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

be preserved for Ryde."
IF Mr.. Ryde asks me to dance, OF course
l shall not refuse"
You mean to tell me''-even the poor as
sumption is now gone-'that you are going
to give him all and me nOneP'
Il shall not give any one all; how can you
talk like that? But cannot defy Aunt Pris-
ella. 1t is very unkind of you to desire it.
| suppose YOU think l should enjoy being
tormented from morning till night all about
you?"
"Certainly not. ] don't want you to be
tormented on any account, and, above all,
ON mine" very stiffly. ITO prevent any
thing of the kind, l shall not go to Cobbett's
Dance"
IF you choose to get into bad temper I
can't help you"
~ am not in bad temper, and even if
were l have cause. But it is not temper
will prevent my going to the Barracks"
what them"
''Why should go there to be made mis-
cradle? You can go and dance with Ryde
to your hearts content, but l shall spare
myself the pain of seeing YOU Did you say
you wanted your sister? Shall call her
now? / am sure you must want to go home"
II don't" she says, Unexpectedly; and
then a little smile of conscious triumph
wreathes her lips as she looks at him. stand
ing moody and detected before her. A word
from her will transform him; and now, the
day being all her own, she can afford to be
generous. Even the very best of women
can be cruel to their lovers.
Il DON'T" she says, mot yet. There is
something l want to ask you first" She
pauses in tantaliZing fashion, and chances
from the grass she is still holding to him,
and from him back to the grass again, be-
fore she speaks. 1T is question:" she
says then, as though reluctantly, 'but you
look so angry with me that am afraid to
ask it," This is the rankeSt hypocrisy, as
he is as wax in her hands at this moment;
but, though he knows it, he gives in to the
sweetness of her manner, and lets his face
clear.
ASK me anything you like" he says,
turning upon ner now countenance more
in sorrow than in anger" $780,. ...
ut isn't much" says Miss Beresford,
sweetly, "Only-what is your Christian
name? L have been so longing to know. 1t
Is very unpleasant to be obliged to think Of
people by their surnames is it not? so I'M
friendlyr'
He is quite staggered by the excess of her
geniality.
'My name is Brian" he says, devoutly
hoping she will not think it hideous and so
see cause to pass judgment upon it.
Brian" going nearer to him with half
shy eyes, and a little ridllte mouth that with
difficulty suppresses its laughter. How
pretty! Brian" purposely lingering over it,
with an Il of course"
yes" ."
''Pm so glad / know yours nowp says
this disgraceful little coquette, with sigh
of pretended relief. you knew mine, and
that wasn't fair, you know. Besides, p
with rapid glance that might have melted
an anchOrite and delivered him from the
error of his ways,-"besides, | may want to
call you by it some day, and then l should
be at loss"
Though by no means proof against so
much friendliness, Mr.. Desmond still con-
tinues to maintain an injured demeanOr.
Monica lays one little hand lightly on his
arm.
won't you ask me to call you by it?'' she
says, with the prettiest reprOach.
''Oh, Monica" says the young man, Selling
her hand and pressing it against his heart,
'youknOwy your power, be merciful. Darling"
drawing her still nearer to him, II don't
think you quite understand how it is with
me; but, indeed, l love you with all my
heart and soul.'
But in such little time! How can it be
true%' says Monica, all her gayety turning
into serious wonderment.
"'LOve is thing as any spirit free"
quotes he, tenderly. "How shall one know
when the god may come? 1t has nothing to
do with time. 1 have seen yOu,-it little
matters how often,-and now love you.
Dear heart, try to love me-"
There is something in his manner both
gentle and earnest. Impressed by it, she
whispers, SOFTLY
Il tCtU try"
"And you will call me Brian?'
"Oh, nO!-nO, ed!-nOt yet" entreats
she, stepping back from him as far as he
will allow her.
Very well, not yet"
And you will 90 to the Barracks for this
dance?'
Il will do anything on earth you ask me.
You know that lowell, fear, for my peace
of mind.'
''And you won't be angry with me if 1
don't dance with you thereY'
mo. promise that, too. All! Here is
Miss Kit cOming,-and without the rOseS,-
after ALL"
1t is true she has no roses; she has, in
deed, forgotten she even pretended to want
them, and has been happy while away with
her song and her own thoughts.
Il think, Monica, we ought, perhaps, to
be thinking of going home" she says,
apOlogetically, yet with quite mOtherly
air. Has she not been mounting guard over
and humoring these two giddy young peo-
pie before her?
Yes, L think so too" and the goodness
of Kit, and something else, strike her.
IF we are asked to this dance at ClOn-
bree, and if we go, should like Kit to go
too she saws in a soft aside to Desmond.