San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1893-05-27
PLAYING WITH FIRE.


roaming over the beach or ensconced in
coy, sheltered spots. Women, rosy pink
with the heat, were leisurely crocheting
and gosSiping, emphasizing their remarks
with the movement of the white ivory
needles. Bright eyed men, their smiling
listeners, idly traced hieroglyphics on
the sand. Happy children, watched over
by white capped nurses, made mud pies
to their hearts content.
Over one small group of loungers pre-
sided a young woman, whose pensively
graceful, delicate featured face was one
of rare sweetness. Her hair was blond.
her mouth fresh as a child's while in her
black eyes Quivered lights and shadows
as on placid lake. y crowd of young
men were gathered about her, each one
anxious to claim part Of her attention
by some trivial little speech. Now and
then she would quietly drop word and
every one stopped talking to hear and APP
plaud her
Marguerite Helm was a Norwegian.
She had married for love a countryman
Of hers, painter, but he had died soon
she had resolved to make it her means of
support. Going to Paris, she had shut
herself up for year with her grief and
her musical studies. Her stay at Luc-
sur-Mer was the first dissipation of her
widowhood
just now the conversation had turned
on a foreigners difficulty in using French
idioms All her admirers seized the op-
porrunity to compliment her on her pro
fc!ence in the language
"GcGtiemen." she said suddenly. ''yOu
shall each tell me which word in all
your language You prefer"
After a moments hesitation the con-
test began. To the men it was pretext
for new gallantries.
"N0rguerite," sighed one.
Norway" murmured another.
Love-" suddenly exclaimed a boys
undeveloped voice-a voice just under
going change.
The word was so impulsively uttered
that everybody started. Marguerite her
self bent forward to see the speaker. 1t
was Jacques Lespar, a mere boy of al
most girlish beauty. HIS white fore
head, his straight nose, with its sensitive
nostrils, his slender. refined hands-ali
betokened good blood. His penetrating
eyes fixed themselves upon tho&, of Nine
Helm. Hers were filled with a sweet
indulgent curiosity.
well, there really are no more chill.
dren. Make way for the young" We're
the remarks heard from the men.
Happily the dinner hour was near, and
the group dispersed. Jacques and Nine
Helm remained together. They both
felt little embarrassed at being alone.
and neither knew what to say. Finally
they began to talk of the weather, OF the
superb days and warm evenings. Then
the boy escorted Marguerite to her hotel
and went home.
Ever since the beginning of the season
lie had silently admired Nine. Helm. A
subtle fascination irresiStiDly attracted
him to her When she took her lnornin"
stroll, he instinctively walked behind
her, like dog following his master
When she sat down on the beach amid
her admirers, he furtively Slipped in
among them, envying, with all the
strength of his ingenious youth, the
young men who could laugh with her or
the old gentleman who called her Dear
cbtd." How often he had tried tospeak
to her! But the great sadness rising in
his heart at his utter insignifiCance would
choke the words in his throat.
An orphan from his cradle, he was en-
tirely alone i'll the world. A distant rel
ative had become his guardian and di-
rected his education. He grudgingly
managed Jacques finances and bestowed
only scant affection upon his ward.
The boys generous nature was starved
in this atmosphere of indifference. and
he at once loved Marguerite with all the
energy of long suppressed feeling. 1t
was his first passion, and like rich
spendthrift he laid at her feet all the
treasures Of his heart. AS to being paid
in return, he never dared think of that.
He would have been satisfied if, like
priest at Gods altar, he might be al
lowed to worship Marguerite all his life.
After that August afternoon Jacques
and Nine. Helm were frequently to-
gether. They talked over their plans,
and being mutually attracted learned to
know each other well. Every day after
breakfast TREY walked ON the quay, and
the boy made the young woman his CON
fidant. Marguerite heard his grave
speeches with a smile and reciurccated