San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-12-21

1
| gether here, and | thought how nice it
would be for both your young ladies to
| make each others acquaintance: but
didn't tell him anything. meant it for
a surprised"
| And she hustled ont to receive ner
| guests, leaving Leander speechless.
What If the newcomers were to make
some incautiOus reference TO that pleas
ure party on Saturday week? Could he
| drop them a warning hint?
Don't You like tins lir. Jauncy, Lean
der?" whispered Matilda. who had OBJ
served his CHASTITY expression.
| ~ like him wcN rnou@h," he re-
| turned. with an effort; but I'd rather
, we had ~ tNirh DHr-j'S. J must saw"
| Here Mr.. Jauncy came in alone, Miss
Tweddle having retired to assist the
| lady to take off her bonnet.
| Leander went to meet him. "JameS, !"
! he said in an agitated whisper, "have
| you brought Bella2"
Jauncy nodded. awe were talking of
| you as we came along" he said in the
same tone, land / advise you to look
| out-she's got her quilts up, old chap"
"What abOut?" murmurrd Leander.
Mr.. Jauncy's grin was wider and
! more appreciative than ever as he re-
| piled mysteriously. "Rosnerwich!"
Leander would have liked to ask in
| what respect Miss Parkinson considered
| herself injured by the expedition to
Rosherwich; but, before he could do so
his aunt returned with the young lady
in question.
Bella was gorgeously dressed, and
made her entrance with the stiffest pos
sible dignity. miss Parkinson, my
| DEAR" said her hostess, "you mustn't be
made a stranger of. That lady sitting
there on the sofa is Mrs. Collum, and
this gentleman is friend of your gen.
tleman's and my nephew, Leandy."
"Oh, thank you," said Bella, "but I've
no occasion to be told Mr.. Tweddle's
| name; we have met before-haven't we,
Mr.. Tweddle?"
He looked at her, and saw her brows
clouded and her nose and mouth with a
| pinched look about them. She was an
noyed with him evidently-but why?
ave have, was all he could reply.
"Why, how nice that is, to be sure!"
exclaimed his aunt. II might have
| thought of it, too, Mr.. Jauncy, and
you being such friends and all. And
p'raps you know this lady, too-Miss
Columns Leandy is keeping company
along WITH"
BeIla's expression changed to some
thing blacker still. NO." she said, fix
ing her eyes on the still unconscious
Leander. II made sure that Mr.. Twed-
die was counting a young lady, but
but-well, this is surprise, Mr.. lived
die! You never told us of this when
last we met. / shall have news for
somebody"
ooh, but it's only been arranged with
in the last month oc two!" said Miss
Tweddle.
Considering we met so lately he
might have done us the compliment of
mentioning it, l must say" said Bella.
q thought you knew" stammered
the hairdresser. II told"
mo, you didn't, excuse me; oh, no,
you didn't, or some things would have
happened differently! 1t was the place
and all that made you forget it, very
likely"
when did you meet one another, and
where was it, Miss Parkinson" inquired
Matilda, rather to include herself in the
conversation than from any devouring
curiosity.
Leander struck in hoarsely. awe
met" he explained, "some time since,
quite casual"
Bella's eyes lit up with triumphant
malice. What" she said, "do you
call yesterday week such long while?
What compliment that is, though!
| And so he's not even mentioned it to
you, Miss COllum? Dear me, / wonder
what reasons he had for that, now!"
"There's nothing to wonder at" said
Leander; my memory does play me
| tricks of that sort"
"Ah! if it was only you it played
| tricks on! There's Miss Collum dying
to know what it's all about, can see!"
Indeed, Miss Parkinson, I'm nothing
| of the Sort" retorted Matilda proudly.
| Privately her reflection was: "She's got
| a lovely gown on, but she's a common
| girl, for all that; and she's trying to set
| me against Leander for some reason,
and she sha'n't do it,"
"Well, said Bella, you're fortunate
man, Mr.. Tweddle, that you are, in
every way. I'm afraid l shouldn't be
so easy with my James.
| "There's no need for being afraid
about it," her James put in; "you
aren't"
81 hope / haven't as much cause,
though, he retorted.
Leander listened to her malicious in
nuendo with bewildered agony. Why
on earth was she making this dead set
at him? She was amiable enough on
Saturday week. 1t never occurred tc
I her that his conduct to her sister could
account. for it, for had he not told Ada
straightforwardly how he was stu.
| ated?
Fortunately dinner was announced to
be ready just then, and Bella was
silenced for the moment in the general
movement to the next room.
Leander took in Matilda's mamma,
who had been studiously abstracting
herself from all surrounding objects for