San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-01-20
TWO LOVERS.


Eddie and I-poor little 10-year-old Ed
die-were orphans, all alone in the
world
To be sure we had an aunt, my fathers
sister, living in New York, and an I'M
Gle, mothers only brother, far away in
England; but Aunt Somerville was rich
and very proud. During papa's lifetime
she had not cared to be intimate with us.
l was not going to seek her after his
death. She had not even attended the
funeral, but had written a cold, informal
letter instead, in which she asked no
| questions as to how we two were to be
provided for, but washed her hands of
all responsibility in the politest manner
possible. AS to Uncle Edward Gray
| (after whom Eddie had been named)
had never seen him, bat mother had al
ways spoken of him with SO much ten
derness and affection that felt sure he
was good and kind, and would gladly
have appealed to him for protection and
advice, in the first loneliness of my be-
reayement, if could only have discoy-
cred where to write 70 him.
Papa had left US the pretty cottage we
lived in, and after the funeral was over
and everything was settled l found we
had nearly 800 in money besides. And |
was engaged TO Alfred Carson, had been
engaged to him for more than o year,
and Alfred was prospering well and was
the kind of man who was sure to get
rich some day, SO there was no fear for
| Eddie or me.
This thought for the sure and safe pro-
vision of the child's wants reconciled me
to the idea of my intended marriage as
nothing else could have done. There
should have been nothing needed to rec
oncile me to an engagement l had made
of my own free will and wish, but there
was, certainly was.
| l had formed an engagement when
was little more than 16-too young and
giddy to know my own heart rightly.
Alfred had been visiting some neighbors
Of ours and had fallen in love with me.
He was handsome and had that air of
superiority to US young country folks
which knowledge of city and city
life somehow gives. OF course he was
my first sweetheart.
His preference, very plainly shown,
fattered me extremely; my girl friends
enyied mel admired him; his high
ways and fashionable clothes and expe-
rienced, world wise air and manner-in
short, believed myself deeply in love;
and when, with my consent, he spoke to
papa, and papa found him in every way
a desirable match for me, we were for
mally betrothed, with the understand
ing, however, that we should not be
married until l should reach the age
| of Is.
In the mean time Frank Snowden-
| dear old Frank, who had been my ia
vorite chum and playfeIlow and cham
pion when | was little child-came
home from Europe, where he had been
sent to be educated and where he had
remained for seven years. "Old Frank
called him always, because he was 80
much older than myself, being but 10
when he went away. while he was II,
and now, while was just turned II. he
was near IS. thought myself the hap
piest girl in the world when Frank came
home.
For q time, that is-for a time. AL
fred was in the city; he wrote to me
quite frequently. but he had not paid
me a visit for nearly three months
Somehow did not seem to miss him, or
to care for his long absence, or to think
about the matter at all.
| Frank and went together every
where. No one said anything to him
about my engagement-it was not gen.
orally known, indeed; and besides we
were such old friends; almost like BROTH
er and sister, probably no one thought
anything of our intimacy. | intended
| to tell him myself. Each time we met
| resolved to tell him, but something al
ways kept back the words. felt
ashamed, afraid, grieVed about it, but
all the same kept the knowledge from
him. 1t was not fair to such an old and
valued friend, knew; it was not quite
fair to Alfred either, perhaps, though !
cared less about that, and still, while
every day resolved to give him my con-
fideuoe, every day deceived him anew,
until at last something happened that
brought out the truth in spite of me.
1t was on a certain summer afternoon
that had walked down to the postoffice
to mail some letters for papa, and be-
thought me to ask whether there were
any for me. Just as made the inquiry,
who should come up but Frank, and
having imprisoned both my hands in his
own, took the missire the postm.. ster
held out and handed it to me. 1t was
from Alfred, aud as Franks eyes invol-
UNFAIRLY csught sight of the masculine
harad1uriti1,.r n lc.nlz of s11rIlriaa and 70