San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-08-12
A Romantic Young Lady
BY GEORGE GRANT.


own" he cried.
| was so frightened could not speak.
What was | to do? To scream would
not have availed me in that attic, and
vet | wonder now | did not try to
scream. tore my hands away from
him and sprang from my seat, he not
seeking to restrain me. but still kneeling
and gazing up at Inc with wild but peni-
tent eyes.
Open the door, sir. and let me go!
That is the least return you can make
Tor your rUdeneSs," | said.
No, no, TO!" he cried, with wall of
grief. II have insulted my goddess
nave broken her heart. She will not
speak TO me. But look, looli!' he said,
!arting again toward the canvas and
throwing aside the drapery. "She is
here? have her mere forever. No one
can rob me of her now"
Fancy my emotions twas IA portrait
Of myself!
shall never forget the tipsy cunning
of Paul Bars expression as he watched
the effect of his legerdemain. The pOr-
trait was excellent; it was, indeed, a
masterpiece. | was sufficiently in my
senses to appreciate that, though my
absorbing thought was how to get out of
the room. For some moments we each
kept our pose, standing surveying the
picture, and he with his eyes bent upon
me. leaning against the easel which was
II the pathway to the door.
Suddenly, and to my intense surprise,
he pronounced my name:
"Virginia!"
1t was whisper almost, and spoken
as one might breathe the name of a saint.
Virginia."
Then with low cry he stepped for
ward pace or two and dropped on his
knees again.
Il love you, adore you. have brok-
en- your heart, my angel, but it was love
that forced me to it. Forgive me, and
tell me if you can that there is hope-a
shadow is enough. Hope that | may
some day press you to this bosom and
call you mine-mine for eternity! Vir-
ginia, hear me! do not look so cold and
cruel; you are stone, while am burn
ing! have loved you since the first
moment | saw you. | wish my heart
were dust for you to trample on if it
may hot beat forever close to yours.
With you as my bride could conquer
worlds. | could become an Angelo, a
Rubens. Without you shall die!"
He seized my hands again and COW
cred them with kisses.
MIR. Barr. Mr.. Barr! cannot listen
to you further. Let me go-you are
mad"
Yes, l am mad-mad with love for
you, sweet Virginia"
tried to speak calmly, yet decisively,
though from fear and pity l was trem-
bling like Il leaf. | told him that |
could not grant what he asked. loved
him as friend, as a brother almost,
and would do anything to serve him but
consent to become his wife. His studio
was no place for such conversation, |
said. Let him come to my house after
he had thought it over. He would agree
then that he had been carried away by
the impulse Of the moment, by the ten
sion of his overstrained nerves, and that
u marriage between US would be an alb
surdity. Were not our tastes and hab-
its totally unlike?
Perhaps these were no words to ad-
dress to an overweight soul, mastered
by passion But, as have said, | was
terrified and bewildered. The strong
desire | felt to treat him with all the
gentleness and tender consideration
could muster must have been to some
extent neutralized by my anxiety to put
an end to the interview. AS | spoke his
eyes seemed to grow darker and to glow
with fire, and the cunning, satyrike
expression | had noticed before to in
tensify.
"Pardon me" said, ''for the pain l
cause you My presence can only in
crease your suffering. | will leave you,
and If you wish, we will talk of this to-
morrow"
Tomorrow" he answered: there
may be no tomorrow. 1t is, still today!
still today he repeated with sort of
chuckle. II will live today, though
may die tomorrow. My goddess, my
queen is here, and love-love-loveT
With bound he folded me IN his huge
arms and pressed my face against his
lips three times in mad embrace.
Coward! wretch | screamed; but
was powerless as babe.
He let me 60
Il will not hurt you, my own true
love. A kiss can do no harm. Once
morer' and he threw his arms wide open
for fresh embrace.
But another voice interrupted his pur-
pose. Coward! you shall not touch
hair of her head"