
ton, Mona thought she might slip away
unObServcd; but her uncle noticed her
movement.
"Bide bit, my lassien' he cried. eve
have sat here lang enough; We'll a como
wi We to the drawing-roOm. You shall
sing us a sang, and then I'll gang AVA to
my bed. My niece sings fine, Mr.. War
ing" he added, as he took Nona's arm.
II know that, Mr.. Craig, returned War
ing, opening the door for them to Pc !
IT l.
Mona felt that she blushed crimson,
while she said, in a low tone, to her uncle
81 have scarcely any voice to-night-do
not ask me to sing"
"HOot, toOt, my dearie! you'll please us
weel"
Mona stood n moment irresolute after
Uncle Sandy had tumbled into the depths
of his chair. Warning came to her side, and
looking kindly and perhaps little sadly,
into her eyes, said
Don't refuse, Miss CRAIG You don't
know what a treat the music of wOman's
voice is TO an exile like myself, especially
US in few days shall go back to the wilds
again"
Then will do my best" returned
Mona. simply and she went to the piano.
The song she choose was pretty, quaint
German ulIty sue MAJ IeiIIcu me dOTOdu
for she did not wish to revive painful re-
collections by singing anything that might
be familiar to Warning. He moved away,
and sat in deepest thought while he listen
ed
"Aweel, that's not ane o. my favorites.
am not much of muscan-my oppor-
tunties have been scant-but l have an
uncommon guide ear" said Uncle Sandy.
"Gve us a Scotch sang, my dearie!'
IF am not presuming too far" said
Warning, com&lg over to lean on the piano,
IlNIi,rht 1 ncl- f.,r old fn