San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-08-19
A Romantic Young Lady
BY GEORGE GRANT.

large fortune would be an unwelcome
responsibility" | said, noticing how
| much his words resembled what nv
father had said to me. 1T would be
so puzzling, should think. to spend it
| wisely"
And for that reason would you have
men afraid to try? How else is the
world to progress? Those who have
leisure to think are those to set man
kind an example" he replied, with a
tierceness that made his face glow.
Ny own heart welled to my lips at
my companions fervor He, however,
| ashamed as it were at the extravaganza
into which he had been betrayed, turned
| the conversation with some careless Jest,
and for the rest of the afternoon talked
| a badinage that did not deceive me.
AT least. let me say that am very
sorry you are worried" l added.
In the indulgence of his subsequent
gayety noticed that Mr.. Prime seemed
to play the dandy more consummately
than usual, as though he were rejecting
that. come what might, he would go
down as he had declared, with smile
Oh his face and fawless coat on his
back. had never known him to be
more amusing and nonchalant than in
| the half hour which followed his previ-
Gus outburst. When we reached a flow
er stand at the corner of the streets
where our ways divided he asked me to
| wait minute, and selecting bouton-
Mere and a beautiful white rose he pre-
sented the latter to me.
"You have saved me from much wea-
| riness during the past two months, Miss
Bailey he said. This flower may
brighten the dinginess of your lodgings"
Alice Bailey was the name by which l
was known to Mr.. Prime. | was free to
take his words in any sense chose, and
believe that they had reference to my
work at the Office or to my companion
ship, or to both. In acknowledgment of
his politeness dropped little curtsy,
as | might have done to any one of my
real acquaintance on a similar occasion;
| and as did so noticed that he regard
ed me with strange look of admiration.
You did that" said he, las if you
had never done anything else: and yet
| dare say you were never in ballroom in
your life"
Never" | answered, with smile.
"Adaptiveness, that is the word. Our
people are so adaptive. But there is
s)methin :; about you which puzzles me
more every day, Miss Bailey. Excuse
my OBTAINING you, but | am in philo-
sophical vein for the moment and need
an audience. would walk home with
you, but you have always forbidden me
that pleasure. Frankly, you have puzzled
me; and that curtsy caps the climax.
There are certain things adaptiveness
cannot accomplish, and that is one of
them"
Have you no faith in the child of
Nature?" asked archly.
Il had none in that sense a few mo-
ments ago, but all my theories are falling
to the ground. Forbear, though, Miss
Bailey" he said, with sudden air OF
sportive mystery; You cannot afford to
ruin your chances of success for the sake
of a merely ornamental gift. You play
the grand dame so well, that you are
sure to reap the penalty of it. Forbear,
warn you, before it is too late. know
of what speak | have been a gentle
man for years, and am acquainted with
all the ms and outs of the calling. 1t is
poor one; avoid it. But you will par
don this somewhat lengthy monologue.
| have kept you from your supper. Good
night. Come, Ike"
A. tripped across the street, with all
the grace and elegance at my command,
could not resist the temptation to look
once over my shoulder. Mr. Prime
stood watching me just where had left
him, and he raised his hat as he caught
my eye, with the style of cavalier sa-
luting his mistress. A pretty way, for
sOOth, thought |, for an aristoCratic
banker to part from his hired clerk! But
felt sure that my secret was safe.
Our relations were from this day on a
different footing, or rather it was APP
parent to me that Mr.. Prime was very
partial to my society. | remember that
he asked me to walk with him on the
following Sunday, and we. spent the
beautiful spring morning i'll sauntering
about the park. felt little sorry for
my companion that should have to APP
pear so unfashionably attired, but did
not dare to do otherwise. He seemed
wholly Indifferent to the circumstance,
however, and think the hours flew by
too quickly for US both. / ascribed my
own sensations of happiness to the love-
illness of the weather. .....".
So, too, it became of frequent occur
renee for Mr.. Prime to bring me flowers
or books, and our Sunday stroll was re-
peated again and again. AS the weather