San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-03-01

WIN be trouble; Cnere generaIIy ls al sucv
cases, butt
t'Mr. Ainsleighp' gasped Mowbray, al
most reeling from this second blow, but
butt
"Have / never spoken to you of Mr..
Ainsleigh, Robert?" she asked innocently.
"You are-you are not a widow, then"
ooh, dear, yes" she replied, laughing
softly. "Mr. Ainsleigh is my late hus.
bands elder brother, and acts as sort OF
guardian to me. He is very rich, and he
thinks he wants to marry me-"
And you-are going-to marry him"
asked Mowbray family.
81 cannot tell do not know. Oh,
Robertl why did you speak of this hateful
subject of marriage? don't want to think
of it. Twas so happy just to know that
you loved me. find it so pleasant to be
loved. Why must men begin to talk OF
marriage right away?"
Mowbray was sick at heart and miser-
able. He went away persuaded that his
happiness had been wrecked by a heart
less woman. He resolved never to see her
again. Two days later she had another
nervous attack and sent for him.
"Mr Ainsleigh is coming next week."
she said, "and we shall probably leave for
Bar Harbor soon afterward. Let us make
the most of our time, Robert; we may
never meet again, and we are too fond Of
each other to quarrel"
Poor Mowbray was to far gone to pro-
test; he was very unhappy, but he came to
see her every day.
Then Mr.. Ainsleigh arrived. He was
tall, silent man, of about fifty. He met
Robert pleasantly enough, and to the sur
prise of the young physician there was not
the least change in the relations between
himself and Mrs. Ainsleigh. They walked
and rode together as before, and Mowbray
was almost happy again. He felt as
though he might win Helen yet, when one
morning Mr.. Ainsleigh followed him from
the room and sent cold chill to his heart
by saying:
doctor, Mrs. Ainsleigh and leave for
Bar Harbor the day after tomorrow.
Will you do me the favor to send your bill
to the hotel in the morningS"
To refuse was impossible. What would
Mr.. Ainsleigh think of such an action from
q strangere Would it not arouse his sus-
picions and injure Helen! Yet how could
he take money from her-his beloved! Still
he was in great need of money, and if the
bill was presented and paid it would serve
him in good stead.
Mowbray went home and thought it all
over. The result was that he penned the
following document:
"Dr. Robert Mowbray presents his com
pliments to Mr.. Herbert Ainsleigh, and in
accordance with his desire, incloses bill for
services rendered Mrs. Ainsleigh:
To fifty-ive consultations at house, at IS. .$275
Medicines and sundries. Observation-Disclosures. 25
TOTAL ......................... ...$SU
"Her honor above everything" he said,
knitting his brows tragically. Then he
quietly sealed and dispatched the bill
The next afternoon she called at his
office. The first thing she did was to take
from her portemonnaie q roll Of crisp, fresh
bank notes, which she laid on the table.
They conversed for short time, without
very profound emotion, on their coming
separation. They wondered il they would
ever meet again, and prayed they might.
Then somewhat awkward silence fell be-
tween them. Mowbray was uncomfortably
conscious of the presence Of the bank notes
on the table before him. He tried to muir
muir in his deepest, softest voice something
particularly sad and loving, but the white
cipher on twenty dollar bill, with its deli
cately interlacing green lines, seemed to
stare at him like great hooking eye. He
glanced at Helen, and saw that she, too.
was looking at the money with signif-
cant expression. And suddenly he under
stood that she was thinking Of her milli-
ner's and dressmaker's bills
Then an idea occurred to him. He rose,
and taking the money counted out $3.50.
which he put in his vest pocket, then tax
ing the two hands of his inamorata he
kissed them passionately and slipped the
remaining bills in the opening of her glove,
pressing her fingers over them.
Dearest" he murmured, 1--WE must part;
my heart is well nigh broken at the
thought, but we will love each other while
we may, and that we may never forget the
happy hours we have passed together |
wish that we may each preserve a souvenir
which shall always recall them. Let us
divide this money and each purchase II
keepsake-a jewel, which will remain to us
forever mute testimonial of our vanished
happiness"
He had spoken with great feeling and
was himself deeply affected, hut Helen
rose calmly, deliberately drew out the
bank notes from her glove and returned
them to her portemonnaie.
And it was not until she had gone, with
out giving him last goodby kiss, that he
realized she was furious ut carrying away
only half the money.-trancis NJ. Living
ton in New Orleans Times Democrat.
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