San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-05-26

that worthless scamp"
The girl shrank away from him as
though he had struck her.
why do you refer to those days,
here and now9" she asked, in n low,
fierce toni of despair. ut is too late.
He has asked me TO marry him, and
awaits my answer. I-don't care what
becomes of me! There is no truth mo-
goodness anywhere, and l am tired Of
trying to keep my heart from harden
ing. 1t doesn't pay. A woman with a
heart has no place in fashionable socie-
~, and that is where my life lines are
set. Oh! why can | not kill my heart
and be satisfied with what he offers
mel"
She had broken off with a sob, and
Percy's kind heart was ready to burst
in sympathy for her. He pressed her
arm r~eassuringly to his side.
Hush! be calm, dear. They have
come up to us again II you could only
hold out against your mother until I
can obtain those contounded letters
from abroad to prove his w~orthlessness
to her Ill be able to save you yet"
Mamma knows how worthless he
is" the girl broke in, bitterly, ''but his
coronet has dazzled her eyes. Idoubt
if the letters could affect her.
Courage, Di," and he patted her
hand affectionately. Keep the little
spot green awhile longer, and l."
Don't speak to me in that tone,
Percy" she said, imploringly. 81 am
all unstrunS to-day, and cannot en-
dure it."
You've had a generous dose of Aunt
Jo, I'll bet a hat. Well, well say no
o about it Here Is the room, and
now for the painting. What do you
think of that, my lord?-
The four had entered q. small room
adjoining a larger one, and they now
paused before a painting which rested
upon an easel. As he spoke Mr.. Os-
from drew q piece of thick, soft yelling
from its face, and stepped aside, watch
ing their faces expectantly. The muir
INJURED delight of his guests seemed to
please him greatly, and his eyes grew
misty as they rested upon the sweet
face of the little child which smiled at
him from the canvas.
Its my boy" he said proudly, and
yet in n sad and reverent tone, for
death had robbed him of all save this
sweet semblance of his treasure.
What do you think of it., Dip he
added, abruptly, to hide that huskiness
in his throat
The girl looked up with a tremulous
smile on her lips
1T is so like him that It hurts me-"
she said, softly. How often / have
held him in my arms in-in-the old
days, and felt his little cheek pressed
lovingly against minel Oh, bow like
him it is, Percyv'
Eyes, Dupuy has done wonders from
that old photograph. By the way, my
lord, apropos of the subject which you
and l were discussing the other day, I
want to show you some etchings which
Ihave in tho other room, and which my
wife's father values at two thousand
dollars apiece" Thus speaking, he
linked his arm familiarly through that
of the inwardly Tuning nobleman, and
without more ado led him from the
room.
Together again, ~and-alonei DID
either of the two, standing there boz
fore that painting, realize it? If so, ~
was the man who rejoiced at the sit1as
ton, for the girl was standing en-
tranced before the face that had been
the dearest thing In the world to hees
and she had forgotten all else. Bitter
sweet memories of the days, long since
dead, when she was a happy, careless
girl, with no thoughtofsocial triumphs
or heartless, envious struggles for SUI
premacy, crowded in upon her brain
and filed her heart to overfiowing.
Two tears brimmed over her eyes and
fell with a tiny splash upon the SMALL
gloved hands she had locked before
her. They were the first tears anyone
had ever seen Diana 0strom shed; and
as the young man caught sight of
them he drew his breath sharply.
Don't do that, Miss Ostrom, he said,
huskily, do not shed a tear, I cannot
bear t."
She felt his sympathy, and uncon-
~sciously raised her ewes to smile away
the effect of her irrepressible grief,
but failed. In the softsned light of
the room his red hair had lost some of
its redness, and that passionate light
in his eyes had lent q noble dignity to
his rugged face and form. She was
powerfully swayed by it, and averted
her face in some confusion 10 hide the
rising color in her cheeks.
At these signs Of her agitation the
young fellows love for her broke all
bounds. He caught the gloved hands
in his, and kissed them wildly, passion
ately, where the t~eardrops had left
that telltale stain.
zone instant, until tell you how l
love you'll" he cried, hoarsely-"one in
slant in which to live in the madness
of my love for you, and then you can
send Inc, scorned, from your presence.
No, what folly! there is no measure
for my love for you. How could l try
to tell you! 1t is boundless!-it
stretches from far back in the past,
when our souls were first placed in
these forms of ours, and will reach to
all eternity! Oh, Diana, one word, n
look, and l will go!"
what shall l say to you?' she whis-
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