San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-02-20

"ltnout changing position.
That even if matters had been quite
quite comfortable with us, you would not
have gone to meet me at the river?'
II dOn'tknow," in a low tone.
Say you didn't mean it."
"I-suppose didn't" even lower.
81 hope your aunts were not cross to you
last evening on my account?" he says, anxi-
Ously.
No. Nothing was said, more than Kit
told you, except that Aunt Priscilla touched
the point of introduction. Oh, what fright
got then! If she had persisted in her in
| quirieS, what IsOuLd have become of me?'
Couldn't you have" begins Mr.. Des-
mOnd, and then stops abruptly. A glance at
the face uplifted to his checks his half-ut-
| betered speech effectually, and renders him,
sides, thoroughly ashamed of himself.
IF had had to confess there had been
no introduction" goes on Monica, laughing
| ly, 81 don't know what would have been the
result"
1.-THE deluge, suppose" returns her COM
panion, thoughtfully.
"What pity you have an uncle at alp
says Monica, presently. at would be all
right only for him." She omits to say aotdt
would be all right, but the translation is
simple.
''Oh, don't say that" entreats Desmond,
who has wholesome affection for the old
gentleman above at Coole. HE is the kind
est old fellow in the world. l think, If you
knew him, you would be very fond of him;
and know he would adore you. In fact,
he is so kind-hearted that cannot think
how all that unfortunate story about your
mother ever came about. He looks to me
as if he couldn't say Boo, to agoOse' where
woman was concerned, and yet his manner
| tonight confirmed everything heard. !"
He confessedg in a deeply interested
| tone.
"Well, just the same thing. He seemed
distressed about his own conduct in the af-
| fair too. But his manner was odd, thought;
| and he seems as much at daggers drawn
with your auntS as they with him."
THAT is because he is ashamed of HIM
self. One is always hardest on those one
| has injured"
But that is just it," says Mr. Desmond,
| i'm puzzled tone. II don't believe, honest
| ", he is a bit ashamed of himself. He said
| a good deal about his regret but could see
| he quite gloried in his crime. And, in fact,
| | couldn't discover the smallest trace of re-
morse about him."
| He must really be a very bad old man."
| says Monica, severely. I'm perfectly GER
| tain if he were my uncle l should not love
| him at all"
| Don't say that. When he is your uncle
| YOU will see that | am right, and that he is
| a very lovable old man, in spite of all his
faults"
| AT this Monica bushes a little and twirlS
| her rings round her slender fingers in an eX-
| cess of shynesS, and finally, in spite of
| stern pressure laid upon herself, gives way
| to mirth. :
What are you laughing at now?" asks
he, laughing too.
AT YOU" casting a swift but charming
glance at him from under her long lashes.
''You do say such funny thingSW
Did you hear there is to be an afternoon
dance at the Barracks next week%' asks he,
presently. 81 was at Clonbree on Thursday,
and Cobbett told me about it,"
"WhO is CObbett?"
1.-The captain there, you know. He was
at Aghyohillbeg yesterday. Didn't you see
him,-a little, MISUNDERSTANDING man,
with skin the color of his hair, and both
gray?" -
"Oh, of 'cOurse-now / remember him."
says Monica, this fetching description hay
ing cleared her memory. II Thought to my
self how odd he and the other man, Mr..
Ryde, looked together, one as big as the
other was little"
81 think there is more matter than brains
about Ryde," says Desmond, contemptu-
ously. DO you think your aunt will let
you 90 to this dance at ClOnbree?"
ooh, no; am sure not. My aunts would
be certain to look upon dance in the Bar
racks as something too awfully dissipated."
''For one reason 1 should be glad you
didn't CO."
"Glad?' opening her eyes.
eyes. That fellow Ryde never took his
| eyes off you yesterday"
| rs that a crime?"
"In my eyes, yes."
| "And you would wish me to be kept
| prisoner at home, just because one man
looked at me?'
| Il dom want any one to look at you but
| mel! Then he comes a little closer to her
| and cOmpelS her, by the very strength of
| his regard, to let her eyes meet his. DO
| you like Ryder he asks, somewhat serious
| ly. t.'MOnica, answer me-"
1t is the second time Ne has called her by
| her Christian name, and a startled express
ion passes over her face.
''Well, he was very nice to me-" she says,
with studied hesitation that belongs to the
first bit of cOquetry she has ever practiced
in her life. She has tasted the sweetness Of
power, and fresh as her knowledge is, she
estimates the advantage of it to a nicely.
Il believe man has only to be six-feet-
one to have every woman in the world in
love with him." says Desmond, wrathfully,
who is only five-feet-eleven.
II am not exactly in IOue with Mr.. Ryde,"
says Monica, sweetly, with averted face and
a coy air, assumed for her companions dis
comfture; 'but-'
"But tUhdtF'
''But, was going to say, there is nothing