San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-02-25
CHAPTER XIX

| CHAPTER XIX.
she's disgrdcefuuy ugly!-I saw heI
quite close" says Mr. Kelly, in an injured
tone. Il wonder what on earth Madame
OCOnnOr means by asking her here, where
she can be nothing but blot upon perfect
landscape; all the rest of us are so lovely"
1t is four o'clock, and hopelesSly wet. The
soft rain patters on the leaves outside, the
grass and all the gardens are drowned in
| Natures tears. There can be no loungng
on sunny terraces, no delicious dreaming
under shady beech-treeS, this lost afternoon.
Giving in to the inevitable with cheerful
esignation worthy of record, they have all
cOngregated in the grand old hall, one of the
chief glOries of AghyohiIlbeg.
Through vague but mistaken notion that
| it will add to their comfort and make them
| cozier and more fOrgetful Of-or at least
more Indifferent tO-the sunshine of yeSter-
day, they have had an enormous fire of pine
logs kindled upon the hearth. When too
late, they discover it to be discomfort; but,
with a stoicism worthy better cause, they
decline to acknowledge their error, and
stand in groups round the aggressive logs,
pretending to enjoy them, but in reality
dying of heat.
Meanwhile, the fragrant pieces of pine
roar and crackle merrily, throwing shadows
up the huge chimney, and casting bright
CLEANS of light upon the exquisite oaken
carving of the ancient chimney-piece that
reaches almost to the lofty ceiling and is
now blackened by age and beautiful beyond
description.
Olga, in a sage-green gown, is lying back
liStlesSly in deep armchair; she has placed
all elbow on either arm of it, and has brought
her fingers so far toward each other that
their tips touch. Hernia Herrick, in gown
of copper-red is knitting languidly little
silk sock for the child nesting silently at
her knee.
Monica, in plain white Indian muslin, is
doing nothing, unless smiling now and then
at Brian Desmond be anything, WHO'S lying
on bear-skin rug, looking supremacy hap
py and full of life and spirits. He has come
over from Coole very early, being generous
iy urged so to do by Madame O'Connor
when parting with him last night Ryde is
not on the field, so the day is his own.
Miss Fitzgerald is looking rather hand
some, in dress of the very tiniest check,
that is meant for a small woman only. or a
child, and so makes Her appear several sizes
larger than she really is. Ulic Ronayne,
standing leaning against the chimney-piece
as close to Olga as circumstances will per-
init, is silent to fault; and, indeed, every
one but Mr.. Kelly has succumbed to the
damp depression of the air.
They have had only one distraction all
day,-the arrival Of another guest, distant
cousin of their hostess, who has been laud-
ing her for week or so. On inspection she
proves to be girl of nineteen, decidedly
in appearance fact, as
Mr.. Murphy the butler, says to Mrs. Collins,
the housekeeper, las ugly as if she was be-
spoke"
A tall girl oppressed by freckles and with
hair of deep-well, let us emulate our po-
lite French neighbors and call it blond ar
dent.
who is she?' asks Lord Rossmoyne,
who arrived about an hour ago, to Ulic Ro-
haynes discontinue.
"She's fraudr' says Mr.. Kelly, indig-
nantly,-"a swindle! Madame assured us,
last night, charming girl was coming, to
turn all heads and storm all hearts; and to-
day, when we rushed in body to the win
dow and fiattened our noses against the
panes to soc her, 10! a creature with red
hair ard p!mplCS-'
"NO, no; freckled, my dear Owen inter-
rupts Olga, indolently
1T is all the same at a distance! general
effect fatal in both cases." says Mr.. Kelly,
airily. 1t makes one positively uncOm-
Portable to look at her. | consider her being
thrust upon us like this a deliberate insult
l think if she continues shall leave
oh, dOR't," says Desmond, in tone of
agOnized entreaty. How should we man
age To get on without you?"
"BaIiy. badly | know that" rcgrctfully.
But It is a question of breaking either
your hearts or mine. Some of US must 90
to the wall; it would be unfair to the world
to make it me-"
Il don't believe You will 90 far says
Mrs. llrrrlck, slowly. Kelly glanceS at her
quickly, but She does not lift her eyes from
the little sock, and herfingerS move rapidly,
easily as ever.
London or Paris" he says,-''the city of
fOgs or the city of frogs. ! don't know
which prefer"
Better stay where you are" says Brian.
We'll, ! really didn't think her so very
plain says Bella Fitzgerald, who thinks it
pretty to say the kind thing always. "A
large mouth is an affection, certainly; and
as for her cOmplexiOn-but really, after all, 2,
1t is better to see it as it is than painted and
powdered, as one sees other people"
This Is rant cut at Olga. who Is iona OF
powder, and who has not Scrupled to add to
her charms by little touch of rouge now
and then when she felt pallor demanded it.
Il think little artificial aid might i'm
prove poor Miss Browne" says Hernia Her
rick Miss Browne is the new arrival.
Il don't. l think it is an sbOminable
thing to cheat the public like that" says
Miss Fitzgerald, doggedly; nobody reSpec-
al, do mi N
and powder"
DO they? how do you know, dcar?' asks
| Olga BOhun, sweetly.
NJ, EArnnrnlh fnnlir... lnc nahn a