San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-05-05

"a
there was no diminution of the yawn-
ing hole, simply because there was no
wool in the needle. She had n curious
buzzing noise in her ears, and her
heart felt like n hard lump. How long
it was since he had taken up the book.
She had not dared TO look at him, but,
though her eyes were riveted on the
ribbed brown sock, two big words
darted and danced up and down each
rib.
" Christobers Guest Christobels
Guest! Why, oh! why had she chosen
that name. Christobel! She felt sure
Paul would call it silly. But how long
he wasl Would" She gave a great
start, and her darning-needle ran
into her hand. Something had come
crashing against the fender at her feet.
Something square and fat, bound in
gray, with gold lettering.
81 beg your pardon, darling. hope
l did not hurt you. did not mean to
be so violent" Paul Meredith came
forward and picked up the book.
THE fire is the proper place for rot
of this sort" he said, as he turned it
over in his hand. Il can't understand
how firm like - bring themselves
to publish this kind of thing. 1t must
pay them, suppose, though who tho
deuce they set to read such twaddle
beats me. Well!" finging the book
on to the table this time. 'Well, that
was bad start. Let US hope it is not
a case of worse remains behind"
The pipe was replenished, and the
second book was well under way be-
fore Flora spoke.
Paul" she said, when the fierceness
of the pain had left her little, Paul,
are you quite just? II mean-don't
you think you ought to read these
books with more care-more-"
Paul Meredith looked amazed.
"Iknow my business" he said, coldly,
when he spoke. He felt too much sur
prised to be really as angry as he
ought to have been.
The girl had ceased darning. Seated
as he was he could not see the hot patch
of color that famed on each cheek, nor
the expression of the eyes, that were,
as he had often told her, his wife's
greatest beauty.
Forgive me, dear" she said, very,
very softly. but with a culver in her
voice he had never heard before; for
give me. only | have been thinking
lately so much about writer's and writ
ing, and fccI'-She broke o1f-"Paul,
dear, you arc 50 big and clever, but all
h, q i Ill. NIl;1n
find happiness in 4 sc ientifc work
there arc So:ac-nany, pcrhaps-who
would find pleasure \ a book like that.
Yes, an sure there would be many
many"
There must he Iacrc fools in the
world, then, than even Carlyle i'm
aCincd." Mr.. Meredith said, spea king
with his pipe between his teeth and his
eyes on the book before him. Flora
rose.
Il feel so sorry for the person who
wrote the story" she said, her voice
almost a whisper; she was standing
with her back toward him. Now, do
we know what hope, perhaps necessity,
may not
Her husband put down his book.
You always come back with some
crotchet when you go to see Margaret
Lloyd. l think shallp put stop to the
friendship l don't want you to get
your head full of the internal rot these
advanced women talk-it will unsettle
you. You know how dislike all this
class of thing!''
Il do not see that justice is rotI"
Flora said, coldly.
Mr. Meredith settled the question
finally. II think you had better go to
bed, my dear" he said, calmly. You
are in very bad temper for some rea-
son or other, and have not got the
time nor the inclination to fight things
out with you tonight"
Flora turned for one instant.
us it because you do notconsider me
equal to the fght?" she asked, passion
ately.
Paul looked at her with something
more than amazement now. He had
never seen her in such a mood before.
My dear" he said, more gently,
what is the matter with you tonight?
What has happened?"
Flora held out an instant longer,
then the tears came with rush, and
they were shed on his shoulder with
his arm about her.
please forgive me, Paul she said,
brokenly, when her voice would come.
Il am tired. think viii go to bed. :"
He took her upstairs himself and was
full of tenderness, but after he had
left her he went back to his work with
a frOwn on his face.
Il shall put an end to all intercourse
with that woman" he said; then,
urged by what motive he could hardly
have explained, he took up the book he
had so openly despised and glanced
through it again.
Poor little Floss" he said to him
self; she has thought for all Who
knows, perhaps some poor devil has to
get living by this sort of thing.
should like to give it a good notice if
only to please her" He read through
a page steadily. Then he groaned, and
finally he closed the book.
He swore with all his usual vigor
when the queens taxes called for the
i