The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, February 18, 1906, Page 2

secured 3¢ Geraldine of Colomel bow ke pald n 3 cted fr he comy Company.) : Harrower was w of that Eng- fifteen ars before had mar- 1 Mrs. Newbury's ( en Ro- e was finish- who g his eduoation by & trip around the world, and had decided to meake a stop of some ength in California, € noognita ling Brit- n Spanish- Californfan aunt he had brought letters ta port and other at that time & rarity ¢ eiresses had 2 hale o live L el Har e and lands ne of erged from A desire to im- s speculating o daughter of Black his Dan y nineteen yes blood to rot ponded to the For , subtile, .complex Te was little of her none of his stmple but was made She had early co f her beauty.a ight which a spell over d had few opportunities. the chaperon usted her, was a cap- woman who had early e responsibilities of her po- roedes, rich and beautiful, wes which princes might have 3 Mrs. Campbell had received nstructions from Black Dan that he aid not wa s daughter taken from him X age with a foreigner, and Mers cedes g her year in Europe, was guarded & princésg traveling incog- nito. When she returned to San Fran- cisco ghe had never vet received an offer far she ha of merriage, and even her admirers had in number and kept rrower repre- elf stioned the young of his and his people, prevaiied upon him to show her.a photo- graph of the stately Elizabethan manor house which was his home, and to talk to her of the life he led upon his ancestral acres. I glish novel, ard antry It was like an Mercedes saw herself lovely, proud and desired quering heroine. In June she left the Lick t noving through it, its con- Elack Dar ag “he estate of Tres Pinos, one of the show places of the great valley, recently thrown upon the market by the death of its owner. . Tres Pinos 'soon became the focusing point of the region’s summer life. The alconies were constantly filled with s the velvet turf of the cro- quet grounds was swept by the crisp flounces of women's dresses, the bedrooms fn the big house were always occupled, Mrs. Campbell, preeise, darkly clad, and/primly well bred, pre. sided with an all-seeing eye, astonishing the Californians by her rigid observance of the smaller conventionalities, Through all Mercedes flitted, clad in French dresses. more ornate and elegant than any ever seen before in California, a smilingly gracious and finished person, evoking fear and jealousy in her own sex, and eliciting a rather awed admiration from the other. That Lionel Harrower was a constant visitor at Tres Pinos the gossips were quick to note. When the young man an- nounced his intention of spending the summer in California it seemed to them that there was no more doubt as to the state of his feelings. What they aid not know was that his presence at Tres Pinos was evoked by a constant flutter of scent- ed notes from the chatelaine. There were many times when he had refused the invi- tations with which Miss Gracey showered him. He had found California, its scenery and people, .of so much interest, that a single segregated interest in one particu- lar humen being had had no time to develop in him. But Mercedes did not think this. ...e felt quite sure that Lionel Harrower was remaining In California because of an engrossing and unconquer- able sentiment for her. One Sunday, late in June, he made one of the party which was spending the week-end at Tres Pinos. In the warm middle of the Sabpath afternoon, her vis- itors scattered over the croquet ground or enjoying the siesta in the shuttered gloom of their bed chambers, Mercedss started out to find him. She slipped down the wide staircase, peeped into the dlm drawing-room, cooled by closed blinds and filled with the scent of cut flowers, and then slipped out on the balcony. A spiral of cigarette smoke rising from # steamer chair betrayed his presence. He was comfortably outstretched in loose-jointed ease, a novel raised before a pair of eyes which looked suspiciously sleepy, his cigarette.caught between his lips, At the sound of her voice he sprang up, but she motioned him back into his chair, and sitting down opposite began to rally him on his laziness. He looked at her with drowsy good humor, his lids drooping. Her figure in its pale colored muslin dress was thrown out against a background of velvety lawns and the massed, julcy greens of summer shrub- bery. It was the middle of the afternoon, hot and stfll. From the croquet ground came the soft, occasional striking of balls. “Just listen to them,” sald the Young man, “they’re actually playing croquet!” “Lots of people play croquet on Sun- day,” sald Mercedes with some haste, ag she disliked to have it thought that she ‘was ignorant of any Intricacy of etiquette, “I don’t see anything wrong in it.” “It's not the Sunday part of