San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-12-07

ing. PGrnaps-indeed probably-he had
formed some fresh attachment, which held
his heart against her. "After ALL" she
thought, as she stopped to look ut herself
in long glass at the end Of the room, and
saw that the long straight folds and close
fitting bodice of her dark-blue serge, with
the broad band and buckle that showed
the easy rOundness of her waist, the scarf
OF old lace round her throat, the soft wavy
masses of her reddish gold hair, became
her well-"aftor all, am not worse look
ing than used to be: but that does net
matter"
With a sigh she opened the piano, and
began to play dreamily. How fast the
days were slipping away Tomorrow
would be his last at Craigdarroch, and
then goodbye forever.
rs the headache quito gomez" said War
ing, coming up behind her.
Mona started and changed color.
"Yes, nearly gone. You startled mel l
thought you were out"
She met his eyes as she spoke, and some
thing of indescribable tenderness in them
made her heart stand still. She rose and
went to the window.
1T Is cold and raw to-day" she said,
with slight shiver.
Returning to the fire, she leaned against
the mantel-piece.~ Warning put his arms
on the top of high-backed chair opposite
her, and said, with quick sigh
1.-The days cannot be too dark and dreary
to suit my spirit. cannot gather courage
enough to think of Mondayr'
at is coming very fast" said Mona, soft
ly, and keeping her eyes fixed on the fire,
but feeling that Warnings were fastened
on herself.
will you think me weak, selfish. worth
less, if l cannot leave you without saying
how dearly love you'll To think how near
came to calling you my wife; and now we
are but strangers to each other. Don't
you see how bitterly hard it was? Obi you
we're right to break with ME, if you could
not love me. 1t would have been misery
to us both il you could not have loved me.
But it was all utter despair at the time. To
think that you preferred poverty and the
desertion of your relatives to me. and all l
could have given you then"
"Ah, Mr.. WaringP' cried Mona, covering
her face with her hands, "can you forgive
me?"
81 do not reproach you," he returned.
81 was not worthy of you, or should not
have gone to the bad as l did, because l
was disappointed. But when | came back
to life from that terrible fever, l felt an
other man. felt l had duty to myself
that forbade this unmanly abandonment,
and have been stronger ever since. /
was even getting over the painful longing
for you. And now we have met, and am
worse than everl And you, you seem
sweeter than everl feel as if could not
leave your
He pushed the chair from him, and came
to stand beside her, his eyes full of love
and sorrow. his plain face beautitied by the
spirit that animated him.
The fire of heaven seemed to Mona to
have descended on her heart and filed it
with joy unspeakable. She let her hands
drop, and, quivering from head to foot, she
almost whispered
"Then do not leave me-"
"Ah, Monaw said Warning, drawing close
to her, do not tempt me to a renewal OF
suffering! l am too desperately in earnest
to be played with; and dare not hope that
you, who rejected me when l could have
given you life of ease, would share my
wild; uncouth home with me now. Sweet
est, how dare hoper
He drew her gently into his arms.
"Take me with you," said Mona, raising
her eyes to his, and letting him read in
them more than words could say.
MY darlingl it is more than 1 can be-
level Mona, in our short engagement l
do not believe you ever gave me kiss. If
you will give yourself to me now, put your
arms round my neck aud kiss me Of your
own free will"
There was an instant's hesitation, and
then her arms stole gently to his neck, and
her lips were pressed to the brown cheek
he bent to them, but for a second, before
his lips were on hers, clinging to them soft
", passionately, as If he drew his souls
life from that sweet mouth.
mo, not yet! cannot let you go yeti
Tell me, when did you learn to love me"
II cannot tell, Leslie. l have never
been Indifferent to you since-since l re-
fused to marry you; and when l saw you.
soon began to think should like to atone
to you"
Then it Is only pity, perhaps"
'I do not know what it is" said Mona.
with sigh, as she rested her head against
his shoulder; IL only know that you must
not leave me-"
"And all this time of delicious torturer'
cried Warning, when ruled myself with
q rod OF iron lest should show you the
love that was burning my heart out, you
imposed upon me with iciness OF mere
friendship. No man could have dreamed
! that there was any warmth under such an
exterior"
How did you come to speak to me at
lastt" asked Mona, with a smile.
1T was an inspiration" said Waring. II
do not know how many kisses you owe me
for the miserable moments l have had
here"
mo more now, dear Leslie" she said,
in low voice, her cheek growing pale.