San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-07-18

had only heard her brothers proposal
that day." And so was born that fresh
| article of her new faith, Intense vul-
garity may be found beneath the most
perfect veneer of polish and cultiva-
ton" r..
Mr.. and Mrs. Smith quickly became
very fond of Frances, and both did their
utmost to spoil her; the mother, because
she wanted to win the girls love for
| her sons sake, and the father, because
few men are unsusceptible to the charm
of beauty added to gentleness and re-
finement. She frightened their home
with her youth and sweetness, and soon
let the influence of her artistic touch
and good taste be felt upon their gor
geous surroundings.
Mrs. Smith spoke constantly of her
charming new companion in her letters
to her son, but carefully refrained from
mentioning the young lady's name.
Frances was happy now. She tried to
leave the future to the wisdom of Provi
dence, and meanwhile strOve with all
her might to do and be all that she knew
find her. She felt sure that a day would
come when she would be able to ask his
pardon for those unlucky words. How
her face burned at the bare recollection
of that scene! There could be no vul-
garity more fragrant than she had ex-
hibited in the pride of her own good
breeding. Had he recognized this in
nate vulgarity in her as she had done in
Alicia Fitzhardy, and if so. must not
that love have been slain forever? Here
was the sharpest thorn in that soft nest
in which she now found herself. Alas
she had learned too late the important
lesson, that refinement and cultivation
are only worthy of reverence when they
are the outward tokens of innate quail
ties
Mr. Smith. like his wife, was never
happier than when talking about his
boy, and Frances loved to draw him out
on this subject whenever the occasion
offered. He, knowing nothing of the
reason which purposely kept his wife
from bringing the young mans name
up before Frances, quickly became very
communicative. From him Frances
learned the history of Jacks childhood,
the ailments of his babyhood, the hopes
the old man had for his future, and even
the name of that big sum he would
place to his boys credit when he made
up his mind to marry and settle down,
or when Smith and Trewson" should be
converted into a Limited Liability
company" From Mr.. Smith she also
learned what the life of a successful |
business man must be; the energy, the |
enterprise, the unceasing toll, the IN
tagging patience that were necessary,
and she could not but admire him for
what he had achieved.
1t was "all for Jack" he said; he was |
a plain man himself, not likely to cut |
much of. a figure anywhere, but show !
him the young fellow in any society who |
was likely to beat his boy. Why, every
body loved him. Even when he was a |
baby, hadr't Mr.. Wolvercourt, their
clergyman, a gentleman of first class |
family, offered to stand godfather to the |
boy, and had never ceased to love him |
and take notice of him? Twice every |
year Jack went to visit his godfather, |
who was very old man now, too old to |
preach any longer, quietly wearing out |
his last years on a small estate in the |
west of England.
By and by there suddenly came the |
news of this Mr.. Wolvercourt's death, |
and Jack was recalled to England to at.
tend the funeral. Very soon the day ar
rived on which he was expected to return |
to The Grange.
Frances, feeling uneasy and excited at |
the prospect of meeting him, had run
away, girl-like, and gone to pay her
mother and sister visit at the tiny |
house in which they had established
themselves at Highgate. One of the |
children opened the door to her. On the
parlor table stood bunch of glorious |
roses, rich pink, crimson and damask;
and roses were roses, too, at this late |
season of the year. Edith came flying
in and flung herself into her sisters
arms, but when she saw Frances glance |
at this fragrant bowl, she turned nearly |
as pink as the flowers themselves.
well, who is the senderg' her sister
inquired.
Mr.. Josselyn, of course" Edith re-
piled stoutly. Then, as Frances opened
her eyes at the sight of her guilty
cheeks "Oh, they are quite as much |
for mamma as for me, | assure YOU" she
maintained
'You!-such mere child as your
Frances calculated.
well, I'm not such child but that |
shall soon grow to be woman" said
Edith smartly. Then she suddenly
threw herself down by her sister and |
clasped her arms around her waist, tears
streaming from her shining eyes.