San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-06-22

be Mrs. Harry Trent, Tor III was III EVIL
dence at the time that Trent was intend
ing to marry this same Olympia Raven.
But today the tables are turned. After
that dinner party I'm sure we all expecte~
that Sallie was going to marry the
count, instead of which he throws her
over and picks up her old rival, Olym-
piar
Old Miss Hess-Hesl1eth laughed. "The
| girl lost nothing by waiting Bit" she
remarked. "If she'd got Trent she'd
have lost the count. But expect Sallie
will be mad. | don't blame her. I'd
| marry the count myself if he asked mel"
Miss Hess-Hesketh was seventy, and had
the reputation of being the ugliest wom-
an in New York, but she was far from
being the greatest fool.
Meanwhile the two persons chiefly con-
cerned in the approaching ceremony had
no intention of making a grand display
of it. To be married was their object,
and they regarded the social obligations
rather as necessary nuisance than as
an opportunity. Olympia, in short,
would be married in travelling dress.
There would be accommodation for
everybody at the church, but at the
house, where the wedding breakfast
would be served, not more than fifty
guests were to be invited. The count
had arranged the details of the affair
with Garcia, who, to his many other re-
markable qualities, added fine aesthetic
taste and an inexhaustible inventiveness.
The count had already learned by expe-
| rience that whatever was left to Garcia
| to do was sure to be well and thoroughly
done. So he laid down the general lines
| only that were to be followed and per-
united Garcia to manage the rest.
1t was quiet Lent, and no doubt it
was the happiest month of the lovers
| lives. They deserved it for the sorrows
they had passed, and they needed it for
| the numerous disasters that lay before
| them. They saw each other every day.
| Mrs. Bannick fell in love with the count
out of sympathy with Olympia, and
Tom conceived a romantic tenderness
| for Olympia because she was beloved by
his friend, the count. These four, dur
| ing the March evenings, talked over
many things and made many plans for
the future-as people still persist in do
| ing in this world, Notwithstanding the
sinister experience of thousands of years
| of history. Mrs. Raven sat at the table
near by reading her interrYinable news
| papers, and once in a whit Garcia made
his appearance for u few minutes to re-
port progress and to receive instructions.
| One day Garcia went into shop to
make some purchases, and while wait
ing at the counter he was conscious Of
some one standing near him. He turned
and beheld Sallie Matchin
| The unexpected encounter startled
him. He had not seen her since he had
heard her swear his liberty away two
years before in court, except on that one
occasion when she had been placed I'M
der the spell of his wizardry He at
tempted to look as if he did not know
her, but she smiled frankly upon him
| and held out her hand.
Don't let us be enemies" she said.
"You have good reason to hate me, but
I have better reason to hate you, for it
was who inflicted the injury. But 1
have repented, and wish you to forgive
me. You are in the way of greater pros
perity than could have given you. Can
not you afford to be generous"
81 know you better now than ! did
then" said Garcia.
"Fm not going to defend myself" she
returned. Let the worst be true, if
you will, am still the same woman
that you knew, except that experience
has made Inc wiser. The ambitions that
had then are gone forever. recognize
my mistakes-and my greatest mistaken
she added in a lower tone, looking him
meaningly in the eyes. ''If had been
true to you | should not stand, as do
now, in hourly danger of my liberty and
sven of my life"
1T is too late to think of that now"
said he. 81 regret nothing"
mo; why should you? On the con-
trary, you may thank me for having
acted toward you as did, for otherwise
you would now be entangled with me
a woman whom you never really loved,
but who had infatuated you. Ny feel
ing toward you was more genuine than
yours for me, though in my selfshness
betrayed you. And it is the same now
that it was when l still deserved your
preference"
care you trying to lime Inc again?"
said Garcia, his face darkening.
"Well, / can't blame your suspicious"
she rejoined, with half sigh. Il am a
fool to subject myself to them. But
am sure of one thing-no one will ever
know you as do You have not told
Ir-hL. ,.nnll..