San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-03-04
A MODERN PORTlA,
A Tragic Method Adopted by a Romonti,

q uOIfAt ny ~ ENOHlitHI1C
Young Woman to Answer a Lover.
The scene was set in adrawing room in
West BrOmptnn, and a strange idea came
into her mind. She was romantic, and all
kinds of strange ideas fitted in and out OF
her pretty little silly head.
Stamping as hard as she could an ele.
CANT patent leather boot on the carpet;
throwing back her shoulders, her dress
frightened over her bosom, which was heav-
ing like the Mediterranean, and pointingtt
the japanese cabinet in the corner of the
room with a commanding gesture, she said
in the peremptory tone of one who will not
brook contradiction, whom nothing can
turn from a set purpose:
"Open one of those three drawers"
The young man precipitated himself to
ward the japanese cabinet.
Don't be in such a hurry, pray. First
hear what I have to say"
He stopped suddenly, as if she had told
him that the drawers were charged with
dynamite, ready to explode as soon as the
cabinet was touched.
"Open one of those drawers, and be care
full how you choose, for in each one l nave
placed an answer to the favor you have
been praying for so long. I have made up
my mind to let this speak for me, and if
you put your hand on the paper on which
Yes is written then | must yield to you.
Then l am yours. But if the paper in the
drawer says No. you understand, No
it must be-"
II am sure it will be against me-" said
her B~assanio, who was not so poetical as
he was an ardent lover. "Oh, l say, it is
not fair. you know; it's really too cruel of
you, 'pon my soul it is"
"You must take your chance" she re
piled tragically. "At any rate, l shall have
this consolation, if you choose the answer
you want, it will be fate that gives me to
you. Tell me, do you believe in fate?"
81 don't know" he answered, hesitating
between the three drawers. He paused
every now and then to look into her face
for guidance, but he found none there; Sc
closing his eyes and trusting to providence
he elected for the middle drawer. He
opened it, took out a tiny roll of scented
pink paper and handed it to her.
"Well, what's my sentence?"
"Read it yourself, and she held up the
rose leaf of paper upon which was written
one word-Yes.
So she was his. His, his, his! As if to
take immediate possession he put his arms
about her and pressed her to him. She did,
not resist. She had given her word and
she resigned herself to her fate. With heI
lips clinging to his the young man was not
entirely happy, for after a few moments OF
supreme ecstasy, he became suddenly cool.
whats the matter, darling?" she asked,
poting the change and looking amorously
into his eyes. "Are you not happy now?"-
Not quite"
mot quite. Am | not yours?"
'Yes, but l owe you, don't you see, to
chance. | won you by chance. You did
not come to me of your own free will, did
you now?" and the poor fellow looked Sc
ridiculously disconsolate that she could
not help laughing in his face.
Don't be SO silly" she said, Tightening
her arms about his neck and standing on
the tips q her toes to reach his lips, for he
held his head high in the air; "you needn't
look so glum, for if | must tell you, you
old darling, | put the same answer in ev.
cry one of the drawersI'-London Tit-Bits.