San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-12-03

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infinitely distressed. feared l might in
some measure"
mo, no!' he interrupted Il see what
you mean. 1t is the thought of kind
heart; but you are in no way responsible.
i ought to have been man enough to do
right for rights sake No one is to blame
but myself. | let that passion for gaming,
which confessed to you once" he sighed,
quickly quite overmaster me; in fact, it
was bad bit of my life just before that
day met you in Kensington High Street,
walking with young Macalister. Then |
had severe attack of fever. ! was all but
gone If had been of any value to any
one, should have died, no doubt. After
that [ came to my right mind, and determ-
ined to do what could with the remains
of my fortune. In so doing | lost more.
Then fell IN with my present partner
and threw in my lot with his. The life is
healthy and rather suits me. | shall stick
to it, and, perhaps, make something of it,
Do you know, it quite cheers me up to feel
friends and all right with you, at any rate
for the few hours l shall remain; and even
after, though probably, we may never
meet again, you'll give me kind thought,
and a good wish sometimes"
Il always thought kindly of YOU" said
Mona, gently, while she felt the tears in
her eyes. You deserve so much from me!
Yes, it is very nice to be good friends; and
you must tell me all about your life in the
wilds."
Il beg your pardon" cried Kenneth,
bursting into the room; "but | could not
get away before. Come, we have lost too
much time already"
Would your cousin come with u.s."
asked Waring. IF she can walk so far.
1t is a fine morning What do you say,
Miss Craig"
Il should like to come very much" said
Mona, frankly. She felt delightedly at
home and at ease once more. Il must ask
Uncle Sandy if he can spare me; and l can
turn back when have gone far enough, so
as not to impede your progress"
She went swiftly away to seek her uncle.
Warning walked to the window, and stood
with folded arms in deepest thought, quite
oblivious that Kenneth was talking to him.
But Mona soon returned to announce
that she had permission to absent herself,
and in few minutes the trio were climb
ing the hillside to gain the upper road by
short cut.
1t was very delightful expedition.
Warning said the scenery surpassed all he
had ever seen before for beauty, though he
might have met with grander views. They
found endless subjects for conversation,
and when Mona proposed to leave them,
both gentlemen decided that they would
return with her, as it would be impolite
not to return in time for dinner
Mona was surprised at her own light
heartedness, at the delightful sense of har-
| mOny which sOOthed her spirit after her
short confidential talk with Wariug. How
generous he was in generating her tr'm
all blame. How glad she was to he on
| frank, friendly terms wit. him! 1t was
| evident he had quite got over his old fancy
| for her, so they could enjoy each others
society with perfect safety for the little
! time he was with them. Alas, that it was
so short. Well, let tomorrow take heed
of itself, she would enjoy today.
And it went quiCkly-tOO quickly. War
ing was shown everything about the place
by Uncle Sandy himself, who generally
bestowed a degree of attention and favor
on his guest such as Mona had never seen
bestowed on any other visitor. Then, in
the evening, Warning seemed never tired
of her sOngs-eXcusing his frequent de-
mands on the score of his speedy departure
to land where the ditties of a cowboy, or
the crack of his whip, were all the music
he would hear.
Then came the inevitable hour of part
ing.
Warning had still some business to settle
in Glasgow respecting the small sum he
l,nI ir,h off n 70
he had to visit London, finally embarking
at Liverpool
Mona could hardly steady her voice to
bid him good bye. 1t seemed too cruel
that he should be expatriated merely for a
little-not little-imprudence; and, say
what he might, Mona could not but per-
ceive that had she married him, he would
never have committed the faults and fOllies
which mad changed his life.
Waring himself was quite calm and
cheerful. He promised Uncle Sandy to
write occasionally. He begged Kenneth
to come and pay him a visit whenever it
could he managed; and he looked for an
instant, kindly and gravely, into Mona's
eyes, holding her hand in painfully tight
grasp; then he mounted the phaeton in
which Kenneth was already seated, and
they drove Off.
moo they are ava" said Uncle Sandy,
as he hobbed toward the library, followed
by his niece, well have yesterdays paper
till the new ane comes. read varra little
Mona made no reply; she would have
given anything for half an hours private
thought and the relief OF tears, but this
need must be concealed at any cost.
4"Eh," continued her uncle falling into
his chair, ''yon's an uncommon fine young
man. You see how the Scotch bluid tells
in him. He was awful fulish an led away
for a bit but he has come a right, like a
brave chiel: and he has his mothers eyes"