San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-01-27

citation of the legal profession" ne sa1o
however, with an effort at gallant bow
sMost young women, fancy, are fla
more partial to that of soldier, for in
stance"
"Most women, you know, admire cour
age and truth and straightforwardness
colonel"
"And you mean that these are NOR
frequent in the army-that is, anon.
the-tEo officers of the line-than in tn,
legal profession, suppose. Now, Mis-
Marshall, a celebrated chief justice, from
whom you may be descended, as yor
bear the sam name, was the embodi
ment Of all these traits"
"And his mantle fell on the shoulders
of many, doubt not, colonel; but-was
it big enough to go round?'
"Pm afraid you're satirical, Miss Mar,
SHALL" said LAWYER, with superior
smile. you young ladies not infre-
quently see only the glamour and froth
of army characteristics. We who have
spent many years in the endeavor to
keep the army straight cannot look upon
the officers quite as partially as you do
We see both sides of the double lives led
by SO many of the youngsters in the
line"
"Only by the line, colonel, and by the
young officers? Then who looks after
the staff and the elders?" And Miss
Marshall's face was bubbling over with
fun.
"They have stood the test of years,
Miss Marshall, and need no guardian,
as do these young fellows who so capti-
vate school girls" answered Lawler,
shifting uneasily in his chair. "Now,
Mrs. Brodie has mature conception of
their merits and defects. She was speak
ing of this very case of Mr.. Hearn
ago. You seem to have known
him quite a while, Mrs. Brodie. Were
you ever stationed together"
"My! no, Col. Lawler; only one can
not help hearing things" answered Mrs.
Brodie, totally unaware of the facial con-
tortions of her better half, who was help
lessly, hopelessly striving to catch her
eye and restrain her tongue. Every
body in town seems to think he was such
a popular young fellow; only, don't you
know, SO careless"
Col. Morris and everybody at Mrs.
Lanes end of the table happened to be
deep in general chat at the moment, and
neither saw nor heard anything of this
sudden introduction of personal affairs
at social occasion. But Mrs. Morris
lost no time. She saw Brodie's glover
ering eyes across the board; she noted
LAWYERS keen, shrewd gaze, and the
troubled hook that flashed over Lanes
kindly face, and had just time to whis-
per to him: Glow can you ever forgive
us for bringing the man? The colonel
was in misery at the idea. He said he
knew he would be talking shop before
dinner was half over. can check Mrs.
Brodie, at any rate" Then, aloud, "Par-
Ion me, Col. LAWYER" and now her face
was wreathed in sweetest smiles, 'rm
not going to let Mrs. Brodie prejudice
you against one of my prime favorites."
"Oh, indeed, Mrs. Norris" protested
Mrs. Brodie, 81 wouldn't think of such
/ thing. Twas just going to point out
% the colonel the very great difference
between what he might have been then
md what he has been ever since he Joined |
he Eleventh.
"But the point at issue seems to be |
What he was then, as Mrs. Brodie puts
t." said Lawler.
"But | wouldn't for the world have |
'ou suppose l thought Mr.. Hearn had |
lone any thing that was ungentlemanly. |
I'm only saying what rumor was" burst |
n Mrs. Brodie again, who had at last |
taught the signals on her husbands face,
md now only sought to excuse her own
even though in so doing |
she more deeply involved the young gen
5leman himself. II can't bear to hear
such things said Of him without any one
to defend him; but what can one do?"
This was getting simply unbearable.
While all at the other end of the table |
we're having q merry, laughing chat,
here was this professional investigator
an accidental and by no means welcome
guest-taking advantage of the circum-
stances and of the well known volubili-
ty of Mrs Brodie to starther on the sub
ject which called him to the post, and
striving at a social party to "pick up
points"
by Jove!" muttered Capt. Cross,
''he's as bad as Mr.. Abrams himself.
What can we do to stop him? Nothing
short of divine providence will ever stop
Mrs. Brodie."
But the desired interposition came.
Footsteps We're heard on the piazza be-
yond the hall. The Chinaman, answer
ing the summons to the door, came
Il ,.ni-srAc.