San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-01-26


Roadway; that while Berkeley listened
he did not assent; that he put down her
efforts, mainly, to personal attachment
to her cousin, and was therefore inclined
to rule out hes testimony. She needed
help, pressure must be brought to bear
which had no connection with Thorne;
some one from the old life must speak,
some one who shared the prejudices and
was big enough and generous enough to
set them aside and judge of the affair
from an unbiased, impersonal standpoint.
When this idea presented itself, her
mind turned instantly to Jim. Here was
man from the old life, man reared as
they had been reared, a man in no way
connected with Thorne. Jim could help
her, if he would, and somehow Blanche
felt assured that he would.
Jim had discovered their presence in
the hotel very speedily and had joined
the party, glad with an earnest gladness
to see his old friends again; glad also to
meet these new friends who had become
associated with the old ones. Blanche
had been attracted by him as women,
children and dumb animals always were
attracted by him; he was strong, and yet
very gentle.l
She determined to speak to him, to
make him understand the position, and
to entreat him to exert his influence with
Berkeley, and through Berkeley with Po-
cahontas, to set this matter straight She
did not know that she was about to do
cruel thing; was about to stretch soul
on the rack and turn the screws. That
fine reserve which infolded the Masons
like veil precluded gossiping about
themselves or their affairs. Blanche had
never heard of Jim as the lover of Poca-
hontas-or if she had, it had been in an
outside, intangible way that had made
no impression on her.
Possessed by her idea and intent on
securing an opportunity for uninterrupt-
ed conversation, she asked Jim to take
walk with her. She had some calls to
make, she said, and they would walk
through the park. At this season the
park was very beautiful and she should
like to show it to him; New Workers.
were very proud of it. Blanche knew
that she was doing an unconventional
thing; but she had observed, rather Won
deringly, the frank helpfulness with
which southerners would identify them
selves with one another's affairs, and she
felt sure that in speaking to Jim she ran
little risk of rebuff. Jim had known the
Masons always, was of their blood; to
put his shoulder to their wheel would
seem to him the right and natural thing
to do. Therefore Blanche made her re-
quest with confidence and Jim, who had
never in his life questioned woman's
right to his time and attention, went
with her willingly.
They sauntered about for time and
Jim admired all the beauties that were
pointed out to him, and showing his
country training by pointing out in his
turn subtler beauties which escaped her;
the delicate shading of bark and leaf
bud, the blending of the colors of the
soil, the way the shadows fell, the thou
sand and one things an artist or man
reared in the woods and fields is quick
to see if he has eyes in his head. He
pointed out to her nest pair of birds
were building, and called her attention
to a tiny squirrel, with plumelike tail,
jumping about among the branches over
head. He told her stories of the tropics,
too, and of the strange, picturesque life
in the land of the MonteZumas, and made
himself pleasant in a CHEEKY, companion
able way that was very winning. He
was pleased with Blanche, and thought
that his old friend had done well for
himself in securing the love of the sweet
faced maiden at his side. He liked talk
ing to her, and walking beside her in the
sunshine; he decided that "Berke was a
deuced lucky fellow, and had fallen on
his feet" and he was glad of it. -
After awhile they turned into an I'M
frequented walk and Blanche seized her
opportunity. She made Jim sit down
on bench under an old elm tree and
seated herself beside him. Then, insen-
sibly and deftly, she turned the talk to
Virginia She spoke of his old home,
and praised its beauty, and told him
how love for 1t had grown up in her
heart, although she was stranger; she
spoke of the cordial, friendly people,
and of the kindness they had extended
to her family; of Warner, his illness,
death and burial beside poor Temple
Mason. Then she glided on to Poca-
hontas, and spoke of her friend with en-
thusiasm, almost with reverence; then,
seeing that his interest was aroused, she
told him as simply and concisely as she
could the story of her cousins love for
Pocahontas and the position in which
the affair now stood.