San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-01-19

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was throwing over them. twas unfit
weather for a lady to encounter, or in
deed for anything feminine to be abroad
in, save witch on broomstick. Norma
was fain to accept Mrs. Mason's invita-
ton and remain for the night at Lanarth.
When the two girls, in dressing gowns
and slippers, sat over the fire in Poca-
hontas' room brushing out their long
hair, Norma found the opportunity for
which she had lain in wait the entire
evening. 1t was the hour for conf
dences--the house was quiet, the inmates
all dispersed to their several couches.
Norma, brush in hand and hair flowing
in heavy, black veil around her, had
Quilted her own room across the passage
and established herself in low rocking
chair beside Pocahontas bright fire.
She was far too clever diplomatist TO
introduce her subject hastily; she ap-
proached It gradually from long range
stalked it delicately with. skillful avoid
ance of surprise or bungling.
The game must be brought down-on
that She was determined; but there
should be no bludgeon blows, no awk-
ward carnage. The death stab should be
given clean, with scientific skill and
swiftness, and the blow once given, she
would retire to her own room and let
her victim find what solace she could in
solitude. Norma was not wantonly
cruel; she could impale foe, but she
had no desire to witness his contortions.
After death scene she shrank from the
grewsomeness of burial; she preferred
decent drop curtain and the grateful
darkness.
After some idle conversation she delft
ly turned the talk upon New York and
the life there, and rallied all her powers
to be picturesque and entertaining. She
held her listener entranced with rapid,
clever sketches of society and the men'-
and women who composed it, drawing
vivid pictures of its usages, beliefs and
modes of thought and expression. Grad
ually she glided into personalities, giving
some of her individual experiences and
sketching in an acquaintance or two
with brilliant, caustic touches. Soon
Thorne's name appeared, and she noticed
that the listeners interest deepened.
She spoke of him in warm terms Of ad-
miration -dwelt on his intellect, his
talents and the bright promise of his
manhood; and then, observing that the
brush had ceased its regular passes over
the bright, brown hair, and that the
gray eyes were on the fire, without pause
or warning she spoke of his hurried
courtship and sudden marriage. She
WINGED involuntarily as she saw the
cold, gray pallor creep slowly over the
girls face, and noted the sudden tremor
that passed through her limbs; but she
steeled herself against compassion and
proceeded with her brushing and her
narrative like one devoid of sight and
understanding.
81 cannot expect you, who know Mes
bit so slightly, to be much interested in
all this" she said, watching Pocahontas
through her lashes 81 fear only bore
you with my story, but my mind has
been so exercised over the poor fellows
troubles again lately that must un-
burden it to some one. You have ne
personal interest in the matter, there
fore you will forgive my trespassing on
your courtesy, especially when tell you
that I've no one at home to talk to. Mes
bit wishes particularly that his story
shouldn't get abroad here, and il l
should revive it in Blanches mind she
might mention it to others. Mamma
would not, but unfortunately mamma
and I rarely look at thing from the
same standpoint. It's been relief 10
speak to you-far greater than speaking
| 49, nha nha 20 foIt 10
Yes; Blanche was excitable, Pocahon-
tas assented absently; she was bracing
her will and steeling her nerves to en-
dure without finching. Not for worlds
would she-even by the quivering of an
eyelash-let Norma see the torture she
was infiicting. She felt that Norma had
an object in this disclosure, and was
dimly sure that the object was hostile.
She would think it all out later; at pres
emit Norma must not see her anguish. A
woman would sooner go to the stake and
burn slowly than allow another woman,
(! who is trying to hurt her, to know that
she suffers.
I Norma continued, speaking gently,
without haste or emotion, telling of the
feverish brightness of those early days
of marriage, and of the clouds that soon
obscured the sunshine-telling of the
ennui and unhappiness, gradually sprout-
ing aud ripening in the i'll assorted union
shielding the man, as women will, and
casting the blame on the woman. FL
nally she told of the separation, lasting
now two years, and of the letter from
his wife which had caused Thorne's pre-
cipitate departure the day after the Shir-