San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-01-10

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Dale Everett sat in the empty parlor,
his eyes fixed vacantly on the distant
foot hills He did not even think, 30
stunning was the sudden revelation to
him of this girl he had loved so we'll
Neither did he hear Latour's quick step
upon the turf; but he scarcely started at
the hand on his shoulder and the CHEEKY
voice at his ear;
"Deuced strange. Dale, but haven't
Eth! you have seen her.
Latour finished abruptly as the other
raised his eyes Something in them
spoke more than words, as Dale rose to
his feet; for the men stood with clasped
hands, silent, while the little clock
licked tediously through many seconds.
The Creole spoke first.
You will believe me. dear old boy"
he said, when tell you | am sorry for
this. You are better man than l am.
Dale; and she might have been happier
with you But if she won't have the
worthy fellow she may the worthless:
so my turn comes"
There was not one faint Of selfishness
in the sorrow that spoke through Dale
Everett's eyes How cculd he break the
news he had to tell@-news his friend
would receive SO differently from him.
But it must be; so he said, very gravely:
Neither of us has his turn, old friend.
You nor can ever speak of love to Ben
ME Standish."
What do you mean?" cried Latour.
Did she tell you she would not marry
mel" ....rrf .
"She did not. But-be a man and
bear the blow. rs | did-she marries
Beverly Mason this very day!" Hf
The Creole staggered back, as if his
friend had struck him. Then he strobe
to the window When he turned he
said hoarsely:
who told you? 1t Is some lie!"
1T is the truth" Dale answered firm
ly. .'She told me with her own lips"
Again Latour turned quickly to the
window, without word of reply; but his
friend saw the hand that rested against
the frame close on it with such grip
that the nails grew white.
Equally bitter, perhaps, was the strug-
gle in the hearts of both men. Adrien's
sensitive nature was perhaps more
shocked by it's suddenness, but indomi-
table pride and stubborn will strove to
hide it even from his friend Dale
Everett was torn by doubt whether to
disregard the woman's injunction, vio-
late his own implied pledge and betray
her secret. He knew Adrien SO thor
oughly that he was sure hint Of the
truth would send him to her, to make
one effort for the happiness Of both, were
she at the steps of the altar. Twice his
lips formed the words that would have
forced the girl at least~to pause before
her awful step was taken for life, and
twice the words were pushed back into
his throat by the echo of her voice 70
peating:
Remember, trusted to your hOnorp'
Adrien Latour turned abruptly from
the window, strobe to his friend and
placed hand heavily upon his shoulder.
The dark face had grown darker, and
the voice was cold and cruel; yet he
turned aside his head as he said:
80! She sells herself as l would not
sell one of my slaves! A woman like
this has no heart-no self respect! Here
is my hand on it; from this hour we de-
spise herr
But Dale drew back. The stern man.
hood in him would not do i-justice even
to the woman whose act he condemned
SO bitterly. ... e.. .
"Wait!'' he said gravely. I'VE can
not always read the working of human
hearts. Remember the divine inJunc-
ton, Judge not, that We be not judgedF
Even as no spoke Hiss Tabitha's note
was heard in the hall, as she returned to
the charge. She entered the room with
furry of words, plunged at once into
many AND complex explanations, and,
with much show of mystery, told the
secret that was none to them, and as
signed their places at the coming cere-
monial.
The painful absurdity Of the situation
was broken by the groom's arrival and
the introductions to his party. Mr..
Mason proved to be a dignified and
-courtly man Of the world, wearing his
half century lightly, but adopting none
Of the nonsense of the old beau His
manner in the irving ordeal was quite