San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-02-25
MONICA
A LOVE STORY OF MODERN DAYS
By the Author Of Mona Scullu" "Ac
cused" &C., &c.

cHsed" &C., DC.
| oreaK ner ran. Come over here and SIT by
me- and you will be much happier"
"Penance is good for the soul, l shall stay
here" says Desmond.
"If we mean to get up tableaux, we GER
tainly ought to set about them at once, !" says
Hernia Herrick indolently.
'"There doesn't seem to be any work in
ANYBODY" says Olga, in despair.
ssTry me-" says Lord Rossmoyne, bend
ing over her chair. He has only just come,
and his arrival has been unannouDced.
"Ahl thank youp'-with a brilliant smile.
"Now you do look like business"
1t is Monday, and four o'clock. Aghyo-
hiIlbeg lying basking in the sunshine is look
ing its loveliest,-which is saying great
deal. The heat is so intense on this sweet
July day that every one has deserted the
house and come out to find some air,-a
difficulty. They have tried the grass ter
races, in vain, and now have congregated
beneath giant fir, and are, comparatively
speaking, cool.
Just before luncheon Madame O'Connor
brought Monica home In triumph with her
from Moyne, to find Desmond, handsome
and happy, on her doorstep, waiting with
calm certainty an invitation to that meal.
He got it, and one to dinner likewise.
1--WE have set our hearts on tableaux, but
1t is so difficult to think of any scene fresh
| and unhackneyed,7 says Olga, gazing plain
| lively into Lord Rossmoyne's sympathetic
face.
Don't give away" says Mr.. Kelly, ten
| 1erly. 1T must be poor intellect that
| couldn't rise superior to such demand as
that. Given one minute, believe even I
,ould produce an idea as novel as it would
| be brilliant"
"You shall have your minute" says Olga,
pulling out her watch. "Now-begin-"
times up" she says, presently, when
sixty seconds have honestly expired.
you might have said that thirty seconds
ago, and should not have objected" says
Mr.. Kelly, with an assured smile.
"And your idea"
THE Huguenotsr
Need say that every one is exceedingly
angry;
"Ever heard 1t beforep' asks Mr.. Kelly,
with aggressive insolence; which question.
being considered as adding insult to injury,
s treated with silent contempt
II told you it was not to be DONE" says
Olga, petulantly, addressing everybody gen.
orally.
II can't agree with you. see no reason
why it should fall to the ground" says Miss
Fitzgerald, warmly, who is determined to
show herself off in gown that has done
duty for Madame Favart," and the "Bohe-
milan Girl, and Mauritania" many q time
and oft.
I II have another idea," says Mr.. Kelly, at
this opportune moment.
IF it is as useful as your first, you may
keep it." says Olga, with pardonable indig-
nation.
II am misunderstood" says Mr.. Kelly,
mournfully, but with dignity. Il shall write
| to Miss Montgomery, and ask her to make
another pathetic tale about me. As you are
bent on trampling upon an unknown genius,
| poor but proud,-I shall not make you &C.
quainted with this last beautiful thought
which have evolved from my inner con-
seriousness"
Don't say that! do tell it to u.s." says
Monica, eagerly, and in perfect faith. She
knows less of him than the others, and may
therefore be excused for still believing him.
Thank you, Miss Beresford. You can
soar above mean desire to crush rising
power. You have read, of course, that popu-
lar poem by our poet-laureate, called
enid"
YES" says Monica, staring at him.
II mean the poem in which he has SC
faithfully depicted the way in which two
escaped lunaticS would be sure to behave il
left to their own devices. Considered as a
warning to us to keep bolts and bars on
| COlney Hatch and Hanwell, it may be re-
garded as q delicate attention. Dear Tenny-
som he certainly is a public benefactOr.
| There is a scene in that remarkable poem
which / think might suit us. You remem-
Der where, after much wild careering in the
fore ground, the principal idiots decide up
on riding home together, pilliOn fashion,
II think so," says Monica, who plainly
doesn't being much confused.
Then ON his foot she set her own and
climbed, and then she drew her arms
round him in most unmaidenly fashion, If
| recOllect right; but of course mad people
lriIL be vehement, poor souls; they can't
help il. Now, suppOsng we adopted that
scene, wouldn't it be effective? One of Mad
anne O'COnnOrs big carriage-horses, if
brought forward, Il mean the one that kick
ed over the traces, yesterday, would, l firm
~ believe, create quite sensation, and in
all probability bring down the house."
THE stage certainly" says Desmond.
"Ah! you approve of it" says Kelly, with
| suspicious gratitude. Then let us arrange
il at once. Miss BereSfOrd might throw her
arms round Ryde, for example; that would
be charming"
Desmond looking at this moment as if he
| would willingly murder him, Mr.. Kelly is
apparently satisfied, and sinks to rest with
| his head upon his arms once more. No one
else has heard the suggestions
al think you might help me, instead of
giving voice to insane propositions" says
Olga, reproachfully, turning her eyes upon
Mr.. Kelly's bowed form,-he is lying pros
trate on the RraSS.-Whch is shaking, in a