San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-01-14

/
in with the proposal at once; it made
little difference, since he was coming for
the shooting anyway. II Norma had
another theory in regard to his unwill-
ingness to be separated from them, she
was careful to keep it hidden "a oaF a
The country gentry, led and influ-
enced by the Masons, extended the right
hand of fellowship to the newcomers
| and wrapped the folds of the social
blanket cordially around them. The
| worldly affairs of the Virginians, like
| their surroundings, were in more or
less perceptible state of dilapidation, and
their means frequently failed to match
their hospitality. But their intentions
were the best, and the Smiths (well
bred people, neither arrogant nor purse
proud) speedily became reconciled to
infornality and lack Of system. and
| learned to overlook deficiencies or to
piece them out with kindness.
From the first they We're thrown much
! into the society of the Lanarth family,
4 for the Masons at once assumed right of
property in them, being bent with simple
loyalty on defraying some portion of their
| debt of gratitude. When their loved one
was "sick and in prison" these strangers
had extended to him kindness, and, now
that opportunity offered, that kindness
should be returned, full measure, presse
down and running over. For the general.
Pocahontas conceived positive enthusi-
asm, a feeling which the jolly old soldies
was not slow in discovering nor back
ward in reciprocating; the pair were the
best of friends,
Ever since the finding Of the letter the
girls mind had been filled with the story
| of the brother whom she scarcely re-
membered With tender imagination
she exaggerated his youth, his courage,
his hardships and glorifed him into a
hero. Everything connected with him
! appeared pitiful and sacred; his saber
| hung above the mantel, crossed with his
fathers, and she took it down one morn
] ing and half drew the dulled blade from
| the scabbard. The brass of the hilt and
| the trimmings of the belt and scabbard
were furnished, and even corroded in
places. She got a cloth and FURNISHED
them until they shone like gold. When
/ she replaced it the contrast with the other
| sword hurt her, and rush of remorseful
| tenderness made her take that down also
| and burnish it carefully. Poor father! al
| most as unknown as the young brother,
| she was grieved that he should have been
the second thought.
She was restoring her fathers sword
| to its place and rearranging the Grim
| son sash, faded and streaked in its fulds
from wear and time, when Norma and
Blanche arrived, escorted by Nesbit
| Thorne. Little Sawney had been sitting
on the hearth rug watching her polish
the arms and offering suggestions, and
Pocahontas dispatched him to invite her
guests into the parlor, while she ran up
stairs to remove the traces of her work
The young people from Shirley often
walked over in the afternoon; the way
was short and pleasant, and the brother
and sister usually accompanied them
part of the way home. ...,r tr9....
Thorne was fond of these informal
creased; the chord, instead of merely
vibrating, was beginning to give ou:
faint. sweet notes, like a far off dream
| of music, Just stirring toward embodi-
ment. He took keen, artistic pleasure
in her, she satisfied him, and at first he
was almost shy of pressing the acquaint-
| ance lest she should fail somewhere. He
had been disappointed 80 many times,
had had so many exquisite bubbles float
L loco 81, ,,,l
leave only dirty soapsuds He let him
self be interested slowly, drawing out
the pleasure and getting its full flavor.
! Then. when he found that it was true
| metal and might be worked at will with
out fear of baseness or alloy, he gave
himself up to the pleasure OF it. Then,
his instinct being always to draw to
himself what he desired, he strove to
| awaken an interest in her. He was
man of unusually brilliant attainments
and he spared no pains.
| He began to seek her society, and,
| when in it, to exert himself and appear
always at his best, trying to fascinate
| her as she was, unconSciously, beginning
| to fascinate him He would entrap her
into ventilating her old fashioned ideas
and prejudices; her primitive notions of
life and conduct Her straightforward
ness, simplicity, absolute truthfulness
| struck him as quaint and delicious; even
her romance and almost German senti-
ment were attractive to him. He felt
| like scientist who discovers old truths
in an absolutely new development. Ear
ly in their acquaintance he discovered
her fonGness for old legends and her
perfect acceptance of and faith in them;
l and IL xras his dalic,ht To hen11ila her into