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

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over the hand of his hostess in greet
ing.
There was something blase about
the gentleman, despite his polished
manners and the air of high breeding
which characterized him, and, as she
regarded him, an odd SILVER Of fear
and repulsion chilled the girl TO the
very soul A shamed blush dyed her
cheeks for an instant as she realized
that it was to this man-this much
sought-after peer of the English realm
the gossip of her world had allotted
her future. She knew from the little
confidential air with which Laura
whispered a word or two to him, and
from the eager, searching glance with
which he Immediately scanned the
room, that her cousin was at that mo-
ment speaking of her. Involuntarily
she shrank a little closer to her COM
panion, who saw the action and Won
dered at it; but the next instant she
had recovered herself SO gayly and
gracefully that he could not but doubt
the evidence of his eyes
Just at that moment Percy Ostrom
was seen approaching them He was
Diana's stanchest friend and admirer,
and watched over the welfare of the
girl with t~ireless vigilance. He vas 4
great, laundering, good-hearted fell
low, who had realized a fortune in a
lucky venture in stocks, and was doing
his awkward best to aid his wife in the
somewhat shaky foothold she had
gained in New York's moneyed circles.
His eyes frightened as he caught sight
of Diana and her companion, and he
shook hands effusivcly. The world
might say what it liked about Diana
Ostrom and her heartlesSness; but he
had known and loved her from a boy,
and knew that not all the years of her
mothers worldly training had been
sufficient to cast n blight upon that one
spot of living green hidden away in
the depths of the girls hardening
heart. Just what his scheme could be
in bringing together so frequently two
such utterly dissimilar people as David
Smith and Diana Ostrom would have
been difficult to tell; but the fact re-
manned that he never lost an oppor,
tunity of bringing his two favorites
into closer intimacy.
because l am the least of those who
would be most to you." She suSled
half sadly as she recalled the words.
They had been uttered to her so often
during the two years since her en-
trance into society that they had lost
their full significance to her, like a
sweet song too often heard. Poor
David! 1t was the same old story-a
careless kindness and pity which had
brought forth such painful results to
the recipient. lie loved her. She
knew that now, for a fact, where be,
fore she had only half suspected it.
And yet, oddly enough, she was not
sorry for this result of her handiwork,
as she had been in other cases. She
vas strangely glad, and almost happy,
in the knowledge of the love her
smiles had warmed TO life within his
heart
AS she dwelt upon this thought,
something sweet and genuine glowed
In her own heart and Sent the bright
blood to her face; but the next instant
she was recalled to herself and the
present by the recollection of her
mothers cold, steely eyes, and the icy
tone in which she had wound up a long
discussion with her daughter in her
room that afternoon.
1T is useless to refer to the years !
have spent in training you to the high
position in society which now awaits
you through the offer of Earl Chester,
but perhaps some latent spark of pride
may induce you to think twice before
you allow the prize to slip through
your fingers, and you see some other
woman snatch the coronet which you
choose to throw away. What is it to
you whether you love him or not, when
once you are a countess? Love is for
silly shop girls, who have no other
thoughts with which to fill their empty
heads But for you"
All, yes, for her! What mattered it2
Why nurse this foolish, ardent longing
for her woman's rtghtful heritage Of
love2 Why lose this social triumph'in
the futile hope of satisfying her souls
hunger with something deeper and
higher chan the world could giveP Why
wait in secret patience for the phan-
tom lover who might never be more
than a phantom, and who, perhaps,
had already passed her by? Strange
thoughts and fancies these, to be found
in the heart of a wording at q fash
ionable afternoon teal The girl was
conscious of their incongruity, and sup
pressed a smile of bitterness as she
turned and greeted the nobleman at
her elbow.
Percy was annoyed at this addition
to their coy corner, but was too pru-
dent to show it. He watched the face
of his young cousin with shrewd,
troubled eyes, trying to fathom her
feeling for this man whom he dis
trusted. But she was so gay and
bright in her manner toward him that
it was impossible to draw any conclu-
sions from it He was bitterly opposed
to her prospective engagement to the
earl, and was necessarily working
against its more powerful advocates by
throwing any obstacle in the way
which chance or stratagem provided.
A happy thought struck him, and with