it. It's the energy. Fancy standing out in “that sun of your own free willl" “You're horribly lazy,” sald the young girl. “It's your worst fault. You do nothing all day but He about on the bal- cony and drink lemonade.” “I could drink beer,” sald Harrower dreamily, “but I've never seen anything but lemonade.” ““Well, I've come to tell you that I'm going to insist on your belng more en- ergetic. I want you to take me for a drive.” “A drive! Now? But, my dear Miss Gracey, the sun's simply scorching.” Mercedes flushed slightly. Her cava- ller's manner of accepting the sugges- tion dld not please her. “If you're afraid of your complexion,” she sald, “you can hold my parasol over your head. I'll drive.” Harrower laughed. When she said things of this kind he thought her what he would have called “great fun” Still he would have much preferred remain- ing on the balcony with his novel and his cigarette, to braving the heat of the afternoon, even In ‘Mlss Gracey's smart new pony phaeton, with Miss Gracey in the driver's seat. He sat up, rubbing his eyes into a more wakefyl brightnes: a mothering a yawn. UL 47 “Where are we to drive to? Menlo Park again?” “Ne, I'm golng to take you back In the hills to the De Soto place. It was originally an old Spanish grant and part of the place {s just the way it used to be. Allens live there. They moved early this year, so I don't think met them in town. Some people think the girls are very pretty.” “Pretty girls!” sald Harrower, prick- ing up his ears. “By all means let's &0 Ho looked at her laughing, for he thought she would enjoy the humor of his sudden enthusiasm. Instead, for a fleeting second,, her face was with annoyance. Then she reecovered herself and rose to her feet, moving away from him. g i “The horses are ready mnow,” she sald, “T'll go up for my hat and para- £0l and I'll expect to find you at the steps when I come down."” . The heat was waning. the live shadows lying dark and iTregular over the drive, when the phaeton appro: the Allens’ balcony. The light dresses of the Allen girls were thrown up the darker gown of dignified middle age. Mrs. was sit\ng In a wicker arm-chalr near the balustrade ached pair of ¢ WIGE LISTENED ; LT PO -ZEOOFED EYES TG PE7ALS OF 777& L{Z 1Z5 & fanning herself with & paim-leaf fan. Mercedes muttered annoyance o her companion, and then her glance was charged with a sudden Infusion of In- terest as it fell on & graceful mascu- line back bending over & table set with plates add glasses, behind which June Allen was standing. 3 “That must be Jerry Barclay,” she murmured to Harrower, as, with dex- terous exactness she brought the phae- ton wheels against the mounting blook. “I've not met him yet. He's been In Virginia City, like everybody else.” “Aw—aw! Yes, of course,” Harrower murmured vaguely, not knowing or caring in the least about Jerry Barclay, but filled with sudden admiration for the fresh-faced, blonde girl who rose at their approach and came to the top of the steps. Though she had never seen him before she Included him in the sweet frank smile and friendly glance with which she greeted Mer- cedes. “Rosamund,” sald Mercedes, throwing the reins around the whip with the easy flourish of the expert, “TI've brought over Mr. Harrower. He's making a col- lection of Californian specimens, and I -thought perhaps he'd like to see you. He'll put you down under the Head of vertebrate fauna, I suppose.” The stranger, whose face had grawn exceedingly red, did not know whether in the {ree, untrammeled West this con- stituted an coming down @ step or two and extend- ing & welcoming hand. He locked into a gray eves, unusually honest and direct, and heard her umu volce, by not lowkeyéd, but clear and “T'm glad you came, Mr. Harrower. Tt ‘was very kind of Mercedes to bring you.” ©On the balcony above Mrs. Barclay had ‘at first, was regarded risen and was looking at the new-comers with avid curiosity. She bad already talked them threadbare in every drawing- 100m from Millbrae to Menlo Park. Her personal acqualntance with both was very slight and this was a good oppor- tunity to improve it and arrive at com- clusions, to alr which she could once again make a tour of the country houses . and be sure of eager attention. at a table laden with a glasses and plates, June was standing. She wes pouring but a glass of lemonade, which Jerry was walting to take to his mother, when the phaeton drove up. The glass was fllled and the pitcher set down, befors either of them looked at the new arrivals. Thea Jerry turned and his eyes fell on thems He stopped short, the glass in his hand. Mercedes, a' smile of greeting om her lps, was just mounting the steps. “Heavens, what a girl"" he sald I & Behina her, silver pitcher. 