San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-04-10

GLIDING him after a certain degree of
intimacy had been reached, which he
had begun to notice even before the
colonel touched on that spot. She was
always cordial and chatty and sympa-
| thetic enough, but somehow all the con-
fidences flowed one way. He had not
known her long, however, before the
only one of their circle of whom he had
not learned much was herself, and az her
| gossip was always Jolly and usually
harmless he liked TO hear her rattle
on, as Stevens had styled it, about their
friends. Thus she contrived to pay her
debts of confidence with other peoples
secrets, and so artfully that the i'm
preston was left of genuine inter
| change.
Miss Sheffield Windward admired
and trusted. He found it easier to talk
with her on really important subjects
than any woman he had ever known.
| He could not tell why, but naturally in
her company these weightier matters
| formed the staple of conversation, and
| yet the talk was easy, witty and refresh
| ing Windward fancied she must be
like noted French women of society,
and he appreciated very highly the priv
| ilege be enjoyed of meeting her frequent
| ly and Familiarity.
The only other young lady with whom
he had more than formal acquaintance
| was Miss Sophia, whom. as he met day
| by day and under all circumstances, he
came to like very much. The tattle of
the house was, to be sure. that she wanted
to get married, and spent her days and
| nights continuing snares for bachelors.
Well, what of it? She was a good,
healthy girl; of course she wanted to get
married. Suppose that piacarl did
show; the lodgings zaiSat be better than
if the landlady was proud, was above
advertising and only took you as IA
vor, after much solicitation.
Windward, to be sure, was dallying
about another doorstep, but he cordially
recommended all his friends to patronize
the house on the other side. And he
| advised them not to delay either, for
that sign might be taken in any day.
! The lieutenant, for instance, was very
| partial and attentive, and in spite of GER
tain blemishes Miss Sophia was quite in
clined to be sympathetic and responsive.
She was good Christian, and no doubt
saw an opening for home missionary
work Very likely she remembered the
precept to hate the sin but love the sin
ner. At any rate, it was hong odds that
| if this particular man proposed he could
| dispose, and it was surmised, moreover,
that he was disposed to propose.
It was a bright winter morning when
the ladies arrived, and the day seemed
brighter for their coming. Mrs. Bassett
had changed but little, and that not for
the worse, for autumn has it's beauty rs
well as spring Florence was Florence.
1t made Stevens dizzy to look at her.
He despised himself Bah! to be bach
e4or clerk the best years of youth with
such beings in the world; what paltry,
meager life was that what poverty of
soul it showed! AS for Lieut.. Quire,
when he was introduced he fairly stared
at her, forgetting his manners in nature.
''Oh, but isn't she beauty" he ex-
claimed to Sophia the first chance he
could get.
Eyes, she IS very pretty she replied
cooIly, "or would be if she had fine
eyes" If she had fine eyesl Sophia was
| a fool.
Mrs. Elk was more enthusi astic. Miss
Bassett is lovely" she admitted to her
sister one day when they were alone,
and she added, Look out for your
beaux, Sophia"
| Deed I'm a-lookenr retorted SOPHIA,
in the negro dialect, and with laugh.
! They were in the kitchen and hard at
| work, though Mrs. Elk was not fit to be
out of bed. But one of the girls was
sick and the other rebelhous; and now
there was larger table to set, and
strange ladies up stairs, and one of them
| already installed belle Of the house,
queen of hearts, disturbing all plans,
bringing pain, anger, strife and terror.
Is this, then, the mission and office of
beauty?
II think Mr. Quire is acting hate
fully~ exclaimed Mrs. Elk, after long
pause.
''Oh, l don't know" said Miss Sophia,
with toss of her well shaped head.
Miss Bassett is the new face, sup
pose"
II hate man hirt," exclaimed the
matron, knocking the dishes about.
sOh, 1 don't care" said Sophia, and
then to show her complete indifference
she began to cry.
1t really was too bad. Here Miss Bas-
sett had been now only four days in
town, and Lieut.. Quire had taken her