San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-08-11


became connected with the bureau |
made point to avoid him as much as
possible, course which seemed accepta..
BILE to him, for he always addressed his
business suggestions to Mrs. Marsh, and
did not encourage me to converse with
him. Once in a while, however, he
would approach me in constrained
fashion and express satisfaction with the
reports Mr.. Fleisch made of my progress.
1t was through his silent agency also,
had no question, that was appointed
treasurer and was regarded rs promi-
nent worker in the cause. With Miss
Kingsley, on tae other hand, he was
easy and familiar. 1t was evident that
he liked her, and he listened to her opin-
ions; but | could never detect what
seemed to me any signs of sentiment on
his part in her regard. Miss Kingsley,
must have thought differently, for on
one or two occasions she was unable to
| resist the temptation, as they went out
Of the door together, OF looking back at
me with an air of triumph. The more
Mr.. Spence seemed TO avoid me the
kinder and more patronizing was her
| manner.
| Discreet as was my conduct in general
during these twelve months, and earn
| estly as sought to avoid in its mildest
form what Aunt Agnes called coquetry,
| was not able to escape the importuni-
ties of Mr. Barr. Absorbed as | was in
my work, AID determined to consider
all attentions from my literary friends
as mere meaningless gallantries, it was
very difficult to disregard the artist
poets protestations of devotion; they
had become little short of that. He was
a constant visitor at the rooms of our
society, although his own principles
were hostile to those we professei; and
he would spend as much time as / would
permit lolling about my desk and whis-
| pering all sorts of nonsense. He brought
me flowers and fruit, and now and then
| some new publication-not in sufficient
quantity TO permit me to refuse them,
but single rose, or peach, or tiny
volume OF verses.
He sent me sonnets and madrigals
through the post without signature,
though III his own handwriting, and de-
MED with aSseverations their authorship
when questioned. Besides his black and
MS brown he had green velveteen coat,
and different colored flowing tie for
every day in the week. His habits were
in complete conformity with his philos-
ophy of extremes He was apt to tell
me when he had been sitting up all
| night, whether in study or what he
called wassail; but could always guess
the fact from his appearance. His
method of work was equally irregular,
| and he lived from hand to mouth. He
would be idle as forced peach on hot
mouse wall Ito use a simile of his own
for weeks at time, and yet when he
was seized with desire to work it was
no uncommon thing for him to paint or
compose twenty-four hours at sitting,
and come to the bureau or my house al
most before | was out of bed with
disheveled raiment and bloodshot eyes
20 exhibit or read to me the result of his
industry.
| had by this time ceased to regard
him with any seriousness as a philoso-
pher Indeed, it was difficult not to
consider his vagaries self indulgence;
and from the veneration | conceived for
him at the start came to be his men.
tor in the end | dared to demonstrate
with him on the irresponsible life he was
leading, and sought to inculcate in him
l,n ,E ,n,lnr,+,n, I Cal hot
had an influence over him, and it was
the consciousness of this that prompted
me not to be too severe in the matter of
his attentions and little gifts. When
talked to him, as often did, on the
error of his ways and the waste of his
talents, he would listen to me with tears
in his eyes, and promise better things for
the future.
He would become systematic and
serious in his habits and work. With
out becoming a convert to moderation,
he would develop his own scheme of
philosophy in an artistic spirit. There
was limit even to extremes, he said,
and that limit scientifically determined
would induce perfect happiness. When
he talked thus, felt | could afford to be
Indifferent to the iusinuations and play
full sallies of Miss Kingsley and Mrs.
Marsh They might think what they
chose of our relations. If by the exer.
else of sympathy and counsel could re-
generate man of strong individuality
and striking natural gifts from the thrall
of self indulgence, fig for the idle voice
of gossip!
1t is difficult for me to analyze more
closely than | have done my feelings
and thoughts during the period in which
| studied the principles of. moderation,
But the events of three days at it's close
40 inlnlillrr ir,n,r,--nl man r,nrr mann