San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-01-31

"You are disappointed once more, I per-
cetCe."
the pleasure of seeing Daisy surrounded
by the most eligible young men in the
room and making herself delightfully."-
agreeable to every one but himself.
Because, Tom" replied the old law
yer gravely, II thought it would do you
good. So did Mrs Ridgway, who, as
you know, has always taken motherly
interest in you. You will pardon me for
saying that you were becoming too firm
ly impressed with the belief that the
best of everything belonged by right to
yourself. Do not get angry with me for
saying so. Remember that 1 was an old
friend of your father"
Tom was angry. He was angry, and
the more he thought of it the angrier he
became. 1t was quite natural that he
should be, and his friends appreciated
that fact, and bore with him as patient
ly as possible, believing that before
many days he would be himself again.
"Tom," said Parkhurst, take my
advice and appear to enjoy yourself.
You look like thundercloud. Keep
your eyes away from Miss Daisy. Leave
her as severely alone as she could posi-
bly, desire and give your attention to the
other young ladies, as you used to do. "
This time Tom saw that the lawyers
advice was good, and he tried to act up
ON it from that moment. He never spoke
to Daisy unless it was absolutely neces-
sary, and no one guessed how much of
self denial he practiced in consequence.
He was soon ON as good terms as ever
with his friends and was the idol of So
ciety, as he had always been. The
young ladies raved over him, but he
could not win one smile from Daisy, ex-
cept when she thought it was demanded
by the rules of politeness. She was the
personifcation of iciness whenever they
happened to be alone together.
At first Tom had laughed lightly
when his friends mentioned her evident
avoidance of him, but there came time
when he could not bear it and when his
flashing eyes warned them that it was q
subject which he would not hear dis
cussed. There came time when Tom
realized that Daisy held his happiness
in her keeping, and that it was mat
ter of indifference to her. There were
days when he was filled with fierce ex-
ultation at the thought that she was
bound to him for period of more than
two years yet, and that no one could
claim superior rights. There were other
times when he felt that to see her and
to wait upon her and know that he had
no part in her life was a torture which
was fast becoming greater than he could
bear. There were bright mornings wher
he resolved to win her love or die in the
attempt. There were dark nights wher
he thought Of the easiest and surest
means of committing suicide. He had
played at love a great many times ana
enjoyed it. He was deeply in love now
and was miserable.
How was it with Daisy? 1t is ques-
ton which that young lady would have
found difficult had she tried to answer
it, but she did not try. She had come
to the city fully determined to give the
best of herself to her music. She had re-
solved never to marry, at least not until
she had won fame in the musical world.
She had entered into the engagement
with Tom principally because she be-
lieved that by SO doing she would be
free from opportunities of other men
which she might otherwise have found
distracting. She was very earnest
young lady, who had brought the whole
force of her strong nature to bow before
the altar of her ambition. Even her
pleasures were enjoyed with the thought
that such recreation, if not too often in
dulged in, would enable her to work
more proftably. 1t had amused her for
two reasons to play part to deceive
Tom-she wished to know if she pos
sessed the qualities necessary to sue
cessful actor, and she fancied that it
would be more enjoyable than it had
proved to be to try the man whom her
cousin praised SO extravagantly. Daisy
was inclined to be cynical in her opin-
ions of men. When she had first seen
Tom S face, she had liked it. She told
herself afterward that she might have
liked its owner better than she should,
considering her ambition, had he nor
proved himself so li...o Of gentleman.
Therefore she was g.,.d that !o haG be-
haved just rs he did ELc tcICyed Eha
had forever dismissed THAI SUI icct via
her djsapprOva! = 4. : conduct, ;..:, e {