San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-02-18

uHuendDie, anu Sne uaS large fortune;
you must know, my dear, her father was a
direct descendant OF King 0ToOle, and her
husband the head of one OF the Oldest fami-
lies in Ireland"
is that the old woman who called here
the day before yesterday" asks Terence,
irreverently. They are all sitting in the
drawing-room, Terence being rather on the
balcony perhaps. -..
''Yes,-I regret you were not in to receive
her. | should have liked you to make her
acquaintance, Monica, before going to Aghy-
ohillbeg." ..
"Oh! saw hsr," says Terence contemptu-
ously. ''She's gosD an eye like lance, and
a mans figure. She drove herself, and held
the reins like this" throwing himself into
position. a
IF you are going out, Terence, you may
as well go at once" says Miss Priscilla, with
dignity, pretending neither to hear nor see
him. Whereupon Terence gladly departs
$50 on auntie," says Monica, slipping
down on fOOtStoOl close to Aunt Penelope,
and leaning both her arms across the old
lady's knee. ''Who else will be there?'
Yes, tell her everything, Priscilla" says
Miss Penelope, smoothing the girls hair
softly, and feeling a strange thrill of pleas
ure in her heart as she notices the little con.
fident gesture with which the girl nestleS to
her.
well, there will be her own guests, of
course, mean those staying with her, for
she alawys has her house FULL says Miss
Priscilla, after slight pause, being still
somewhat ruffied by Terry's remarks. The
FitZgeralds will be there, of course Bella
is considered a very handsome girl, but /
don't think you will like her muCh.'
NO, no, she is not at all our MOnica'S
STYLE" says Miss Penelope, strnRing the
pretty cheek near her with her mittened
hand. Yet she has fine skin"
"Ay, and Il fine temper under it, or I'm a
Dutchman," says Miss Priscilla. And she
is more peculiar than handsome; but men
admire her, so zoe say nothing
rs she tall?' asks Monica, anXiously,
who is a little thing herself, and looks even
smaller than she really is because of her
slender, girlsh figure. She wonders in a
vague, uncomfortable fashion whether
whether most men like tail women best.
Tall? yes, and large in prop0rtion; and
as for her lndnaGrS." says Miss Priscilla, in
her severest tone. "m my opinion they are
simply unbearable. MOdesty in my days
was virtue nowadays it is as nuugld. Bella
every man in the room at her side. and good
ness alone knows what il is she says to
them. The way she sets her cap at that
poor boy Ronayne, just because he has fall
EN- in for that property, is quite revolving"
And a mere lad, too" says Miss Pene-
lope.
Monica draws a breath of relief Perhaps
if Miss Fitzgerald likes Mr.. Ronayne she
Al hon fac al,
On-any other man.
How old is shc?' she asks, feeling deep
ly interested in the conversation.
SHE says she is twcuty-four," says Miss
Priscilla, with an eloquent sniff. There is
nothing easier TO say than that. lCOn't be
uncharitable my dear Penelope,-you
needn't lock at me like that,-bu this l
must say, she looks every hour of eight-and-
twenty
Her mother ought to know" says Miss
Penelope.
'She ought, indeed grimly. But as
from the way she dresses we may reason.
ably conclude she thinks herself nineteen,
suppose she has lost her memory on all
points"
Her father, Ohio Fitzgerald, was the
same" says Miss Penelope, refectiyely.
''IIc never could bear the idea of age. He
was one who saw nothing honorable in it.
Gray hairs with him were n crime"
$50 he used to dye Them" says Miss PriS-
ella, maliciously; land when he got warm
the dye used to melt, and unknown to him)
run all down his cheek"
"Oh, Priscilla, how you remember things!
Dear, dear, | think l see him nOw," says
Miss Penelope. And here the two old ladies,
overcome by this comical recollection, laugh
until the tears run down their faces. MOni'
ca joins in from sheer sympathy; but Kit,
who is sitting in the embraSulre of distant
window, and who has been strangely silent
ever since the invitation came from Aghy.
Ohillbeg, maintains stern gravity.
Poor man." says Miss Penelope, wiping
her eyes, IL shall never forget the night
your sweet mother, my dear Monica, most
nintentiOnalIy offended him about the dia-
mOnd-you recOllect Priscilla? Tell Moni-
ca of it,"
"IIe always wore huge diamond ring up
on his little finger says Miss Priscilla, adj
dressing Monica, "Of which he was very
proud. lie was at this time about liftythree,
but used TO pose as a man of thirty-nine.
One evening showing tine ring to your moth
er then quite girl, he said to her, i'll his
stilted way. This jewel has been in our
family for fifty years All! did you buy it,
Mr. Fitzgerald?' asks your mother, in her
sweet innocent way. Ha, ha, har' laughs
Miss Priscilla, you should have seen his
face 1t was a picture! and just when he
was trying to make himself agreeable to
your poor mother, and acting as if he was a
youthful bean of twenty-five, or at least as
young as the best of us"
That was like mother" says Monica, in
a low tone. "She always knew where to
touch people"
"Oh, no, my dear, not at all like her, says
Miss Penelope, hastily She didn't mean
it. you must understands; she was the very
snnI of Sweetness and womb not willingly