San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-01-18
marred the future. And for the bond
that held himself, Thorue had forgotten

tudt uclu IluuScll, luOTuo udu IOTSOIteu
all about it. In his passion and excite
ment it was thing without existence.
Later in the evening there came q
CLEAN of brightness for little Blanche; a
blissful hour which Unidentified her for
the boredom so unfinchingly endured.
AS Norma only did what pleased her,
most of the drudgery of entertaining fell
upon Blanche, whose grievous portion it
was to attend to the comfort of dow
ayers; to find partners for luckless dam
sells unable to find them for themselves,
and to encourage and bring out bashful
youths. AS the latter considered that
the true expression of their gratitude lay
in devoting themselves exclusively and
eternally to their pretty little pre-
ceptress, Blanche had lately come to
hold this part of her duty wearisome
affection.
She was seated ON tiny sofa sur
rounded by band of uneasy and enam-
ored youths ranging in age from six
teen to twenty when Mason caught
sight of her pretty, fatigued but reso-
lutely courteous face, and came instant
ly to her rescue. He was very fond of
Blanche, and leased and petted her with
almost cousinly freedom. He felt him
self middle aged man beside her, and
admired her sweet face and gentle I'M
selishness as unreservedly as he would
have done those of child. Moving her
draperies aside with kindly if uncere-
monious hand, he ensconced himself be-
side her right willingly and devoted his
best energies to her amusement and that
Of her small court; lifted the burden of
their entertainment from her shoulders
with ready tact, and walked the boys up
vigorously, causing them to enjoy them
selves and forget that they were young
and lonesome and foolish. Kind, thought
full Berkeley! No wonder the silly little
heart beside him futtered joyously, and
the shy blue eyes were raised to his
grave, handsome face with full measure
of content.
And so the hours sped, golden footed,
silver footed; and the pipers piped, and
the men and maidens danced and the
elders gossiped, drank champagne and
reveled in the fleshpots, yawning sur
reptitiously behind fans and handker-
chiefs as the evening waned.
Pocahontas, reused from dream of
enjoyment by Roy's mandate, sped light
ly up stairs to the dressing room and ar
rayed herself hastily in her mufflings.
At the stairway Thorne joined her, and
as her foot touched the lowest step he
took her unresisting hand and raised it
to his lips, murmuring softly, ga happy
New Year to you-my darling! my
queenr'
Then good night to host and hostess, a
swift, impulsive kiss to Blanche, and
Berkeley put her into the carriage; Roy
frightened the reins and they drove rap
idly away in the chill gray of the Janu-
airy dawn. The ball was over; the new
year begun.
Thorne, standing by the steps watch
ing the receding carriage noticed the
bouquet of half faded jasmine blossoms
which had slipped unheeded from the
girls hand and lay neglected and forgot
ten on the frozen ground. The impulse
came to him to raise them tenderly be-
cause her hands had touched them, and
then the thought of who had given them
arose and struck down the impulse. He
set his heel upon them.
For him also the new year had begun.