San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-05-26
A LITTLE E P 0
It Was Love's'Stronghold in a So
ciety's Woman's Heart.

"Oh, 50 you have come, Dip So glad.
Where is Aunt Jo2 Not comingP
Haven't seen any of my G.. o. CTS
as yet, but presume, of course, that
her card is among them, since
she will not patronize my teas at
any cost. Yes, this is Mrs. William
Jones-Eaton; have you met her, of
course, and-Mrs. Peck, let me intro
duoe my cousin, Miss Ostrom. Mrs.
Daily, Mrs LeStrange, my cousin,
Miss Ostrom. Dear me, Di!" drawing
the girl back again as she completed
the introduction of her cousin to the
ladies' who were receiving with her,
such o jam and crush! l am tired to
death standing here all the afternoon,
rafting off these nothings to people I
don't care a rap about. But, in affairs
of this kind, it's do or die, you know,
and ] am doing TO the best of my
ability. However" Frightening up at
the thought, there are lots of really
nice people here this afternoon, and
that fact in itself is enough to repay
me for all my fatigue. Now what do
you suppose is that silly Percy's latest
eocentricity? He has made me invite
David Smith here for my tea this after
noon, and, as a result, he stands over
there at this moment, in the doorway,
looking the very picture of abject
misery. His oouutenance is as lugu-
brious as though he were gazing upon
the massacre of st. Bartholomew, in
stead of seeing some of New York's
incest people Dearie mel what shall l
do with him? Do, for PHYS sake, dear,
60 over and say something pleasant
to the poor boy, to make him feel at
his ease l can't understand Percy's
object in dragging him into society as
he does, for it is painfully evident that
some reason he wants me to be nice to
David, poor and insignificant as he is,
and to please him l am doing all L
All, how-do-you-do, Mrs Vanderbilt?
So glad to see you!"
Thus released, Diana Ostrom gladly
availed herself Of the opportunity of
leaving the side of her voluble cousin,
and made her way as best she could
through the crush of handsomely
gowned and bonneted women, to where
Percy's protege was standing, near the
doorway leading into the tea room.
She had met him a number of times
and had been interested in him, for he
was educated and clever and unlike
the other men of her acquaintance.
He had arrived in New York from the
west about two months previous, and
under his friends patronage was
YEARLY enduring a round of social
gayety in which he had no heart. He
had not taken" well, and Percy Sc
cretly acknowledged this to himself,
but p~ersevered in his attempts to make
q society man of the shy westerner,
greatly to the chagrin of that social
struggler," his wife.
You are specializing, as usual,
upon this absurd method of passing
ones existence" she said, smilingly, as
she stood beside him at last
He turned with a start at the sound
of her voice, and a deep flush spread
owe his face. His eyes sought hers
with an eager gladness in their well
come
"Yes; and, as usual, You at nee read
my thoughts, Miss Ostrom," he said,
recovering himself. why is it? Is it
because my c~ountenance is so ingen-
uous9 Or is it that your powers of per-
oeption are so abnormally developed"
'NOh, of course" she retorted, now
that you have given me the opportun-
ity, I am glad to say that it is all due
to the latter" and she glanced archly
up into his face; but her glance wa
vered as she encountered the keen,
bright gaze of the gray eyes looking
into hers You could not expect a
woman to lose a possible bit of flattery,
could you?"
He smiled gravely. Some women,
no-perhaps. But you" He paused,
and o feeling of embarrassment came
over her. The fellow was always so
terribly in earne st in these idle mo
ments which they spent together. He
had O way of making her feel in ear
nest, also, despite her efforts 30 the
contrary.
"You are such a provoking fellow"
shs said at last, with a pretty touch of
petulance in her manner; you insist
upon breaking off in the most aggra-
waiting places in your sentences, and
come to a dead pause just when ones
interest is at its height Your CONVEX
sation fills one with the breathless ex-
pectancy of which one is conscious
when brought TO that sudden stand
still In an interesting serial story by
the memorable to be continued in our
next It's a dreadfully bad habit of
yours, Mr.. Smith. You see how You
have managed to rouse my curiosity,
now, don't you?" she added, her dark
eyes peering at him roguishly.
You are chatting me, and do not
care to hear what 1 was about to say
to you" he said slowly, and yet eager
ly, but with all a westerner's blunt
ness
'Oh. no" with a soft laugh and r
prised upraising of dainty brows, "of
course l donot have not been fish
ing and fishing for it in the most bare
faced manner for the last ten minutes,
have ~ 1t is you who are chatting me.
Anyway" with a charming pout, 81
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