San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-09-26

shrewd enough TO let the baronet al.
ways have Just the best of matters in
every game and sport in which they
met "When we come back from town,
we must have him here. He'd be the
life and soul of house party. those
deadly plaques Of the country"
"We can hardly have him here, then,
can we?''
''Why not? The womenll 60 mad
after him. I'd give lot to see the lit.
tie De Witt setting those wicked little
wits of hers to work to catch him for
her snuggery." And he laughed again.
The idea Of that sharp little woman
watching the incidents of the drama
that was being played at the manor was
the reverse of pleasant to Lola. but she
said nothing, lest she should arouse
some sort of suspicion.
The baronet was as good as his word,
and in flush of good feeling one day
he gave the Frenchman general invi.
tation TO stay at the manor as soon as
Lola and himself should return from
London.
When Lola heard of ii, she was angry
and took an opportunity of speaking to
NJ Turrian about it.
"You must not accept that invita-,
tion." she said peremptorily.
Nor" And he stopped and looked at
her with his eyebrows raised. They
were walking on the terrace before din
ner, and he was smoking cigarette.
mo. I say no." said Lola ener-
getically.
And why not?"
Because don't choose to allow it. +"
''That is not a tactful reason" he
said, with shrug and a laugh.
~ care nothing about tact You must
not do it. II you do, shall stop your
allowance.
"That Is coarse We may be-crim-
inals, but at least we should be polite. :"
Ard he bowed with affected courtesy,
"Give me your real reasons, he con
tinued, after pause. "If it is only
your pique, / shall not pay the slightest
heed to it. You chose this life, not /. I
did not like it at first. l have grown
accustomed to 1t, and find it pleasant
enough-for time, while my plans de-
velop and" bowling again. II shall
live it In my own way"
"There are people coming here who
may remember certain notorious gam
bier and cheat who was at one time
known in half the bells in Europe.
"Ah, that is most interesting and
most enticing. If there is one thing that
do not like about this existence, 1t is
what you call its humdrum, dead alive
sameness and responsibility. A man
rusts in such place. There is no risk,
no danger, where peoples wits are SO
stupid as here Why, even murderess
might live here all her life unsupported.
while as for bigamists they would find
it perfect haven of rustic rest. " He
paused and glanced at her. but Lola
took no notice of his words, and he re-
sumed: But what you promise me
now is Just the one touch that is wanted
to make life life and worth living. You
at any rate must see that such place il
most admirably adapted for that form OF
your English virtue of self denial which
consists in denying your own identity. II
others can do this, why not II" And he
laughed with malicious glee.
al tell you you must not come to stay
in this house. You shall notp' said Lola
vehemently.
pardon me. madame" and his
shoulders went up and his hands spread
out as he bowed again, "but most as
suredly shall.
"You shall not, at any hazard, said
Lola very firmly, when she was inter
rupted by Sir Jaffray. who said, with a
good natured laugh:
Hello, you twoi hope you're not
quarreling there because the violin mis-
sion isn't getting forward.
Pierre Turrian turned and laughed
gayly.
"No, no; Lady Walcote and I are. !
trust, too old friends to quarrel over
that. Her energy is all friendliness. 1
was telling her that you had asked me
to come here after your return from
town. and was explaining to her that
I am going on the continent for awhile
to perfect plan which is often IN my
thoughts, and she was insisting that 1
should not break off my arrangements
there in order to return here, because in
some slight respects the two things
might rather clash. But assured her
that l could not think of letting any
other considerations interfere with the
pleasure of visit here. OF that am
determined, but Lady Walcote is too
solicitous on my behalf. 4"
"Oh, of course you'll come If you
can, professorr' said Sir Jafsray. II
should be sorry If you didn't I'm glad
you two weren't at logRerheads Iwant
you to be friends, you know"
81 trust we shall never misunder-
stand one another more than we do ut
present. And the Frenchman bowed
and shot a swift, cunning look at Lola
which stung her like poisoned barb
Whas SET you. madame?' he asked