San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-02-20

And when all is tod IL means nothing. AS
I read it, it seems you have only promised
to forget you ever spoke to Mr.. Desmond;
you haven't promised never to speak to him
again." Thus the little Jesuit. e..
THAT was not what Aunt Priscilla meant"
IF she meant anything, it was folly.
And, after all, what is this dreadful quarrel
between us and the DesmOnds all about? 1t
lives in Aunt Priscilla's brain. I'll tell you
what think, Monica. / think Aunt Pris-
ella was once in love with old Mr.. Des-
mond, and mother cut her out; and now,
Just because she has been disappointed in
her own lOve-affair she wants to thwart you
in yours" .........
''She doesn't indeed. Any one but Mr..
Desmond might show me attention, and she
would be pleased. She was quite glad when
Mr.. Ryde-well-when he made himself
agreeable to me-" ..-. .a...'
From all you told me of him, he must
have made himself diSagreeable. I'm per-
fectly certain l should hate Mr.. Ryde, and
Pm equally sure should like Mr.. Desmond.
What did he say to you, darling, when you
efuSed to meet him even with mep She
lays great stress on this alluSion to herself.
HE said l might do as l chose, but that
he would meet me again, whether liked it
1r not, and sOOnr'
''NOw, that's the lover for mer says Kit,
enthusiastically mo giving in, no shilly-
shallying, but downright determination
He's an honest man, and we all know what
an honest man is,-'the nobleSt work of
cd I'm certain he will keep mis- word,
and do hope l shall be with you when next
you meet him, as l should like to make
friends with him."
AT this moment it occurs to Monica that
she never before knew how very, Uery fond
she is of Kit.
''Oh, well, don't suppose l can see him
again for ever so long," she says. But even
as the words pass her lips she knows she
does not mean them, and remembers with
little throb of pleasure that he had said he
would see her again soon. Soon! why, that
might mean this evening, any mo-
ment! Instinctively she lifts her head and
looks around her, and there, just little
way off, is a young man coming quickly to-
ward her, bareheaded and in evening dress.
II told you how it would be-" says Kit, in
nervous whisper, taking almost bit out
of poor MOnica's arm in her excitement.
"Oh, when have a lover | hope he will be
like he"
Her grammar has gone after her nerve.
Monica is silent; some color has gone from
her cheeks, and her heart is beating faster.
1t is her very first GfGire, so we must for
give her. The bareheaded young man has
come up to her by this time, and is holding
out his hand; silently she lays her own in
it, and cOlOrs treacherOusly as his fingers
close on hers in close, tender, and posses
Sive fashion.
81 found the river too chilly" he says,
smiling, 80 came on here. Having been
unsuccessful all the afternoon and morning,
/ kneIO l should find you nOlU." This is
your siSterY' looking at Kit, who is regard
ing him with an eye that is quite 'piercer."
YES" says Monica. kit, this is Mr..
Desmond"
81 know that" says this cnfdnt terrible,
still fixing him with glance of calm and
searching scrutiny that is well calculated to
discOnCert even holder man. Then all al
once her mind seems made up, and, coming
forward, she holds out her hand, and says
''How dye dO?' to him, with sudden, rare
sweet smile that cOnvinces him at once OF
her sisterhOOd to Monica.
I'VE are friends?' he says, being attract
ed to the child for her own grace alone, as
well as for the charm of her relationship to
the pale snow-drop of girl beside her.
Eyes. If you prove true to my Monica"
ooh, Kitp says Monica, deeply shocked
but Kit pays no heed, her eyes being fasten-
ed graveIy pom the man before her. He is
quite as or Q as she is.
IF our friendship depends upon that, il
will be lasting one, he says, quietly. my
whole life is at your sisters service"
Something in his tone touches Monica;
slowly she lifts her eyes until they reach
his.
this" she says, sadly.
But why? To think of you is my chief
est Joy. Do you forbid me to be happy~
"NO-but-"
'In the morning and the afternoon went
to the river, to look for youth vain; after
dinner went too, still hoping against hope;
and now at last that hare found you, you
are unkind to me!' He speaks lightly, but
his eyes are earnest. Miss Katherine" he
says appealingly to Kit, "Of your grace, l
pray you to befriend me-"
Monica would not go to the river this
evening because she remembered an absurd
promise she made to Aunt Priscilla, and be-
cause she feared to meet you there. 1t is
the most absurd promise in the world; wait
till you hear it," WhereupOn Kit, who is
in her element, proceeds to tell him all about
Miss PriScilla's words to Monica, and Moni-
cas- answer, and her Kits Interpretation
thereof. "She certainly didn't promise never
to speak to you again" concludes she, with
a nod that Solomon might have envied.
Need it be said that Mr.. Desmond agrees
with her on all points.
There is no use i'm continuing this dis
CUSTOM" says Monica, turning aside little
coldly Il should not have gone to the river,
anyOdy."
This chilling remark produces blank in
describable, and conversation languishes;
Monica betrays an interest in the horizon
never before developed: Mr.. Desmond re-