San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-04-14

You can afford to see beauty in other
women" replied Windward, calamity.
Whereupon Clara made a mouth and
craned her neck as if to see around be-
hind her companion, with the explana-
ton that she was looking after a laugh
on the back of his head.
"You won't find it, Miss Willis" said
Windward, with impressive gravity. II
am not double faced"
''That's right" she replied, encoursg-
ingly. ''That's my way. talk right out. "
''Do you know Lieut.. QuireY' asked
Windward.
"Oh, yes, some," she answered. Hes
Say, I'm prying, know, but is it true
they're engaged"
"WhoY exclaimed Windward, aston
ished. "Floy and Quires'
ayes, heard So" said Clara, limo
Gently.
"Why, no." said Windward, casting a
rather alarmed look over to where the
pair were sitting. mot that 1 know of.
No, guess not. Certainly not"
81 didn't know" said Clara demurely.
They're much together"
unfortunately that may not always
follow" gasped Windward, not daring
to look at his seatmate.
UNFORTUNATELY? she repeated, sweetiy
befogged. "You mean you would like
the matchF'
Come, Windward, be a man. he
thought, and his head swan. But no,
this was not the time or place; and, be-
sides, there was that pledge to his moth
er. He trembled-but at that instant
the drums and trumpets struck up, and
the crisis was averted. And though the
play was tender, and once or twice the
talk between the acts grew ominous,
the curtain fell on the stage comedy
with suspense still reigning outside.
Then Windward proposed lunch, and
as Miss Clara'S recreations had fastened
upon her the bad habit of midnight APP
petite, the suggestion met with favor.
They turned their steps, therefore, to
fashionable restaurant, to find, to their
surprise, Lieut.. Quire and Floy in cozy
corner with the waiter bending over
them. There was nothing to do then, of
course, but to put on a smile and make
party of it, though it was provoking,
and a little awkward all around. Wind
ward-and possibly Mr.. Quire also-was
anxious, as it happened to be, ON this
particular occasion, exclusive. But the
fates were adverse. So the only thing
left was to order a good supper, with no
nonsense or sentiment in it, and divide
the bill.
The waiter explained that in oysters
they had Tangiers, st. Jeromes, Linn
Haven Bays, Cherrystones, Seasides, Alb
secoms, Saddle Rocks, Morris River
Cove, Rappahannocks and Point Look
out, and could serve them steamed,
stewed, fried, broiled and roast, as well
as raw, or as oyster pie, oyster pastry or
chatting dish. The party hesitated, de-
bated and finally quarreled, the ladies
choosing a cooked dish, while the two
gentlemen showed the true cultus by
preferring theirs on the half shell.
Then came a time of waiting, rendered
shorter by that same time killer that
stole fourteen years of Jacobs life almost
before he knew it. Whatever Clara was
or was not she was certainly good COM
pany; and tonight, excited by the play,
the late hours, the surroundings and the
interesting possibilities, she sparkfed
with merry graces. Even Florence was
won into laughter and admiration,
though she would not and could not
think of that girl as a sister.
But must she face that fate? She
doubted it. She studied Miss Willis all
that hilarious half hour very carefully.
Upon the whole she was very glad they
had thus met No; she felt safe, and
safe because her keen observation con-
firmed her womans instinct that Miss
Willis did not love her brother. Further
than that, moreover, she believed the
hateful thing was trifling with him, the
foolish fellow, and she should tell him
so plainly on the morrow He evidently
was beguiled, how deeply she could,not
quite determine 1t was unfortunate,
and ridiculous also; she would have
frank, sisterly talk with him, and that
at once. Whatever happened, that empty
headed Willis girl should not make
fool Of him.
And Windward, ON his part, was look
ing over his plate at his sister, wonder
ing what there might be in that absurd
query Miss Willis had put to him. He
did not think it possible, and yet he de-
cided to have a frank, brotherly talk
with her at once. And Miss Willis and
the lieutenant had their own thoughts,
tssso, sS that III spite of every ones anxiety
to be vivacious and entertaining, there
came now and then lapses of silence or
an absent minded reply to gay sally.