San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-02-26
CHAPTER Xxx.

Five minutes later the dressing-bell rings.
and the scene is at an end.
CHAPTER Xxx.
Dinner has come to an end. The mon are
still dallying with their wine. The women
are assembled in the drawing-room.
Olga, having drawn back the curtains
from the central window, Is standing In Its
embrasure, looking out silently upon the
glOries Of the night. For the storm has died
away; the wind is gone to sleep; the rain
has sObbed itself to death; and now a lovely
moon Is rising slowly-slowly-from behind
q rippled mass Of grayest cloud. From 0ut
the dark spaces In the vault above few
stars are shining-the more brilliantly be-
cause of the blackness that surrounds them.
The air Is sultry almost to Oppressiveness.
and the breath of the roses that have twined
themselves around the lailings of the bal
cony renders the calm night full Of sweetest
fragrance.
Even as she gszes, spell-bound, the clouds
roll backward, and stars grow and multiply
exceedingly, until all /,
''the floor OF heaven
Is thick inlaid with patines of bright god"
Madame O'Connor is talking to Miss
Browne Of certain family matters interest
ing to both. Miss Fitzgerald has gone mp
stairs, either to put on another coating Of
powder, or else to scold her long-suffering
maid. Her mother has fallen into gentle,
somewhat noisy snooze. \,
A sudden similar thought striking both
Monica and Mrs. Herrick at the same mo-
ment, they rise, and make step toward the
window where Olga Is standing all alone.
Hernia, laying her hand on MORica's
arm, entreats her by gesture to change her
purpose; whereon Monica falls back again,
and Hernia, going on, parts the curtains,
and, stepping into where Olga Is, joins her
un invited.
''Dreamingr she says, lightly.
who would not dream on such q night
as this? the more beautiful because Of the
miserable day to which 1t is glorious ter
mination. See, Hernia, how those planets
CLEAN and glitter, as though in mockery Of
US poor foolish m0rtals down below"
II don't feel bit more foolish than did
this morning" says Hernia. do you. dears
You were giving yourself great deal Of
credit for your common sense then"
Common sense,-wOrldly wisdom how
/ hate the sound Of all that jargonr says
Olga, petulantly. Let us forget we must
be wise, If only for one night The beauty
Of that silent world or flowers beyond has
somehow entered into me. Let me enjoy 1t.
How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon that
bank down therei Watch 1t Can you see
how the roses culver beneath its touch, rs
though stirred by some happy dreams"
1T Is indeed . perfect nightp says Her
mia, looking at her in some surprise. There
Is a suspicion of excitement in 0lga's man
ner-arising, as 1t were, from the desire to
hide one emotion by the betrayal Of another
that strikes her listener as strange.
How softly the air beats upon ones
fscep says Mrs. Bohun, leaning o little for
ward ''The night Is, as you say, perfect
Yet don't know what Is the matter with
me; the more / feel the loneliness of all
around, the sadder my heart seems to grow"
"Whatp says Hernia, lifting her brows,
1am l to learn now that you-the gayest of
all mortals-have at last succumbed to the
insutferable dreariness Of this merry
world?"
You run too fast. am a little perplexed,
perhaps; but have not succumbed TO any
thing"
Or any one, hope, unless it be to your
advantage. You are playing silly game,
Olga"
1.-THE world would be lost unless it had 8
fool to sport with now and then"
But why should you be the one to pander
to its pleasures?'
"Who more fitting? / am tired Of hear
Ing you apply that word silly to me, morn
ing, noon, and night"
1T is too late to believe 1t possible that
you and should quarrel" sad Mrs Her
rick, in perfectly even tone; 80 don't try
TO get up an imaginary grievance. You
know you are dearer to me than anything
on earth, af.er the children"
"Well, don't scold nae any more" says
Olga, cOaxlngly.
Il never scoId; only reason"
''Ohl but that is SO much worse,n saws
Olga. 1T means the scoldng, and n lot
more besides. Do anything but reason with
ne. my dear Hernia"
81 ,cul say that think you are throwing
-Ourself away"
'Where? Over the balconyP'
i assure you, you misjudge mel am far
90 gleat coward"
''You are not too great coward to con
smplate the committing OF much more
Continued on Third Page.