San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1893-03-10

Dig TEXT:
LADY JANE BROTHERTOFT. OF BROTH
ERTOFT HALL.
Then, with a conscious, defiant look, she
carried her prophetic autograph to the
fire and watched it burn.
Over the fireplace was a mirror, dis
tricted into three parts by gilded null
lions. Above was perched gilt eagle.
a very rampant highhier indeed. Two
wreaths of onions, in the disguise of
pomegranates. We're festooned from his
beak and hung in allnring masses on
either side of the frame. Quite a reg!-
ment of plump little cherubs, clad in
gliding tight as it could fit, chung in the
wreaths and shifted at their fragrance.
Jane looked up and saw herself in the
mirror A blush deepened her some
what carnal carnations. Every cherub
seemed to be laughing significantly.
She made face at the merry imps. AS
she did so she caught sight of the rehec
ton of her fathers portrait, also regard
ing her. He was such father as a
child would have been quite justified in
disowning and utterly cutting if
stranger had asked, who is that hOrrid
person with the red face, the coarse
jowl, the permanent leer and cruel
lOOk?" An artist, cunning in red for the
face and white for the ruffies. had made
this parsonage more butcherly even than
nature intended.
Jane Billop marched up to the portrait
and turned it with its face toward the
wall
He needn't look at me and tell me l
am counting Mr.. Edwin BrothertOft,"
she said to herself. Il know am and
mean to have him. He is lovely; but /
almost hate him. He makes me feel ig-
norant and coarse and mean. l don't
want to be the kind of woman he has
been talking to with that deferential ad-
dress. But suppose this elegant man.
ner is all put on, and he is really just
like other people. He seems to be pretty,
confident of carrying the world before
him. We shall be the great people of
the province Here comes the distin-
guished Sir Edward Brothertoft and
Lady Jane, his magnificent wife! Peo-
pie shall not pretend to look down upon
Inc any more because my father knew
how to make money when fools threw it
away. I've gotta manor, too, Miss Mary
Phillipse, and I'm handsomer than you
and not almost an old maid. That little
chit of a Mayor Cruger's daughter had
better not try to patronize Inc again, nor
Julia Peartree Smith turn up her poor
pug nose. They'll all want invitations
TO Mrs. BrOthertOfts ball on going out
of mourning. How they will envy me
my Edwin! What a beautiful bow he
makes! What beautiful voice he has!
June is lovely month for wedding"
There is never joy in Wall street now
such as filled the heart of Edwin Broth
ertOft on that morning of bygone cen
fury. The Billops of our time live a
league up town, and plot on Murray
hill for lovers of good family. 4 \
At the corner Edwin's heart began to
speak to him with sentiments and style
quite different from the lady's.
How she startled me with her bril-
liant beauty! How kind it was to think
of my valuing the portrait! How gener-
Ously and how delicately she offered it,
And had done her the injustice of a
prejudice! That wrong | will redress
by thinking Of her henceforth all the
more highly and tenderly.
Poor child! lonely orphan like my
self. She showed in all our interview
how much she yearned for friendship.
Mine she shall have. My love? yes, yes,
my love! But that must stay within
my secret heart, and never find voice
until have fully assured my future.
And this warm consciousness of a
growing true love shall keep me strong
and pure and brave. Thank God
and her for this beautiful influence!
With all the kindness | have met. was
still lonely, still responding. Now l
am jubilant; everything is my friend
and my comrade. Yes; ring out, gay
bells of Trinity! What is it you are
ringingSSA marriage? All, happy hus-
band! happy bride! too am of the
brotherhood of love. Ring. merry bells!
Your songs shall be of blissful omen to
my heart"
PART ONE--CHAPTER V.
Such soliloquies as those of the last
chapter presently led to dialogue Of the
same character.
The lady continued to scribble that
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