24 “Pretty! pretty!” he ejaculated, me- chanically setting the glass down. “Why she's a dream!” He turned again and looked at Mer- cedes, who was speaking to his mother. His face was staring with admiration. & slight fixed smile on his lips. It was the look of the male suddenly stricken by the physical charm of the female June dropped her eyes to the table with & semsation of feeling cold, insignificant and small. “Your mother's lemonade,” pushing the glass toward him. golng 1o take it to her.” He did not appear to hear her. His eyes were fastened on Mercedes, the slight smile still on his lips. Forgetful of the glass with which June had touched his hand, he slowly walked across the balcony to where Mrs. Barclay stood and sald gayly: “Mother, won't you Introduce me to Miss Gracey? We came very near meet- ing at Foleys three years ago and just missed it. I don’'t want that to happen sgain.” When June had welcomed her guests she went back to her seat behind the table. Presently Mrs. Barclay drew her chair neerer to her, for Ars. Barclay began to feel that to be a fifth among four young people so well pleased wi she sald, “You werd R she moved up teward June and to her about the dishonesty of the butcher at San Mateo as con that of the old butcher at June listened and now a. She did not seem to either butcher, and Mrs. a mental nete of the fac be & poor housekeeper she looked at the elder wom that wers disconcertingly e tentlon. When that la remarked that the girl looked pale tired. She sald this to Jerry on the way home. “Did she?" he answered absen “Poor little June! She’s just the dea Httle woman in the world. But isn't that Gracey girl a wonder? I mever saw & more beautiful face.” CHAPTER IX. The Cheice of Malds. During the months of summer dwell- ers along the line of the rallway be- came familtar with the figure of Lionel Harrower. He constantly went down to San Mateo on Sunday afternoons and re- turned to town on Sunday evening. This, as the outward and visible sign of his devotion to Miss Gracey, but by and by it was remarked that he did nbt take the Gracey carriage which so often stood under the live oaks at the depot, but mounted & hired hacle and was driven off in the direction of the De Soto house. It was a Sunday or two after bad driven him there that the young Englishman had appeared on the bal- cony steps, very red and warm from the heat of the afterncen, and pald a long call, which extended so far into the twi- light that he was bidden to dinner and aid not go back to town till a late even- ing train. It had evidently been an enjoyable afternoon, for he repeated it, and then again repeated it, and finally let It de- velop Into & habit. He wrots to his re- lations in England that he was deeply interested in Cnum :nrnm mdud vu.: studying the ning lustry o that remarkable State. And It is true that once in the middle of the summer he went to Virginla for a few days and came back with his mind full of excellent material for a latter to his grandfatber which should prove how profound had been his study of the American mining and engineering methods. The first afterncon that Mercedes found him on the Allens’ balcony she was openly surprised. The second she wzs sweet and graclous, but her ros leaf color deepened at the sight of him, and it was noticeable that, for one who was usually so completely mistress of herself, she was distrait and lacking in repose. On leaving she had asked him it she could drive him back to the sta- tion, as her road lay that way, to which the young man had answered, with the stift politeness of embarrassment, that he was to stay to dinner—"he u'uo‘ aid on Sunday.” inception of a situa- the summer was aver, had caused more heart-burnings. mare wakeful nights and distressed days than the peaceful valley had known in many years. For the first time in an existence of triumph and adulation Mercedes knew defeat. She had been certain of her at- traction for Harrower. and confldent that by her beauty and her wiles she could, before his departure, fan his in- terest to a warmer Yet July ‘was not spent before she realized that a force more potent than any she could put forth was leading the young man in another direction. His visits to tho Allens grew more and more {requent as those to Tres Pinos became less so. Curlosity In his Interest In the occu- pants of the De Soto house evolved itself into curlosity In his interest in Rosamund Allen. He forgot the tours he had Intended to take into the Inte- rior, showed no more interest in Vir- ginfa City, and gave up his plan of a horseback expedition to the Yosemite. He spent the summer in town, making trips to San Mateo that grew more and mare frequent. It was difficult for Mercedes to be- Heve It, but when she did it kindled sleeping fires in her. She was aou!:l' wounded; heart and pride were hurt) Her overmastering vanity had recetved its first blow. Not only had shq lost