San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-04-06

roaOk, VINO lived In Shanghai Win mas
niece; Miss Willis, and himself. as
guests. 1t was q choice group. All
were versed in society, fond of life, and
capable of enjoyinSit. Louise was radi-
antly beautiful and in captivating spirits.
The laconiC colonel was in high feather,
throwing off epigrams as easily and
brilliantly as a sldlltul pianist frolics
with the keyboard. The jests started at
the blessing, and from that on it was o
sparkling succession of verbal sweet
meats, mind and digestion working in
that true union which distinguishes the
perfect feast.
They talked of everybody and every
thing; of the need of a new opera house;
that the White House was shabby; the
fashionable colors in roses; recent bur-
glaries; Conkling; the last hop at the
Marine barracks, and the fight between
Mrs. Capt Chains and a certain senator's
wife over the detachment of Lieut..
Biggs; the absurd creatures in the
Diplomatic corps; the new set of china,
and how to tell real Satsuma from
Awata ware; the work Of the associated
charities; ocean racing, etc. Windward
saw his part was to listen and OBJ
servo. These people could teach him
how to make even the weather interest
ing. 1t was like the November meteors.
Whisk! fashl went the word play; now
humor, in bright, mild sheets; now wit,
darling zigzag in streaks of flame, hot
shot, nimble, gay, quick spurt,, like
stars on frolic. 1t was ''smau talk"
of course, but what of it? Suppose, in a
garden, we prefer humming birds to
dodos, and think goldfish better for
parlor aquarium than walruses!
There, to begin with, at the head Of
the table, was McArdle, one of the noted
story tellers of Washington, which means
one of the best in the world. And to-
night be was on his mettle, for like most
men of strong character he had a streak
of vanity in his composition, and he
knew that Griggs, that fashionable
rounder, woul be retailing his good
things on the morrow at the Metropoli-
tan club and the hotels. Possibly tho
colonel, sly, silent man, invited Griggs
to dinner now and then on this account,
and possibly Griggs, sly old diner out,
knew how to get at not only McArdleS
table but many others.
McArdle had one Of these retentive
and accurate memories which make 40
QUESTION possession. We read of great
generals who knew every soldier in their
armies by name, and in like manner No
Ardle could summon from the well Or
dered files of his memory the fact for tho
time. This faculty gave him o great
advantage in mixed companies and in
discursive conversation. He seemed
equally versed in theology, politics.
travel, literature and fashion, for Of all
men he knew when to be silent, what
paths to avoid. how far to go and how
to turn. Thus he trod securely, whether
he praised the eloquence Of the minor
prophets, criticised the magazines, pro-
tested against the latest freak in milli-
merry or complimented Miss Willis ON her
beautiful eyes. Beautiful indeed they
were, and glowing brightly tonight, 40
not only the obseryant colonel had no
ticed, bat Louise, and the experienced
Griggs, and her neighbor, young Mr..
BaSsetC.
All, she was pretty girli Such dark,
soft eyes. gently bright, such a glow Of
health and good spirits, such sweet,
changeful mouth, with its red bow Of
love; such proudly rounded chin, with
q dimple in it to take away the terror
such O rich, fresh complexion, which
showed that young, warm blood coursed
in her veins; yet quiet, even pensive.
when at rest, as if her shadowy eyes
were saying, my lover is coming some
where: are you heg" A sweet face this,
and encircled in may aureoie Of art
fully disordered hair, giving her
sketchy beauty, like the rufhed velvet of
o tea rose.
Till the dinner was ending Windward
had said little to his fair neighbor be-
yond the polite civilities of the dining
table, though he had remarked her
beauty and been put at ease by her cor
dial manners. To say truth, they had
both been too much interested in Near
dies colloquies with the older guests to
seek to entertain each other. But now
the colonel seemed disposed to bring out
the young end of the table, and led On
by his adroit direction the blushing miss
was soon making bright, pert speeches to
every ones enjoyment, and to her own
most of all, for she saw, thanks to the
colonel's plotting. she was showing to adj
vantage.
81 like girls Of her age" remarked
McArdle later on in the evening to the
Rev. DR.. Shepherd. THE anxiety they
show TO be charming is really most re-
fined flattery. How plainly such a young