San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-01-07

anxious contraction on his forehead; hG
drew in his lips and held his breath.
81 had given up expecting love wher
l met you," she continued, her bosom
visibly rising and falling. 81 am not
going to spoil it, now that it has come
For that, also, you may partly thank
your sister. She has made me feel that
it is good to be generous. You have
never known me. | showed you only
the best; it was true, but it was not all.
If were your wife you would have to
know all. | should not mind for myself,
but should not like you to learn that
love is less lovely than it seems now-at
least not from me. Yesterday you might
have married me, but today-no! My
memory will be pleasanter to you than l
should be after while. We will say
good-by." She put out her left hand to-
ward him and smiled. "Good-byr'
He covered his eyes with the back of
his hand. II can't bear it," he said in a
broken voice.
Marana's inscrutable face quivered for
a moment; she seemed to waver; she
swayed slightly toward him as she stood;
her lips parted and her eyes shone. But
then, with deep breath, she regained
her self command. She looked at Be-
atrix, as much as to say, "You must
comfort him" Then she turned, with a
sweep of her black dress, moved to the
door and opened it. Bellingham and
Wallie Dinsmore were just approaching.
"You are late, messieuls," exclaimed
Mariana in gay tone. ~ have been Of
fering my HOMAGE"
Wallie looked from one to the other of
the three, quietly observant. Ed, with
his face averted, was putting on his over
coat and hat; he then pulled the brim Of
the latter over his eyes andwe hastily
out, looking neither, tosthe right nor left.
Beatrix, with one hand resting on the
Misunderstanding table, and her eyes wide
opsn, stood in a sort of trance. She had
not yet seen Bellingham. Wallie offered
Mariana his arm.
'Since you are going, diva" he said,
permit me to escort you. You misun-
derstood me yesterday morning. What
ever homage have to offer shall be paid
to you"
Bellingham, thus abandoned to his
own guidance, strobe up to Beatrix, who
uttered cry; it seemed to her as if he
had suddenly started up out of the floor.
1t had been his purpose to make final
appeal to her, and no doubt his words
would have been eloquent and moving,
and possibly they might have gained
him his object, though he would have
had to contend against the incompre-
hensible doubts, hesitations, perversity
and pride of a woman who loves, and
knows that she is loved, and yet draws
back for the sake of something-heaven
knows what. But, as it happened, not
syllable of Bellingham's appeal was ever
uttered, for before he could open his
lips to begin the bell rang which con-
veyed the order for the curtain to rise on
the last act. So he, perceiving that there
was no time to lose, simply caught Bea-
trix in his arms. met her eyes for an
instant, and kissed her. After that it
was too late for her to draw back, even
had she wished to. She went to take
her part on the stage, but she left a
marguerite in Bellingham's hand.
Such is the private history of that
memorable last night, the other details
of which have been sufficiently described
in the journals of the period. Mrs. Pc
tiers is understood to have sailed for
Europe day or two later. Jocelyn dis
appeared, leaving unsavory traces be-
hind him. Mr.. Randolph, senior, re-
turned to his place up the Hudson, where
he is occasionally visited by his married
daughter Ed entered the Office of the
latter's husband in the capacity of clerk,
and is doing well. As for Nile. Mariana,
the famous prima donna, she has van
ished as utterly as if she had never had
any existence.
There are two or three persons in New
York who are believed to know some
thing about her; there are perhaps a.
dozen who know enough to look wise
when the matter is preached in their
presence; there are a hundred or two
who have heard report to the effect
that there were some facts connected
with her engagement in this city which
have never been fully explained, but the
great mass of the public have never been
at the pains to entertain any misgivings
on the subject. They content them
selves with looking forward to the time
when that most faithful and enter
prising of impresarios Gen. lingo shall
once more bring out at his new opera
house the great Mariana.
THE END.
Barrels OF Paper.