San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-01-03


they are plainly in love. and nephews
and aunts neither fall in love nor marry,
so far as my experience goes. Come.
you are fresh from the States can you
guess
Il guess not" said Bellingham; and
the conversation took another turn.
Suddenly Helwise, who had been look
ing toward the southern approach TO the
terrace on which they We're standing,
said in low voice: There come the
mysteries. Now you can judge for your
self"
Bellingham turned his eyes III the di-
rectiOn indicated and saw man and
woman approaching slowly side by side.
They seemed to be couyersing intermit-
tently, and as they walked her shoulder
occasionally brushed his arm and their
chances constantly met. The man seemed
TO be under - years of age: he was tall
and active and of rather slender build,
ana as he approached Beilingham noticed
that his features were of bold and
striking cast, with bright and somewhat
intolerant eyes. His expression at the
present moment was troubled and
gloomy. He frequently looked on the
ground and struck the pebbles from his
path with stick. He would speak u
few sentences at a time. cnergetically
and rapidly; then relapse into a moody
silence. responding by shake of the
head or other brief gesture to the dis
course of his companion.
The latter was woman whose aspect
if the distinction be permissible was
Younger than her looks. Her face and
figure were youthful, but her bearing
and gestures We're mature. Her features
We're of Il clear paleness. regular in ont
line and Of remarkable beauty. Some
thing in her aspect unclaimed Bslling-
hams regard; she did not resemble any
woman he had seen, and yet she remind
ed him in some intangible, elusive way
of II woman whom he wished to forget.
She was different--different at every
point: and yet if he turned away and
glanced at her from the corner of his
eye there was an INDISPENSABLE likeness.
Was it the way she had of slowly lifting
her chin: Was it the slope of her shout
derS? Was it in the way the soft hair
grew on the nape of her white neck,
Was it in the smile that lighted her eyes
before it touched her lips? Il was all os
these things-it was none of them! After
Il minute Bellingham forcibly dismissed
the question from his mind OF what
earthly consequence was it?
Here We're a good looking woman and
an enammed young man, common
81. Ax.1 l. ,,,l
with each other. as Helwise had said;
but while the gentleman had evidently
lost his head the lady was entirely self
possessed. She seemed to be amused
specifically at some extravaganza or
perversity in her companion, bat there
was an underlying sadness or anxiety
perceptible when her face was at rest.
She had the air of trying to make him
take some step or comprehend some
thing which he refused to do or under
stand. AS they passed the young man
glanced for moment toward Helwise
and nodded recognition. The lady did
not turn, nor evince CONSCIOUSNESS of the
presence Of any third party They,
slowly traversed the length of the ter
race and disappeared through the gate
way at the farther end.
"She knows how to dress, remarked
Bellingham.
And how to walk" added Helwise.
She must have learned that on the
stage"
''An actress then, you think"
Yes; or an opera singer, perhaps.
Well, what do you think is the matterr'
HE hasn't money enough, maybe"
said Bellingham; cor perhaps she likes
him too well to marry him. A woman
IKE that knows that an ounce of imagi-
-.,tion is worth a pound Of reality
both to her and to him.
You have studied women since I
knew you last" remarked Helwise with
smile.
"If | have, replied Godfrey, they
have only taught me to disbelieve the
little ever thought knew Come, let
us be moving"
That night Bellingham dreamt vivid
ly of Mile. Mariana, and his dream
awakened him before dawn in great dis
tress of mind. He imagined that he
was walking across the Brooklyn bridge, I
which on this occasion extended from
the roof of the opera house in New York
TO the parapet of the terrace where he
had sat with Helwise that afternooa.
The bridge was unfinished, and he was
obliged to make the transit ON series
of precarious planks irregularly disposed.
When midway across the Atlantic, whose
angry roar reached his ears from the
unreasonable depth beneath, he saw