San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-03-17

KNOWING tUdI no WOulU ucNcI SlduS oh
her in any way, or jar or make dis
cord. He understood at once a sugges-
ton, a word, almost thought, and was
instantly responsive.
What impression she made on Stewart
shall be given in his own words to his
friend as they took their way home to-
gether in the moonlight after the first
visit
What do you think of herr" Anthony
asked, lowering his lids and speaking
calmly.
That she's altogether the most charm
ing woman have met for many years"
replied Dan heartily. "She's intelli-
gent, cultivated, sympathetic and has
the loveliest manners | have ever seen.
II she is fair sample of an r. F. ".
and not noble exception, l doff my hat
and say, God grant that the race never
becomes extinct. Ned, is she little
Mary? thought you said Mrs. Bever-
ley"
A shade crossed Anthony's face, fol
he regretted the old dream still. "Lit-
tie Mary lies there" he said, pointing
toward the dark cedars standing cleal
and black against tine moonlit sky.
"You heard me right. That is Hector's
widow"
Dan laid his hand quickly on his
friends broad shoulder. Such demon.
STATIONS We're habitual with him, and
never seemed ELUSIVE or womanish. He
was sorry for the sad ending of sweet,
romantic dream, grieved for the pain
Anthony must have felt in its dissolu'
ton, yet even now in his heart there
was satisfaction in the knowledge that
the lady from whom they had just part.
ed was in no way connected with that
dream, and was simply "Hector's
widow"
He threw himself into the project OF
the new house with enthusiasm, critic,
ally examined the site proposed, took
in all its capabilities and even its posi-
bilities and set himself to work at once
on plans and estimates.
He saw good deal of Mrs. Beverley
and fell quite naturally into Anthony's
way of frequenting her house. They
would take their plans over in the even
ings and spread them out on her parlor
table and discuss them and argue over
them, for Anthony had good many no
tons which he was disposed to set up in
opposition to his friends views. When
differences of opinion arose both men
would appeal to her and Mary, unless
the case involved fragrant breach of
taste, always decided in Anthonys ia
vor because she liked him the less and
wished to balance matters.
When she was forced to dissent from
him she would do so very gently, ex-
planning her grounds of difference
courteously and making quite sure that
he understood her. With Dan she took
no such pains, contradicting him often
for the mere pleasure of matching her
wit with his, and provoking merry argu-
ments in which she held her own with
skill and had trouble enough in securing
a victory to enjoy it. Even when, as
sometimes happened, defeat became her
portion, she enjoyed that too, for her ad-
versary's mode of triumph never grated
on her, and his society was stimulus
and pleasure.
In their merry talks and wrangles
Anthony took keen interest in his way,
listening and applauding loudly when it
seemed to him that Mrs. Beverley had
scored point. 1t did not occur to him
to be jealous He was always present
at their interviews, and could see their
growing friendliness, but attached no
importance to it. He had come to re-
gard Mrs. Beverley as in some sort a pos
session of his own, and being IMMERSED
in women was confident that she liked
him the better because she showed him
the more consideration. Who was so
fit to marry her as he? Who could af-
ford her so many indulgences, and give
her her own way in all her whims,
and everything she wanted? Not Dan,
certainly, for Dan was poor.
The week after Miss Cornelia's tenn
pestuous retreat, two young cousins of
Hector Beverley's arrived from Rich
mond at the old homestead, with big
Saratoga trunks and the announcement
that they had come to pay good long
visit.
when the word went round that
Aunt Neelie had invested Richmond, a
perfect panic seized us" quoth Ella
Henderson, the younger of the two
girls. Father beat his breast and tore
his beard all the way down to his office
and wept copiously when he got there.
| have it from the best authority, for
Charlie Warwick was in to see him in
the course of. the morning and says that
the dear old gentleman was SO unnerved
that he couldn't attend to business
Mother is, unfortunately, Aunt Neelie's
fayorite sister, so we are to have the