San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-02-28
MONIC
a LOVE STORY OF MODERN DAYS
~ DC AmtEOr Of "Kona SculIg." "Ae
eaised' &C., go.

1 euS6u &C., 90.
| IL ysH gss!st have-ysu Anew wna6!-sI
| least ysu shall earn it. Twill race you Tor
| 1t, but you must give me long odds, and
| then, il you catch me before L reach that
laurel dswn there, you shall have it. IL that
| fairg'
Plainly, frsm her oxultant look, she thinks
she can win.
"A bargain r sAys Desmond. "And ware
you Atalanta herself, feel shall eutrun
you"
"Ss presumptuousl Take care. Pride
soeth before destruction, and q naughty
spirit before fall and you may trip"
81 may not, too"
"Well,n moving cautiously away from
him, when come to that branch there,
and say one, two, three, you-will-N o,sr'
At this, before he is half prepared, she
cries, ''one, two. three" with scsndalous
haste, and rushos away from him down tho
moOnlit path. Swift and straight Is deer
she dies, but, alas just as the goal is all but
reached, she finds the race is not to her, and
that she is prisoner in two strong armsI
Now, who was presumptuous2" says
Desmond, gazing into her lovely face. Her
head, with touch Of exhaustion about 1t, is
thrown back against his chest; through her
parted lips her breath is coming with q pant
ing haste, born of excitement and her fruit
less fight He bends over her, lower, and
lower still. She feels herself altogether In
his power.
AS you are strong, be merciful," she
whispers, family. A warm food of crimson
has dyed her cheeks; her smile has faded,
she struggles slightly, and then all in one
moment Desmond becomes aware that tears
have sprung into her eyes.
Instantly he releas es her.
Darling. forgive me" he says, anxious
ly. "See how your heart is beating now,
and all for nothinsl OF course 1 shall let
you off your bargain. What do you take
me for! Do you think should make you
unhappy for all the world could offer? Take
those tears out of your eyes this instant, or
shall be-seriOusly angry with you"
Monica laughs, but in a rather nervous
fashion, and lets her lover dry her eyes with
his own handkerchief. Then she sits down
with him upon rustic seat close by, wish
ing to be quito mistress Of herself again be-
fore encountering the glare of the drawing
room lamps and the still more searching
light of her friends eyes.
For full minute not word is spoken by
either of them. She is inwardly troubled;
he Is downcast. Presently she rises with .
little restless movement
mo, do not stir Just yet" she says. II
only want to pick some Of that syringa be-
hind you; it is so sweet"
Disinclined for action of any sort, he obeys
her. She slips away behind him, and no
sits there waiting listless y for her return,
and thinking somewhat sadly, how small .
way he has made with her, and that she Il
almost rs shy with him now as on that day
by tho river when first they met.
And then something marvellous happens
that puts all his theories and regrets and
fears to flight forever. Two soft arms
surely the softest in this wide glad world
steal round his neck; gold brown head is
laid against his; . whisper reaches him.
You were very good to me about thdtP
says omebody, TREMENDOUSLY; and then tive
warm childish lips are laid on his, and Mon
lea is in his arms.
II wonder what 1t was that frightened
you? says Desmond, in . tender whisper,
drawing her down On his knees and in
folding ner closely rs though she were In
form the child that verify at heart she still
is. Tell me-"
II don't know" She has twined her bare
beautiful arms around him, and is rubbing
her cheek softly up and down against his in
q fresh access of snyness.
81 think you do, my dearest"
sit was only this; that when / found
couldn't get away from you, was frighten-
Cd. 1t was very foolish Of me, but when
ever l read those stori IS about prisoners Of
war, and people being confined in dungeons,
and that, always know that if were made
q captive should die"
"But surely your lovers arms cannet be
counted a prison, my lifep
Eyes, if they held me when wanted to
get away"
But" reproachfully, would you want
to get away
She hesitates, and, lifting one arm, runs
her fingers co IXin sly through the hair fash
ion has left him.
Il don't want to 90 away now, at all
events" she tempOTizes sw city. Then =
later But must, nevertheless,
Come" nervously, I'VE have been here q
long time, and Madame O'Connor will bs
angry with me; and BESIDES" pityingly,
You have all that leus drive homo still bo-
fore you"
81 forgot all about the time" says Des-
mond, truthfully. You are right; We must |
90 in. Goodnight again, my own."
Without waiting for permission this time, |
he stoOps and presses his lips to hers. An |
instant later he knows with thrill Of rap
lure that his kiss hos been returned. Il
CHAPTER XXI.
Nonics's week at Aghyohillbes II draw
ing 10 q close. The day has dawned that il