San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1893-10-14
JUST AS SHE WAS.
By WILLIAM PERRY BROWN.

rally rs a pig to puddle in the road
Burl himself, as he averred. was no
SLOUGH at turnin his partner III the most
approved western style. Having, how
ever, been on the floor for three COnSecu-
tive sets. he naturally felt rather dry
as he handed Arizony to a seat against
the wall after an extremely active reel,
during which the skirts and ankles OF
that attractive young bOomeress fairly
twinkled in the abandon of her light and
supple movements.
That dancing was keen enjoyment to
her was very evident Lieutenant Stir
ling, watching her from the doorway.
noticed that even during the pauses i'll
the set her feet and lithely swaying fig
ure still gently kept time to the swing Of
the music. Once when BuTl-revOlving
heavilv-veered somewhat out OF his
usual orbit. she turned herself with an
imaginary partner i'll the most bewitch-
ing manner
Il wish you wouldn't drink so often,
Burl." she Whispered as that fatigucd
giant announced his intentional absence
for about ?! minutes.
Better let me fetch You a small sized
stiffener." Swas that gentleman's inele-
CANT reply.
Not much yOu won't. I've had two
beers. and that's enough for any lady to
carry. But if you will go-touch 1t
light. old man. or wont dance another
set with you this night"
You make NE dizzy. child" returned
Yates. not much alarmed by this threat
AS he turned away he brushed square
~ against the lieutenant at the door. He
scOwled Mt the latter's shoulder straps.
apologized clumsily and disappeared.
Philip had been grumbling to himself
at the fate which had placed him in
charge of the score of troopers detailed
by the commandment to maintain order
at Lundy's upon this occasion. AriZOny.
the only girl he at all cared to talk TO,
had been so surrounded by big booted
and flannel shirted admirers as to move
him with disgust. Especially did he
dislike the air of dOmineeTing fOndnesS
with which Yates continued to monODO-
lie her hand and attention. Arizony's
choice of fellow was far from i'm
maCulate. yet what else but low tastes
were to be expected in a creature so
wild and unconventional? Her SIR
roundings were simply barbarous from
West Point standpoint.
Her methods of fascination smackedOi
the lawlessness and irregularity OF that
border life of which she was herself 50
perpleXing an outcome. Now. however
she was for a moment free Stirling
fancied just then that she looked wcaricd
and anxious She might even be some
what bored. though OF that he was NOT so
sure. He heSitated. now the opportuni-
ty had arrived. as to whether it was r..
ally worth while for him to doff his OH
cial reserve and speak to her. Then he
saw another numbering idiot crushing
mis- way toward the girl This decided
him of course. An instant later he was
before her. cap in hand for the moment
while the other man. with d snort of dis
gust. took himself elsewhere-probably
TO the Uar-fOr consolation.
Now, you'll want me to dance" said
ArizOny, holding up a cheap, famingred
paper fan in a cOquettiShly protesting
way, though her face had at once bright
ened; ''but-Id better not | think I'd
rather sniff little fresh air outside"
She rose and thrust her hand through
his arm as nonchalently as if he had al
ready offered it. and before he fairly re-
allied what he was doing they were slow
ly walking under the magnolias and Cy-
presses just beyond the frelight's broad
rrin1 ha ir,+ ~
refreshingly. a million stars peered
through the branches overhead, while
sounds of revelry growing riotous were
filtered by distance into an entertainins
murmur that mingled pleasingly with
nearer stamping of hoofs and crunching
of feed.
"Gou seem to be quite a belle" said
Philip at length, feeling that his cue was
TO maintain fatherly platonic and prop
er demeanOr toward this little untamed
beauty of the plains
Il don't know" she replied. Il sup
pose its because girls are scarce that
they notice one 50 much. Lo.l. , great
fun to see them crowding AMI pushi-~."
REALLY do you think 50: Now. when
saw those rude, hulking follows almost
fighting for the privilege of dancing with
you, felt quite disguised Why don't
you keep better company, Arizony:"
Better company" She seemed sur
prised. "Mebbe if they'd a had uniforms
on you'd have liked 'em better. But
then there's Burl-he's my fellow-he
wouldn't let them get too sassy with
me. He keeps his eye peeled when I'm
around. They're all afraid of BurI."
"Then Burl, suppose, is the gentle,
man who almost ran over me in hi;
eagerness to get away from you and into