San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-06-27

companion it was, for though they hit
him more than once, they always
( spared it.
Well, this is the pipe the Colonel was
smoking at its hardest, when he
glanced up to greet Paul. And Paul
did not disturs him. He picked up
coupe of letters that were waiting him.
One was from his mother, asking him
how soon he could come home for a
little visit The other bore an
original foreign postmark and had
evidently had good deal OF
trouble in reaching him, for il
had been maileds three times. It was
from college friend, who had been
travelling in Europe since graduation,
asked Paul, if within hail, to run down
to New York and spend day or two
with him after landing Its contente
evidently added to Paul's gloom, for he
crump'ad it up in his hand. only to
press it cut again and put it away in
his poclse1.
lie picked up the orb and attempted
to read his own realistic account of a
cutting affair in which Jealous negro
had inflicted some ugly gashes on
pretty negress. This sort of thing
usually had its excitements. II was
quite interesting to find how near the
proof-reader' and printer had come to
the sense OF the original manuscript.
But through some unique blund-
ers, like gown" for gore,
met his eve, they did not
raise even smile. Then he turned to
the Conservative to see what his rival
had done with it. 1t occupied only a
stick-fulL Evidently the rival had
been satisfied with what they told at
the police station, and had missed a
story both comical and tragical. Even
the consciousness of having scored a
scoop" did not raise Paul's spirits The
general news page likewise palled on
him. Its chief burden seemed to be
a long.winded rehash of the probabili.
ties as to whether Senator Conklina
could prevent the confirmation of Judge
Robertson as collector at New York.
A column and a half editorial on the
same subject struck him as, duller yet,
although the pen which wrote it had
been dipped in the fieriest of stalwart
red ink Wherever Paul's eyes turned
| in the paper he seemed to see "Lebour.
geois" and "ball dress" staring him in
| the face. Ii he had been in love with
| this girl, whom he had never met, her
name and raiment could not have been
more omnipresent to cupid-infiamed
eye.
So Paul gave it up, and while pre-.
tending to be listlessly reading,
watched the ColonePs smoke and pen,
and specialized as to the best way OF
opening up the one subject he could
! think of. Chance came TO his aid, for
the Colonel, having reached resting.
place, looked up and said: 81 suppose
you newspaper fellows will make a
great spread over that Southern ball. I"
"When does it come Off" asked
Paul.
"The 25th, which is-let's see.
To-day is Tuesday and the 18th,
isn't it? Next week Tues.
day will be the 22d, which will bring
it on Friday night. A queer night.
should say, and unlucky-especially as
the old Southern was burned down on
Friday night. I'm not superstition.
myself, but If had been on the com.
mittee don't think they would have
chosen that date.,'
''What made you think of it?" asked
Paul again, still putting off the rea,
subject.
"Well, got letter from McLane
this morning asking me how many
tickets was good for at S. the ticket
there's cheek for you, as if 1 were
demmed millionaire-and I've got tc
answer it next"
''What will You answerP"
''Oh, most of the fellows at the club
are taking ten. you see, all that's
over and above expenses is going tc
some demmed hospital or other, and
fellow can't get out of being generous
. very well. They ought to make big
lot for the blasted one-legged. one.
eyed patients, for everybody in St.
Louil will be there. But guess the
committee purposes to cheat them out
of every cent it can, and show just the
grandest layout this poor old town
has ever SEEN"
II suppose the st. Louis girls will
just rig themselves out to kill. Are
they much on dressing here?" returned
Paul, gradually working the converse
ton round to the point he was aiming |
at.
"They will do their best, poor |
things" returned the Colonel, with all
New Workers. serene conf
dence that the gowns of girls
In any nther city are barely worth