San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-07-28

lection, and had told him that she would
wear a black domino, with a knot of
Jacks on her left shoulder. She had pre-
tended to me that she was going with
me, and had written at the last moment
so as not to arouse my suspicious.
Then, after all, just as she was about to
start out, her brother-in-law came after
her with the news that her sister had
fallen down stairs and broken her leg.
She could not communicate with Capt.
Brague, and affairs so arranged them
selves that he took me for her, but did
not like to accost me while l still car
ried the roses in my hand. Consequently
he had felt bound to follow me when |
did give what he supposed was the sig
nal for which he had been waiting, and
rs for my husband, his actions are easily
understood. Moreover, the restaurant
being but short distance from the
Academy, and our driver being forced to
go slowly on account of the snowy
streets and the numerous vehicles about
the building, my two SWANS had been
able to watch my carriage and to keep
up with it without much trouble.
1t is scarcely necessary to remark that
| had involved myself in very serious
difficulties. have said that just before
tainted thanked my stars that Penny
had gone before Bran came back, but
after had come to myself again, which
| did almost Immediately, fancy, was
rather sorry that PennyAad not stayed
to see me swoon, after all. For it might
have brought him round "a and then
everything might have been explained
then and there. That is what occurred
to me when | recovered, at least; am
not sure now that it would have made
any particular difference, and am salts
fed that it was better as it was.
returned to consciousness again then
to find Bran and Capt. Brague bending
over me with solemn faces. sat up
and looked around me. was sitting on
chair-for a moment my recollection
lowered, and then l shook myself to-
gether and prepared to act. l was
ashamed of my weakness, but it was
over now, and though the whole thing
was a horrid, wretched bore, and really
quite unjust. knew that l had to see it
through. never had been wanting in
resolution. and now that l felt that
was in difficulties / resolved to get out
of them as soon as possible and with as
much spirit as / could command. l
waited for an instant, until felt that l
could speak with frInness, and Slen l
said:
"This is "A very unfortunate affair"
"Yes," said Bran, with deep breath,
lit is"
Capt. Brague began to protest that he
was overwhelmed with grief-that he
had taken me for some one else. l
stopped him and babe him tell me as
quickly as possible how he had come to
follow me to the restaurant. l had a
pretty correct idea of the truth, but l
wanted to hear his story, and wanted
Bran to hear it, too. He began to falter
little, saying that he couldn't tell me
the name of the person for whom he had
mistaken me.
81 don't ask You for that" said l. "Be
as QUICK as possible.
So he told us what had happened, as l
have told it above. noticed that Bran
was darling glances of fury ut him, and
when he had finished made them prom
Use solemnly that they would speak to
nobody on the subject not even to each
other, until asked them to do so. |
sent Bran once more for carriage, and
took advantage of the opportunity thus
offered for little further reflection. |
quickly decided to go back to my moth
er's: preferred to run the chance of de-
laying an explanation with Penny rather
than to take the risk of having a-well,
row at home. | knew that when
Penny's temper was gone from him he
wouldn't think of his surroundings, and
I really could not bear the idea of fur
nishing material for kitchen gossip and
scandal
Therefore. when Bran came back, l
babe both the men good night as politely
as | could, smiling little to myself as
perceived by their cOuntenances that
each had expected to be my prop and
stay in my affection, put myself in the
carriage and drove to my mothers house.
had to ring her up, unfortunately, and
when she came to the door she was in a
mood to know why I wanted shelter
with her.
Mamma" said l, I'll tell you in the
morning"
Ethel" she said, "you have had a
quarrel with your husband"
Willful as ! was. was not utterly
lacking in human kindness; so l sat
down and told her the whole story. But
refused to take counsel with her that
night, and | went to bed, Professionally,
for the day-''in order TO wait develop
meuts." as the newspapers say-declar-
-, 10 -trrha1 for