San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-12-22


along, there wasn't hardly a leaf on the
trees in the squares; and yet only
yesterday week, at the gardens, the
trees hadn't begun to shed. Had they,
Mr.. Tweddle? Oh! but i forgot; you
were so taken up with paying attention
to Ada-(Well, James! / suppose | Can
make a remarkD"
"Il never take you out again if you
don't hold that tongue" he whispered
savagely.
Mrs. Collun fixed her eyes on Lean
der as he sat covering on her right.
"Leander Tweddle, she said, in hiss
ing whisper, what IS that young person
talking about? Who-who is this Ada?
/ insist upon being told"
"If you want to know ask her," he
retorted desperately.
All this by-play passed unnoticed by
Miss Tweddle, who was probably too
full of the cares of hostess to pay gay
attention to it; and accordingly she
judged the pause that followed the fit
ting opportunity for little speech.
MRS. COllum, ma'am," she began,
"and my dearest Miss Matilda, the
flower of all my lady dodgers; and you,
Leandy: and Nh. Jauncy: and though
last mentioned, not Intentionally so !
assure you, Miss Parkinson, my dear, ]
couldn't tell you how honored feel to
see you all sitting so friendly and cheer,
full, round my humble table! | hope
this will be only the beginning of many
more so; and | wish You all your very
good healths!"
(which. il | may answer for self and
present company" said Mr.. Jauncy, no
body else being able to utter word,
ave drink and reciprocate.
Leander was saved for the moment,
and the dinner passed without further
incident. But his aunt's vein of senti-
ment had been opened and could not be
stanched all at once; for when the cloth
was removed, and the decanters and
dishes of oranges placed upon the table,
she gave little preparatory cough and
began again.
I'm sure it isn't my wish to be cere
monial, she said, but we're all among
friends flor l should like to look upon
you as friend, if you'll let me-" she
added rather obviously, to Bella.
"And don't really think there could
be better occasion for a sort of little
ceremony that I've set my heart on.
Leandy, you know what l mean, and
you've got it with you, know, because
you were told to bring it with you"
Miss Tweddle," interrupted Matilda,
hurriedly, mot now. II don't think
Wider has sent it back yet. l told you,
you know"
"That's all you know about it, young
lady" she said, archly; for | stopped
in there yesterday and asked him
about it, to make sure: and he told me
it was delivered over the very Saturday
afternoon before. So, Leandy, Oblige
me for once, and put it on the dear
girls finger before us all; you needn't
be bashful with us, I'm sure, either of
you"
what is all this?" asked Mrs. Col
lum.
why, it's a ring, Mrs. Collum,
ma'am, that belonged to my own dear
aunt, though she never wore it; and
her grandfather had the posy engraved
on the inside of it. And | remember
her telling me, before she was taken,
that she'd left it to me in her will, but
l wasn't to let it go out of the family.
So gave it to Leandy, to be his en-
gagement ring; but it had to be altered,
because it was ever so much too large
as it was"
II always thought" said Mrs. Col
lum, that it was the gentleman's duty
to provide the ring"
so Leandy wanted to; but I said:
You can pay for the altering; but I'm
fanciful about this, and | want to see
dearest Miss COllum with my aunt's
ring on"
"Oh, but, Miss Tweddle, can't you
see?" said Matilda. Hes forgotten it;
don't-don't tease him about it, 1t
must be for some other time that's all!n
Matilda, I'm surprised at you, " said
her mother. ITO forget such a thing
as that would be objectionable in any
young man. Leander Tweddle you can
not have forgotten it,"
"No," he said, "I've not forgotten it.;
but-but haven't it about me, and
don't know as l could lay my hand on
it, just at present, and that's the
truth"
apart of the truth!n said Bella. ooh,
what deceitful things you men are!
Leave me alone, James, l will speak.
won't sit by and hear poor, dear Miss
Collum deceived in this way. Miss Col
lum, ask him if that is all he knows
about it. Ask him and see what he
says"
"Pm quite satisfied with what he has
chosen to say already, Miss Parkinson,
thank you," said Matilda.
"Then permit me to say, Miss COllum,
that I'm truly sorry for you," said
Bella.
aft you think so, Miss Parkinson, ]
suppose you must say So"
II do say it" said Bella; "for it's a
sorrowful sight to see meelSness all run
to poorness of spirit. You have a right
to an explanation from Mr.. Tweddle
there, and you would insist on it if you
wasn't afraid land with good reason)
of the answer you'd get!"
At the beginning of the short colloquy
Miss Tweddle, after growing very red
and restless for some minutes. had