San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-03-10

bOOly - do JuC tuOuhJdlllb, buO lOI dIu
the mighty solitude had been the setting
Of the tragedy of the outcast's life and
death.
1t was so far removed from all they
knew, from all to which they had been
accustomed, that they crowded around
him, plying him with questions. and
making much of him in their interest in
the things he told them. To their old
fashioned country simplicity he seemed
wonderful creature, man whose life
had been filled with the stir of large
events and the interest of strange hap
penings, and in their unworldliness they
envied him his experiences far more
than the success which was their prac-
tical result. A past so full of adventure,
of endurance, Of achievement. of life
appeared to the bucolic mind richer
treasure than mere gold.
Then, before Anthony could grow
inflated with his victory, and self as
sertive and arrogant, and SO spoil it all,
the tea bell rang and changed the cur
rent of thought and conversation.
what do You think of him, my
dear?" Mrs. Wilmer found occasion to
whisper to Mary Beverley as they seated
themselves around the table.
He is interesting and original" Mary
replied at once. HE is a very strong
man; and he doesn't CRATE uron me
as much as thought he would ut first"
He grated on her horribly before the
evening was over. When the company
reassembled in the parlor after tea, he
sought her side once more, attracted in
spite of himself and Of his already wan
ing resentment. A pretty young woman
with very sweet voice had gone to the
piano, and was playing softly. The rest
were gathered near, urging her to sing.
and combating her objections which
We're couched in graceful language, but
rested on solid foundation, since her
supper was still almost in her throat.
Mary leaned back in the corner of the
sofa, watching the flames curl around
the great oak logs, and wondering idly
whether her little boys were in bed, and
whether Miss Cornelia had remembered
to make them wash their hands and faces
and say their prayers properly before
going. She usually attended to these
things herself, for Ran was still too
young to cope with either religion or
soap unaided, and she was a careful
mother.
Anthony watched her from under his
eyelids: he had trick of dropping them
until pupil and iris were indistinguish-
able in color or expression.
Suddenly he bent forward and said the
thing he should not:
81 hope you don't bear me any grudge
for buying the old place, Mrs. Beverley.
know the old families hold on to their
land like death, even when it isn't doing
them cents worth of good and is bring
ing them dollars in debt every year.
know, too, that when you can't hold out
any longer and the land comes to the
hammer you think it's a devilish hard
case, and curse the fellow that buys it
for an interloping blackguard. and
would cruelty him II you could You
ought not to feel that way, you know; it
isn't common sense, or the way to push
things and help your section"
Mary, thus accused by implication Of
narrowmindedness and small, con-
temptible meanness. was naturally in
dignant. They had extended sufficient
courtesy to him, she thought, to have
exempted them from this indictment
Turning her dark eyes full upon him.
she replied, quietly and coldly;
"You do not understand us at all, Mr..
Anthony, if you imagine us 30 contempti-
bly, small as that. We love our lands,
of course, and it is keen distress to
have to part with them; but we are not
SO petty as to resent on an outsider what
is, after all, the result Of actions OF
faults of our own. If our lands come in
to the market, they are open to any and
every purchaser, and your opinion of US
must be poor indeed IL you think q
grudge against those becoming possessed
of them rankles in our breasts ever aft
erward."
Anthony felt snubbed, without know
ing exactly wherefore. In his conscious
ness Of their relative positions he had
seemed to himself to be putting in plea
against all possible hard Judgment. and
had rather despised himself for caring
how she felt about the matter. 1t
seemed natural that she should feel sore
about the land, and he had simply depre-
Gated the soreness and suggested that
any such feeling was unreasonable. For
the life of him he could see nothing Of
fensive in his remark, and yet she clearly
was offended. He thought that for q
woman of her age and intelligence she
was lacking in common sense.
On Mary the impression made was
deeper. She was annoyed by the tact
less bluntness of the speech and by the