San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-01-09

toward the aCU;;>. "a 1t last Everegt.
with his blunt candor. queried so sud
denly that the spinster bounced in her
seat:
where in the world is Bennie?'
81 suppose" Latour added quickly,
"we should say Miss Standish, now
that we are great, grown up people,"
There was Geographic glance be-
tween brother aud sister-in-law. His
said. quite as plainly as hslplessly:
"What shall say? How explain the in
decent haster'
Hers replied, quito as plainly and with
added sharpness: Nonsense, Brother
Standish! See what my tact will accom-
plish!'
Then Miss Tabitha strc7N ccross the
room, took her brothers Agm-adding
emphasis by sharp pinch-and moved
toward the door.
MAKE yourself perfectly at home,
Dale" she said, land you also, Adrian.
All win be explained as it is; and, being
under these circumstances, cannot ex-
plain for herself, and SO her n&5lral
guardians speak for her."
With which oracular utterance and a
fresh pinch ON the supporting arm. Miss
Fay led her brother off, unresisting
prey. Borh of the young men stared
at her departing figure; then both spoke
in characteristic style.
Mon Dieu. Tab is a sphinx" Latour
exclaimed with low laugh; but hang
me if shall stake my life o.. unraveling
her riddle! Why, Dale, the old girl is
rustier than ever, and hard as her Egyp-
tan sister"
The Other arsv-o"n1 in his quieter
way: ....
"There mrst be some reason for her
embarrass...cAS, though. She can't mean
to leave the invaders in possession in
this fashion. She'll soon return for an
| ether broadside, so here goes so sit down
for siege" And he picked up The Her
aid and sat in Ediths vacated chair.
"Ten to one Bonnie is out there" La
tour answered, restlessly walking to the
window and peering wistfully into the
garden. Anyway, can smoke. cigar
out doors. And, Dale, if l meet her
| first
Ee threw away the fusee he had just
struck, strobe over and looked steadily
| in his friends face, without completing
| the sentence.
81 remember our compact" Everett
answered, gravely. Rising to his feet.
he laid both hands on Latour's Shout
ders, as he added: 1T is too full of
meaning to both our futures for me to
forget it one instant today. But, Ad,
come what may, we shall both be better
men for it,"
Dear old fellow!" cried Adrien, i'm
pulsively. But how much easier it
would be did we know which one of
us it ISL ....
sit may prove neither" the other an
swered, doubtfully. Women like her
are never lightly won, and neither of us
has ever yet spoken
''In words, no" broke in the Creole,
but she must know. Why, all last
summer she never cared for other men.
tell you, Dale, my faith in her is next
to that in our holy church! She never
could trife with u.s."
"Never, believe on my soul! But,
Ad, if you are right, and it prove to be
YOU, believe you know | am man
enough to say God bless you, with my
heart as well as my lips We will still
be-brothers!'
Their hands came together in firm
clasp, as the Creole echoed the one
word
Brothers"
Without even another look he strobe
through the window, lighted his cigar,
and Dale listened to the quick, firm step
that spurned the gravel in its eager
quest. Then he threw himself on the
sofa, with cloud on his face.
1--WE must soon know" he said aloud.
And if, as he says, it be one of us, will
the other have the strength to keep that
pledge? Well"-and the cloud cleared
away-"there is no use in borrowing
trouble 1t finds us soon enough"
He dropped back on the sofa and picked
up the paper. The exciting long ses-
sion" of that summer was rapidly align
ing into strictly sectional factions, and
the thoughtful young soldier began to
believe that so much of such talk must
at last end in action. To him the tele-
grams meant that or nothing. The little
French clock on the mantel licked with
remorseless monotone. The balmy air
was gently soporifc; the distant mum OF
the Hudson fell d.owsily upon his ear; q
stray bee in the cornice buzzed him into
that halt way stage from which the lit
tie clock relentlessly licked him into
sleep.