San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-07-05

oh, what sly dog! he
exclaimed, holding the note aloft,
and removing his pipe from his mouth.
"What a sly dog it is! So you would
try to cut out Connt, would you, and
not give your aged relative, this bat
tered veteran, a hint of what you were
up to? No wonder you fought shy of
de Fooliers the other night at the club,
and would not join him in bottle of
wine, you rascal, writing billet doux
to his especial conquess and posting
them right under his ST. pid nose. No
need to introduce you newspaper fell
lows. You make an excuse that you
want to get onto their finery, soft soap
them, and then start a correspondence.
What sly dog it is" and the jolly
Colonel reached for his cane and
poked Paul in the ribs. 1t was a
sword-cane, and the Colonel unsheathed
it, and presented the note to Paul on
point, making him profound military
salute.
Paul was nonplused and nettled.
Where had the Colonel picked up what
he did know, and how much did he
know? The note was evidently from
the Lebourgeoises. The same frown-
ing lions extended their tails aloft on
it's seal, but the handwriting was an
others, probably the mothers. She
had seen the outside at least of his own
note, must have been acquainted with
it's contents, or else how did she hap.
20 oIIrasS him hn ran,,aStaAO
was probably a sharp rebuke and a
curt request that he should cease from
taking further familiarities with her
daughter
Paul met the Colonel's jolly laugh
with frown and blush. What the
devil are you giving me?" was his
cross rejoinder, and he thrust the
note into his pocket. ''Oh, read it,
man, read it, and smooth out that
angered visage," said the Colonel. ITS
an invitation to dinner, and demmed
good dinner, too, if all accounts are
true-a bid that half the swells in st.
Louis would promenade up Washington
avenue in last years trousers to get for
themselves. You needn't be afraid of
me nor of the note. know all there
is in it, and it's to your credit, be
CAD"
So Paul sat down and went through
it without more delay. 1t was a very
polite note requesting the pleasure of
Paurs company to dinner the next
evening at half-past o'clock. There
was an apology in it for the "misap-
prehenslon" under which the writer
and Mr. Terry had last met, and another
for asking him to come before his cousin,
Col White, had had a chance to bring
, MIN 20 call, engagements being SO
numerous all around. At the bottom
was postscript signed 81. L." 1t,
read: ''Of course you will not fail u.s.
If you are real polite and compliment
tary, perhaps you will get sight OF
that ball dress you are so much inter
ested in-and then you would score a
scoop, which slang, according to the
Colonel-don't tell him-is the correct
phrase
"Ill tell you who is to be there" said
the Colonel, as Paul glanced up after
reading his note. Mrs Lebourgeois
took me quite into her confidence about
you, the other evening. It'll be a
demmed snug little family party, and
demmed complimeL !ary, 6egad There's
you and myself, to begin right
Of course, and the Count, to epd
@rong-for you: Th"n, besides the
,Lebourgeois ladies, there IS their in.
innate friend, Jennie Hyde, as dear
little saint and flirt as this city of
much theology can boast. A right
bower for all tn larities and a firm
believer in predestination-in her pre-.
destination to take every man she meets
into camp. | sometimes think that .
am predestinated to save her from her
otherwise predestinated fate to marry
a sallow, archaeological, dyspeptic.
solemn, veritable preacher of predesti.
nation from a genuine Presbyterian
all probability a widower of
fifty, with ten predestinated children
to be pages and maids in the ceremony,
be CAD"
From your account that would not
be bad case of predestination," re.
torted Paul, as he sat down, borrowed
some paper, and wrote off a note of ac-
ceptance.
Paul had no trouble IN getting re-
Iieved of duty for Saturday evening.
Certainly, certainly" said Abe. And
Paul salved his conscience by thinking
hat he would see the Count, and have
another look at the mvStPriOus ring
Perhaps he should see the locket. too.