San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-12-09

casion they were pervaded by decent
melancholy.
Ada had slipped hand, clad in GRIM
son silk, through Lenders arm, as
they CROPPED through the gloom to-
gether, and shrunk to his side now and
then in an alarm which was only half
pretended. But if her light pressure
upon his arm made his heart beat at all
faster, it was only at the fancy that the
thrusting hand was his Matilda's, or so
at least did he account for it to himself
afterwards.
They followed on down a broad
promenade, where the ground glistened
with autumn damps and the unlighted
lamps looked wan and spectral. There
was a bear-pit hard by, over the rail-
ings of which Ada leaned and shouted
defiant "Boo," but the bears had
turned in for the night, and the stone
re-echoed her voice with hollow ring.
Indistinct bird forms were roosting in
cages; but her umbrella had no effect
upon them.
Jauncy was waiting for them to come
up perhaps as a protection against his
fiancee's reproaches. an another hour"
he said, with an implied apology, "youn
see how different this place looks; We
we've come little too early. Suppose
we fill up the time by a niceS little dinner
at the Restorong; eh, Ada? What do you
think, Tweddle?"
The suggestion was received favor
ably, and Jauncy, thankful to retrieve
his reputation as leader, took them
towards the spot where food was to be
had.
Presently they saw lights twinkling
through the trees, and came to place
which was clearly the focus of festivity;
there was the open air theatre, its
drop-scene lowered, its proscenium lost
in the gloom; there was the circle for al
fresco dancing, but it was bare, and
the clustered lights were dead, there
was the restaurant, dark and silent like
all else.
Jauncy stood there and rubbed his
chin: "This is where | dined when we
were here last" he said; land a capital
little dinner they gave us, tool"
"What | should like to know" said
the elder Miss Parkinson, ais where we
are to dine tonight.
"Yes," said Jauncy encouragingly,
don't you fret yourself, Bella. Here's
an old party sweeping up leaves, We'll
ask him. D" They did SO, and were re-
ferred to large building in the Gothic
style, with Tudor doorway, known as
the "Baronial All, where lights shone
behind the painted windows.
Inside, a few of the lamps around the
pillars were lighted, and the body of the
floor was roped in as if for dancing; but
the hall was empty save for barmaid,
assisted by sharp little girl, behind the
long bar on one of its sides
Jauncy led his detected little party up
70 this, and again put his inquiry with
less hOpefulness. When he found that
the only available form of refreshment
that evening was bitterale and captains
biscuits, mitigated by occasional cara
way seeds, he became truly pitiable
object.
"TheyEthey don't keep this place up
on the same scale in the autumn, you
see" he explained weakly: sits very
different in summer, what they call an
endless round of amusement"
"Thcre's an endless round of amuse-
ment noW," observed Ada, but it's
naught!"
"Oh, therell be something going on
by and by, never, fear" said Jauncy,
determined to he sanguine; or else they
wouldn't be open"
"Therell be dancing her. this even
ing" the barmaid informed him; that
is all we open for at this time of year,
and this is the last night Of the season"
"Oh," said Jauncy. cheerfully, you
see we only came just in time, Bella;
and suppose you'll have a good many
down here tonight, Ell, miss"
"Hpw much did we take last Satur-
day, jenny" said the barmaid to the
sharp little girl.
Seven and fourpence ap'ny-most of
it beer" said the child. Margaret, l
may count the money again tonight,
mayn't I?"
The barmaid made some mental cal
culation. after which she replied to
Jauncy's question: ave may have some
fifteen couples or so down tonight, :"
she said: but that won't be for half an
hour yet.
The question is, " said Jauncy, trying
to bear up under this last blow, the
question is. how are we to amuse our
selves till the dancing begins?"
II don't know what others are going
! to do" Bella announced, "but | shall
STAY here. James, and keep warm
| if i can!n and once more she uttered
| her regret that they had not gone to the
| Adclphi.
! Her sister declined to follow her ex-
/ ample. a mean to see all there is tC
/ be seem, she declared, "since we arc
here. and perhaps Mr.. Twcddlo will
come and take care of me-will you, MIR
! Tweddlc?"
lie was not sorry to comply, anG
they wandered ont. together through
the grounds, which offered consider
! able variety. There were alleys Hnet
with pale plaster statues, and a grow,
! dedicated to the master minds of thl
world. represented by huge busts, will
more or less appropriate quotations
! There were alcoyes, too, and neatly
| ruined castles.
Ada talked almost the whole time il