San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1893-08-05

say no. The obligation under which you
placed me will none the less exist, and
and shall always keep the little purse
always-in remembrance of that night
and you"
Fortune has evidently favored you
SINCE" she said after pause.
Eyes, fortune has indeed favored me.
Miss Ferris, your gift was like the en-
chanted purses in the children's fairy
tales-bottomless. 1t enabled me to reach
the Transvaal goldfelds. worked hard
there; / saved a little; by and by l specu-
lated much. Sometimes people grow
rich there in a month-a week. was
one of them. Whatever touched seemed
to turn to gold; whatever did was right.
Money came to Inc in thousands-tens of
Observation-Disclosures even. On the day
/ sailed from Cape Town, three weeks
ago, / was one of the richest men in South
Africa, and if it had not been for you
should be lying in a suicides grave"
Something glistened on her lashes She
dropped her eyes and toyed with the
feathers of her fan.
81 am glad, so very glad, you have
succeeded"
His gaze fingered on the subtle outline
of her figure, the curve of her full white
throat and cheek, the brown hair with
the threads of gold which waved and
curved about her brow and neck.
"And you''-his voice sank lower still
--"you have not married."
mo, as you see But it is probable
that / shall lose my freedom soon."
docs that mean you are engagedF'
at means that Lord Hythe proposed
to me by letter this morning, and that
am to give him his answer tonight"
"And is it to be 'yesY"
She laughed little.
do you know that is a very strange
question to put on so short an acquaint-
ance and that our conversation is be-
coming unusual in the extreme? Mr..
Landeck, you seem to forget that we
were introduced only half an hour ago."
"You were present at the most solemn
moment of my existence. Let me lit
tie behind the scenes of your own life"
he urged.
She hesitated and cast rapid glance
at him. Her lips, quivering as with
some hidden emotion, strove to smile.
1--WE seem fated to have strange conf
dences, you and l." she said and laughed
uncertainty. ''If you are very curious
to know, it is yes l shall accept him."
Perhaps it was only fancy or the flick
ering of the lamps, but it seemed as
though sudden spasm crossed his face,
born of disappointment or of pain.
"You care for him of coursew
An uncomfortable impulse moved the
woman to dash aside the barrier of con-
ventionality and give expression to what
she felt. She raised her eyes to his. They
met, and the anguish in them touched
him to the heart. She shook her head
merely, then turned her face away.
Then tell me why you are going to
marry him."
Because he is rich, and my fathers
property is mortgaged. may as well
tell you the reason; everybody will
know"
"You intend to sacrifice yourself for
your family's sake"
Sacrifice! What an ugly way of put
IlnS IL! all SOiIS W Ludhe d uldIIldSo
of convenience Other women are do
ing the same thing every day"
There was silence, save for the drip
ping of the water among the ferns and
grasses in the rockery and the subdued
sound of distant music.
They were alone.
In the dim, religious light of the richly
colored lamps the man was blind to all
but the white clad form against the mass
of foliage. The heavy perfume of the
exotics seemed to rise and stife him; the
woman's beauty intoxicated his senses;
the consciousness of her presence thrilled
his very soul.
He leaned over her and touched her
gently on the arm.
Sylvia, we are scarcely more than
strangers, You and l. Perhaps you'll tell
me am mad. But love you-heaven
knows love you. believe loved you
then. Sylvia, will you-oh, for PHYS
sake take me instead of himl"
"a most romantic affair."" said the So
ciety papers when they were married.
'"He proposed to hel the first time they
,,,nk l.