San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-01-09

Edith stood suddenly before him.
and the hin, veins beneath now stood
out strong OH throat and temple. The
red lips closed in straight and cruel line
that sent the blood all out of them, and
the brown eyes CLEANED black as night
with evil, dangerous light.
But with firm step and figure erect
the woman walked away, and the blood
brought the olive to her face once more
as the lips curled into bitter smile and
finally parted laughing as she said aloud:
Edith Van der Huysen, can you
really be fool? Your place is in court,
not camp. And surely you are old
enough to give up playthings. If not,
my lord is toy enough"
And again the low laugh came, with a
tinge of humor in it; the eyes grew
| lighter, and the tall form fell into its
sinuous grace, as the gravel crunched
and Adrien Latour came swiftly up the
| walk
Parting the shrubbery Edith stood
suddenly before him, a glowing picture
in the great Gainsborough hat. with her
old smile on her Gps-
Welcome, Sir Laggardr" she said ex-
tending her ungioved hand. "As you
could never be . bastard in war; you
are yet in time"
"And as you can never be less rid
die, you read one again" the Creole an
swered, only half hiding look of dis
appointment as he took the hand she Of
fered. will you explain this one, or is
it shut in your bookY'
Edith following his glance realized
for the first time that she had seized
book as she hastily left her room. 1t
CHANGED to be Bennie's Tennyson; and
her smile grew deeper as her eyes dark
ened once more.
Isl non e vero ben trovato," she an
swered laughing, holding the title be-
fore his eyes. 1--WE used to talk of this
in West Point days, Mr.. Latour; and
Merlin still works his marvels for
Launcelot as well as for Arthur"
You are incomprehensible," he an
swered, as he turned to walk with her
II never did understand you, though"
Not altogether" she retorted, de-
murely, not meeting his eye. But you
don't understand Old Merlin either. He
is still at work, even if he does not take
Vivien into his secret this time. How If
he should make charm of golden phil
tire and diamond drops to change Elaine
into Guinevere, even to the sore discom-
future of Launcelot and to the undoing Of
the Pure King, at onceY ..f'.
Your riddle is still unread" the man
answered, restlessly. II do not under
stand you. Miss Edith.
80 you just told me-" she laughed
back. For in the legend Elaine cared
nothing for the great diamonds Of the
Last Tournament; and even Guinevere
hurled them in contempt before the bier
of the dead Purity"
Miss Edith, you certainly mean some
thing Latour began, but she finish
ed for him:
What society girls nonsense ever
means anything? Poetry is only in
books nowadays, and love philtres are
all dried up-even if diamonds still be
prizes to win! But | must not Jdetain
you today, of all days. You are looked
for at the house; so. au revoir!"
Not until you explain" he answered,
chatting under her badinage
What? She looked wonderingly
into his eyes. her own seeming as dark,
Would Launcelot have dallied for silly
legends and left the lists vacant, while
the diamonds still hung as the prize?
Then who would have ridden for
Elaine-when she was changed to
Guinevere?' I.G
"Do you mean Bennie?" the young
lieutenant blurted out. with true cadet
bluntness.
"Ask herself, who never weaves rid
dies and who is not run away with by
legends" And Miss Van der Huysen
laughed innocently. her bright face
glowingIin strange contrast to its mask,
30 lately put off. ...
But You did mean her once, when
you spoke of Elaine" he insisted, awk-
wardly And if be Launcelot-"
Then can you never be - Trist-
RAM" she finished for him, with another
little laugh. But you must go, else
Aunt Tab win be scolding rs both; so,
| al reveirr "
And you win not EXPLAIN
Nothing explains nothing, she an
swered, lightly. why, were crafty
as Vivien, there be strange secrets stin
Beyond the spell Of woven PAGES and Of
waving hands. And besides" she
paused an instant, looking at him with
innocent eyeS-''eVen Yivien neVer spslse
word tO lower the Lay Maid before the
ROdlike kipg-Sr LaERcelot!"