San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-04-13


He leaned oUcr to SteUe9ls and tChjspered.
After scarcely more than nap Stevens
came to the breakfast table the next
morning in very battered condition
He was eating his breakfast with a rel
ish, however, when the servant brought
in card for him which paralyzed his
appetite on the instant.
THE gentleman said he'd like to see
you a moment" explained the servant.
Certainly" exclaimed Stevens, toss
ing his napkin into the buckwheat cakes
and rushing out of the room.
Miss Sophia leaned over and took up
the card the young man had left beside
his plate. Why Liddy!" she exclaimed,
lit must be Mr.. Atwood he wants tosee
Mr.. Atwood left yesterday"
mo, Miss; he said Mr.. Stevens" re-
piled Liddy.
"Well, l wonder what he wants of Mr..
Stevens" exclaimed the amisble spinster,
handing the card to her neighhor, the
lieutenant He was at loss to know,
in fact couldn't guess. And her query
ran around the table unanswered. Even
Windward was forced to confess he
could not tell. What ON earth could the
magnate want of Peter Stevens? 1t took
away not only his appetite, bat all their
appetites.
I'm going into the back parlor, where
can set good lcok ut him" whispered
Miss Sophia.
Il am too" whispered Florence.
"Quick, before he gets away"
"Pshaw, Floy, be quiet" expoStulated
Mrs. Bassett, and then she got up and
followed the two young ladies.
Meanwhile Stevens had gulped down
his Last mouthful and had met his visitor
in the parlor, who apologized for inter
rupting him at his meal, and said ne
found it necessary to walk that way and
had called for the notes.
Just here there was u rustic of dresses
in the back parlor. and fitting visions of
ladies, passing to and fro 81 what were
probably fictitious errand,, we're to be
seen.
J
O'clock tonight, said the inagnate. And
then, his business despatched, his man
ner underwent a magical change. He
leaned over TO Stevens and whispered,
Let's see your girlv' And rs he
spoke he winkad; ne did. the magnate
winized.
OF course, after this there was nothing
. 70 do but to present the ladies, a feat
Stevens accomplished with q tact and
ease surprising to himself, and in the
patter Of compliments and small talk
that followed he again appeared to ad.
vantage.
There was something in the inaSnate's
society that aroused what was best in
him and brought it into play. As for
the ladies, they were delighted and all
smiles: while the magnate unbent and
was as jolly and noisy as a boy. But it
was soon over, for their visitor kept one
eye Oh his watch, and after q few mo-
ments excused himself, promising to call
soon again. Miss Sophia accompanied
him to the door, heard him repeat his
directions TO Stevens, babe him sweet
" adieu," closed the door slowly and re-
gretfully after a last look at his retreat
ing figure, and then with cunning negli-
gence dropped his card on the top Of the
collection on the tray, where it sSaid all
that winter in spite of dUstings and fresh
cards and the havoc of gusts Of wind or
careless servants.
Miss Sophia and Stevens returned to
the parlor to find all tongues wagging in
praise of their new acquaintance.
He is certainly very agreeable" said
Mrs. Bassett.
II say, Stevens" chimed in the lieu
tenant, gayly, eve got to go to New
York soon. You couldn't get me pass,
could your
Aren't You glad we slipped in" ex-
Floy to Miss Sophia. Il think |
he's charming; and not bit awful"
''Oh, how funny it felt to shake hands
with him." cried Miss Sophia, ut was
like taking that $1O,000,OOO bundle of
bonds in your hand at the treasury
only he's alive!'
GIVE read in the papers, said the lieu
tenant, ''that he's just as simple and
kind and fond man in his family as
you can imr~ -ine,"