San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-11-23


SUCCESSFULLY
"As you please. l am quite ready to
second your efforts. Here is young Mr..
Clapton, he will walk back with me.
Well, Mr.. Clapton, think we are going to
have another cloudless day tomorrow. Is
your sister inclined to make set at tennis'
l think my uncle will not want me in the
afternoon"
And the hobbledehoy, we'll pleased to be
in a tendance on Miss Craig, who was now
considered "the glass of fashion, and the
mold of FORM" walked back to the park on
one side of Mona, while Everard sulked at
the other.
The following day was dry and fine, and
the projected tennis match came off very
successfully. Mona, and Miss Clapton,
her brother, and an Anglomaniac French
count, short, stout, and extremely puffy.
Lord Fitzallan appeared in an elegant
suit of flannels, and picturesque cap; but
he served so badly, and so constantly missed
his balls, that he soon declared the heat
was too much for him, and he subsidized on
bench beside Uncle Sandy, who had so
improved in health and spirits that he even
confessed 10 a certain interest in the game,
and confided to Lord Fitzallan his convic-
ton that, had he not been such "frail
body" he would have played fine"
Mona observed that her uncle and Lord
Fitzallan gradually got into evidently deep
conversation; but she did not take much
notice of them, as the game was interest
ing and the Frenchman played better than
usual.
Mr.. Craig was rather silent all the even
ing, and retired to rest even earlier than
usual; but he was more gracious than his
wont, and there was a tone of yelled super
iority in his voice when he spoke to Ever
ard.
Mona" said her uncle, when, after the
matutnal water-drinking and douche, etc.,
etc., next day, she went at noon TO admin
lister a biscuit and glass Of wine-'I have
something to say to you, my dearie. Sit
we doom"
Very well, uncle" taking her place be-
side him on the sofa. What is it,"
"A varra serious matter, which l hope
you'll take in serious spirit
This sounds serious"
"It's just extremely gratifying, as think
you'll say. That young nObleman has
been talking varra seriously to me. He is
an honest-lke chiel, and he tells me he is
varra deep in love wi you, Mona, and he
asked my consent in very proper language.
l said would speak to you, and lay the
matter fair before you; but that | begged
him not to address you till had explained
a bit, for | am no that sure how you would
take it. But hope you will hear reason,
for should like to see You a countess, my
hnnnip hir1 hafNra 7 lial in gNita ~ that
conceited ape Everard. and his schemes"
And Lord Fitzallan actually proposed
for meP' exclaimed Mona, much amused.
why, uncle, you would not care to see
me enrolled among the aristocrats for
whom you have so much contempt-and
then there is Kenneth! What is to become
of him?"
"Aweel, you see, Gamma turn things up
side doom, whatever my convictions may
be; so while these ridiculous distinctions
continue, it's no so bad to have share O.
them. AS to Kenneth" he waved his
hand, "yOu say yourself he does ma care
for We. We could find him another wife;
and as my lord doesna want ony portion
VII you, could give a" to Kenneth"
81 am sure you and Lord Fitzallan are
very good in arranging for my future; but
do you know that Lord Fitzallan is in the
habit of proposing for every woman he
meets, whether in q ballroom or behind
countcr?-that he is half-witted drunk
ard, only kept within decent bounds by
the watchful care of his family?-that he
has not farthing he can call his own, and
his father will not continue his allowance
if he marries? Do you know all this?"
hNaUT1 aYclainad TTncla ttopd I
will not believe it., He told me he was
ready to make handsome settlements; to
have the family diamonds reset for you;
to have a couple O. rooms always ready for
me at Fitzallan Towers, for he was sure
Lord Lynebridge- that's the earl-his
father, would enjoy crack WI me, as he
is an advanced Liberal, ~ and the old mans
voice grew unsteady with eagerness.
Mona was greatly distressed that her
uncle should be so possessed with this I'M
possible scheme, and disappointed to find
him so faithless to his own principles.
They talked long and earnestly. At
length Mr.. Craig began to see that his
splendid air-castle was baseless; his good
humor vanished, and with it Mona's pow
ers of pleasing. He complained of head
ache and rheumatism, pain in the heart,
oppressed breathing, faintness, and many
other painful symptoms. He insisted on
sending for NJ. lie Directeur and the doc
tor, and dined in his own room.
M ma dill not appear in public either,
and Everard confscated a charming bOu-
quet Of roses Lord FitzalIan was dispatch
ing to her and bestowed it in his own
name on the delighted Miss Clapton.
In the course Of the evening n cUriOus