San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-01-16

ling! my Queenf'
at once too wen bred, and too self salts
fed for any idea of comparison to occur
to them. They would eat his fruit cake,
or make him welcome to their corn
bread with the same hearty unconcern
His wealth and their own poverty trou-
bled them equally little. They were alb
stract facts with which hospitality had
nothing to do. But in their way they
were proud; having given their best
without grudge or stint, they would ex-
pect his best in return, and the general
was determined that they should have
it. The risk of ofense lay in simplicity,
not grandeur.
Mrs. Royal Garnet came over to
Lanarth day or so before the grand
event, bearing her family in her train,
to assist in the weic hty matter of suit
able toilet for Pocahontas She was a
tall, handsome woman, with a noble
bearing and great decision of character,
and on most matters-notably those per-
tanning to the sacred mysteries of the
wardrobe, her word with her family was
law SiuSC tdolC w do sbuiiilbUCo w NC
perfect.
After an exhaustive discussion of the
subject, at which both Berke and Royal
ignorantly and gratuitously assisted and
were fouted for their pains, it was irrev-
ocably decided that Pocahontas should
appear in pure white unrelieved by a
single dash of color.
"She looks cheap and common in any
thing but dead black or pure white at a
party" pronounced Grace with SIS
terly frankness, and of course that set
tied the matter, although Mrs. Mason
did venture on the modest protest that it
would look ''bridelike and unusual"
81 want her to look unusual" declared
Grace; "to make her SO is at present the
object of my being. shall hesitate at
nothing short of cutting off her nose to
secure that desirable result. To be ad-
mired woman must stand out dis
tinctly from the throng, and I've set my
heart on Princess being the belle of the
ball. Have you plenty Of flow ers, dearf
AS flowers are TO be your sole garniture,
you must have profusion. can't toll
crate skinny, publishing bouquets"
None at all, Grace" confessed Poca-
hontas ruefully, "except single Gala
cut my last white rosebuds and camel
las to send to Nina Byrd Marion the
very day before heard about the Shir-
ley ball. Isn't it provoking?"
Then somebody must get you some"
Grace responded promptly, pausing in
her preparations and regarding her sis
ter with the air of an autocrat. "If the
men are not lost to all sense of honor
and decency you'll have plenty. OF
course you must have plenty. If only
they will have sufficient intellect to Sc
lect white ones! But they won't. I'd
better instruct Roy and Berkeley at
once"
On the morning of the ball Berkeley
entered his mothers room, where the
three ladies sat in solemn conclave re-
garding with discomfort a waiter full of
colored flowers which a thoughtful
neighbor had just sent over to Poca-
hontas. He held in his hand a good
sized box which he deposited in his sis
ter's lap with the remark:
Look, Princess! Here's New Years
gift just come for you. don't know
the writing. wonder what it isl"
"A subtle aroma suggests-fruit,"
hazarded Grace, shifting curiCusly.
Perhaps flowers" suggested Mrs.
Mason, who that morning was woman
with one idea.
Pocahontas wrestled with the cords,
unfolded the wrappers and lifted the
cover. Then she uttered long drawn
''Oh' of satisfaction. ~
what is it, demanded the others
with lively impotence.
Pocahontas lifted card and turned it
in her hand, and a smile broke over her
face as she answered, Flowers; from
Jim Byrd"
Then she removed the damp moss and
cotton and lifted spray after spray of
beautiful snowy jasmine-Cape jasmine,
pure and powerful, and starry wreaths
Of the more delicate Catalonian. Only
white fowers-all jasmine, Jim's favorite
flower; and with them were tropical
ferns and grasses. As she held the ex-
uuisite blossoms in her hands and in
hailed their rich perfume the girl was
conscious that when her old friend
penned the order for the fragrant gift
his heart had been full of home, and of
the evening beside the river when she
had worn his flowers in hair and dress
and had hidden him farewell.
How beautiful they are!" exclaimed
Grace excitedly. land just in time for
tonight. To think of the way I've made
that wretched husband of mine charge
through the country since daybreak this
morning in pursuit of white flowers, and