San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-02-19
CHAPTER VII.

had not come"
This betrayS the fact that she has been
thinking of him, but he is far too wise
young man in his own generation to take
count of it.
Eyes, l came. Three days ago thought
l should have been in London now, and
then l heard you were to be here to-day"
I'm what have you failed?" asks she, alb
ruptly, abiding to his opening sentence.
Cant you guess? Have you forgotten the
last cruel injunction you laid upon me?
when next we meet you said, you are to
look straight over my head and pass on
Will you believe that twice to-day | obeyed
that mandate? The third time was the
charm; it conquered me; | broke my sword
in two and came to you"
II wish you hadn't" says Monica, sincere
". II wish you would go away now, and
promise me never to speak to me again.
You k1oOlC | am afraid of yOu," looking
nervously around.
81 don't, indeed; can't conceive such
situation. You do me a great injustice,
think. verify believe if tried my very
hardest couldn't instil terror into the small
est child in the village"
You know what l mean. Of course"
scornfully, II should never be afraid of
man: it is Aunt Priscilla | am afraid of.
And see, see herer' in an agony, "she is
standing quite close to us, talking to some
| body"
IF that is your aunt Priscilla, she is safe
for an hour at least. The old lady with her
is Lady ROssmOyne, and she never lets any
one unfortunate enough to get into her
cutches) go free under a generous sixty
minutes She is great on manures, and
stocks, and turnips, and so forth. And your
| aunt hear, is kindred spirit"
But then there is Aunt Penelope" says
Monica, timidly.
''She, too, is arranged Half an hour ago
| | met her so deep in a diSgraceful Irritation
| with the vicar that felt it my duty to look
| the other way. Depend upon it, she is not
| thinking OF You.
But some one may tell them l have been
talking to you"
II always thought had proper amount
of pride until | met you, says Mr.DeSmOnd.
"You have diSpellcd the belief of years. Is
thy servant a dog that you should be Ostra-
| cized for speaking to him? Never mind;
submit even to that thought if it gives me
| five minutes more of your society. But
| listen to me. No one can tell tales of us,
| because we,are both strangers in the land.
! No one knows me from Adam, and just as
| few know you frOm-let us say EUe, for
euphOny's sake"
She laughs. Encouraged by her merri-
ment to believe that at least she bears no ill
| will, Brian says, hurriedly,-
Come with me to the rOse-garden. II is
stupid sitting here alone, and the garden is
| beyond praise. Do come"
'Why?' lifting her heavy lasheS.
For one thing, we shall be free from OBJ
servatOn, and you know you dislike being
seen with me. For another" HepauSeS.
''Well?" rather nervOusly.
ut is just this, that | must speak to yOu,"
says the young man, his gay manner chang
ing to one of extreme earneStnesS. You
were unkind to me that day we parted. |
want you to tell me why. | understand
quite that have no right to demand even
the smallest favor of you, yet do entreat
you to come with me-"
For another moment she heSitateS, then
Yes, l will come with yOu," she says,
raising her soft eyes to his. In her whole
manner, voice, and bearing there is some
thing so sweet and childish and trusting as
to render Desmond her slave upon the spot
The path to the rOse-garden leads away
from Miss Priscilla, so they avoid detection
as they go.
But they are singularly silent and grave;
when the garden is reached they pass be-
tween the rows of growing blossoms mute
if rich in thought. At last when silence is
becoming too eloquent to be borne, her COM
paniOn turns to her.
1T wasn't true what you said to me that
last day, was it?'' he asks, with far more
anxiety than the occasion seems to demand.
Not really l mean. You said it for fun,
perhaps-Or-- 1t has been with me ever
since. can't forget it. You said you dis
liked sudden friendships, and the way you
said it made me think you disliked me. Tell
me | thought wrong"
quite wrong" in a low tone. She is
pucking a rOsSto pieces, and keeps her eyes
downcaSt. when l said that, l was angry
about something"
about something l said?'
mo. Nothing you said"
Something did, them" growing more
and more anxious.
"Ye-es"
what was it?'
ut doesn't matter now; not in the least
now; and cannot tell you, indeed"
But / wish very much you would. Per
haps being in wretched ignorance, shall be
so unhappy as to do it again some day. and
so make you hate me second time"
81 didn't hate you"
mo? Yet there was look in your eyes
wouldn't like to see there again. Do tell
me, lest once more fall into error"
"Oh, no." cOlOring deeply, as though at
some unpleasant recollection. THAT would
be impossible. 1t could never happen again.
/ shall take care of that. l shall never as
long as l live get into a-that isl meant
= Really have forgiven it all now, so let
us forget it too"
Though still greatly mystifed, Mr.. Des-
mOnd wisely forbears to press the point,