San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-02-19
MONICA.
A LOVE STORY OF MODERN DAYS
By the Author of Mona Sc'tIlH" "Ac
cuSed' &C., &c.

",
it." Mrs. Bohun is saying, feelingly, there
is very little in the country"
There is at least the fascinating tulip
and liIy," says the sad man who mentioned
Desmond's name. Don't put yourself be-
yond the pale of art by saying you had for
gotten those aesthetic flowers,
mean. Don't you yearn when you think of
them? do"
$50 glad you are awake at last, Owenw
says Mrs. BOhun.
THAT silly craze about tulips" says Mrs.
Herrick, cOntemptuOuSly, Il have always
treated it with scOrn. Why could not the
art idiots have chosen better flowers for their
lunatic rawlings? What can any one see in
tulip?'
Sometimes earwigS," says the man call.
ed Owen.
Nonsense! don't believe even earwigs
would care for it. Foolish, gaudy thing, up
lifting its lanky neck as though to Guido its
fellows! There is really nothing in it,"
Like the country" says Owen, meekly,
according to Mrs. BOhun."
"And like Bella Fitzgerald" says that
graceleSs person, with a little grimace.
''My dear Olga" says Mrs. Herrick, glanc-
ing quickly to right and left. "DOyOu never
uIinkP
"As seldom as ever | can. But why be
nervous, Hernia? If any one were to COM
pare me with tulip, | should die ONO,
not chagrin-jOy, mean, of course. Moni-.
ca, what are you saying to Owen?'
Il don't think | know who Owen is, " says
Monica, with glance at the gentleman in
question, that is half shy, half friendly.
That argues yourself unknown" says
Ina 10 iS oil of
Grove, county Antrim, and the bright and
shining light of the junior bar. They all
swear by him in Dublin-all, that is except
the Judges and they swear at him."
Monica looks at Master Owen Kelly in a
family puzzled fashion.
"Now tell us what you were saying to each
other" says Olga.
1T was nothing" returns Monica. 1--WE
were only talking about this Egyptian war.
But don't really" nervously, understand
anything about it,
You needn't blush for your ignorance on
that score" says Mr. Kelly. "YOu'rei in the
general swim; nobody knows"
Lord ROssmOyne," says Mrs. BOhun,
turning to him with inetfable sweetness,
twill you do something for me?'
The transition from GOODNESS to tender
appeal is too much for RoSSmOyne; his face
brightens.
"You know there is nothing would not
do for yOu" he says, gravely but eagerly.
Then" promptly, please take that ugly
frOwn off your forehead and put it in your
pocket; or-no, throw it away altogether;
if you kept it near you, you might be tempt
ed to put it on again"
81 did not know was frOwning."
"You WERE" sweetly. You are all right
again now, and so shall be rewarded. You
can't think how unbecOming frOwns are,
and how much better you look when you
are all sweetness and light as now for
example Come" rising, you shall take
me for nice long walk through these de-
lightful old gardens"
AS she moves she sees the daisies still
clinging to her gown that Ulic ROnayne has
been amusing himself with during the past
half-hOur. More than this, she see, too, the
implOring gaze of his dark eyes upturned to
hers.
"Silly bOyr' she says STOPPING to shake
away the daisies with her hand; but her
words have a double meaning. InvOlun-
tarily, unseen by all the others, except
Monca,-his hand closes upon hers.
do not go with him." he says, with deep
entreaty.
81 muSt-nOw."
"Then let me come too?'
mo" Then she raises herself, and says,
gayly, "You shall stay and make love to
Miss BeresfOrd. Monica, | have desired Mr..
ROnayne to stay here and amuSe YOU"
She moves across the lawn with Ross
mOyne beside her. Mrs. Herrick and Mr..
Kelly are strOlling lazily in another drec-
ton. Monica and Ulic are alone.
is there anything | can take you to see%'
asks he, gently.
mo, thank you. am quite happy here"
Then, noticing the extreme sadness on his
beautiful face, she says, slowly, But you
are not, | am afraid.1
Il should be, with so fair a companion"
He smiles as he says this, but his smile is
without mirth, and she does not return it.
Suddenly leaning forward, she says to him,
very tenderly,-
''YOu love Olga, do you nOt?'
She never afterward thinks of this speech
without blushing deeply and wondering why
she said it. 1t was an impulse too strong TO
be conquered, and it overpOwers her. His
face changes, and he cOlOrs perceptibly; he
hesitates too, and regards her inQuiringly.
Something perhaps in her expression reas-
sures him, because presently he says,
bravely,-
Yes do love her with all my heart
and soul; as never have loved, as l never
shall love again. This thought is my hap
pinesS; my sorrow lies in the fear that she
will never love me. Forgive my saying all
this to you she told me to amuse you," with
a faint smile, land have wOfully neglected
her commands"
You must forgive me-" says Monica. Il
should not have asked you the question"
do not be sorry for that; it has done me
good, think. / am glad l have said it out
loud to somebody at last. 1t is odd, though,