San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-07-27

Jne uelSuI VI popularity anu ouCCeoS- do
much quoted and flattered as ever. Yet
it is true that did not touch all points
within my reach, and dare say that l
might soon have lost my fame and be-
come wholly identified with the pleasure
seeking set which most / affected.
Thus, though / could at that time
have picked out almost any man in soci-
our little adventure, turned over in my
mind only the men of whom / have late
ly been speaking Mrs. Naples seemed
rather to wish for Capt. Brague, but l
thought it would not be quite polite for
me to undertake such an adventure in
his company for l knew, though it at
fected me very little, that we had been
considerably talked about. 1t was fla
gravity unjust, for the captain and l
had never become even intimate, though
we had been together good deal, and
the only fault that ought to have been
found with us by society was that we
neither of us had anything particular to
do; it made no difference that we some
times preferred to do it together.
INCu iiObiCi oPpColCu W bC OLA
ious about me ON his account. She was
now living by herself in comfortable
little house, my sister (who had in the
most ungrateful manner refused to take
advantage of the opportunities which l
in the endeavor to do my duty by her
had offered to herr, having left the ma
ternal roof to live in Lancaster! Actu-
III. u, -,.l fo,-,nart Nv
accordingly, had more time to bestow on
me-when she could catch me-and in
our conversations she exhibited good
deal of uneasiness about my way of life.
"You are too rapid, my dear Ethel"
said she. such a pace will ruin your
health, if you don't take care, and there's
always the chance that you may get into
some other kind of trouble" But met
her objections with an unanswerable ar
gument when pointed out to her the
difference between my sisters affairs and
mine, and asked her which of her daugh-
tiers she considered to be the most fortu-
nate.
So, as I say, determined not to call
upon the captain for assistance, and
agreed without any particular demur to
Mrs. Naples next suggestion-which was
of Bran Boulter. As to our plans, they
were easily framed, and the only thing
to do was to garry them out carefully |
managed to be free on the evening of the
ball in such manner as not to run the
chance of arousing Penny's suspicious;
when he asked Inc in a perfunctory man
ner if l did not wish to go | hesitated
Just long enough to make him think that
| really did not care about it; and of
course there was no difficulty in keeping
my costume out of his sight. Emma
Naples and l had agreed to dress alike
in order the better to be able to confuse
our friends; and we fixed on white DOM
mos with taSseled hoods and white silk
wizards as our costume. Bran Boullter
was to call for Emma and then go to my
mothers house for me.
But on the evening of the appointed
day, when. after having seen Penny go
off with his cigar, had gone to u!y
mothers and was sitting in the parlor
waiting. / was inclined to be sorry that
| had not agreed to go with the captain.
For on the afternoon of that very day
something had occurred which had con-
siderably enlightened me as to the rea-
son of Bran's changed condition. He met
me in Walnut street and walked home
with me. 1t was a gorgeous afternoon;
the russell bar of the sunset glowed at
the end of the vista of the street, fading
off into the cold pale blue Of the wintry
sky; the heaps of snow and the darken-
ing pavements about us were beginning
to chill the air which had caught little
glow of cheerfulness during the day
from the glittering sun; dark through
the leafess trees in the square moved
the hurrying forms of workmen, and the
crunch of their feet on the snow sounded
crisp and strong.
l was glad to be walking briskly
against the empty cold; the little patches
of busted snow on which I trod seemed
elastic aud inyigorating. When we
came indoors ont OF the falling darkness
$780,.
pulled OF my seal5nin coat quickly and
ran to the soft coal fire in the back
drawing room, and stood looking intoits
elfn blaze, shading my glowing cheek
with benumbed hands. Presently l
began to rub my hands over the heat.
Are your hands cold 2 said Bran:
there was deep tremble in his voice.
Yes" said |.
Without saying anything more he took
one of my hands in both Of his and be-
gan stTol;ing it SLOWLY. / looked Up ~
him quickly. The room w&s unlighted.
save by the fire, and as hell4Igl against
the mantel the freight i;cEerel on his
face. a sudden apprehension took POS
session of me--his intent gaze must mean
,o,,,o+l,;,r G.Ts ~ ,,,,.i1,7, s.,;1 NV