The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, February 18, 1906, Page 8

THE ca pig=migh Whep, #& had retired n the ‘envelope. more charming. almost. jn exul you have had Penfleld, ris- out much b What does he he writes abominably,” Fessenden—I assure you ous injury could nesday even- you can’t think what a re- believe he has been seriously on second thought. come. Fancy >wy breast of voy and the ; from Mrs. Balling- ton's wara—a cc llatiors never known to shine in hazy the Envoy Extraord social atmospheres—to aordinary Even the C who a solferino tea- forelgn boot wore what w tess, s in effect gown with high-bred unconcern, was not knew how trunks had and her a jarring erybody the Countess’ twenty pricele gone to ‘Capetown by presence made the pretty drawing-room just as the Envoy's presence made the occasion cosmopolitan. . When the mandolin club in the hall struck up 2 spirited fandango, no pointed chin in all the town took on @ prouder tilt than Clara Fessenden's. The BEnvoy Extraordinary had just let fall no less a diplomatic secret than that, in his opinion, a certain war would end in peace eventually, when Mrs. Penfield, who happened to be near, inquired: * “Oh, Clara, have you heard anything more of that Mr. Hopworthy?” “Don’t speak to me of him!"” retorted Clara, clouding over. “When Jack called at his hotel to leave a card, he had the effrontery to be out. Just fancy, and he had almost sent him grapes!” “But—" began Mrs. Penfield. Pierre was at the door; one hand be- hind him held the orchestra in check. adame is served,” he formed his lips to say, but having reached ‘“‘Madame," he found himself ef by entering hurriedly—a tall young man with too abundant hair and teeth, but other- wise permissible. The new arrival paused, as it were, divined the hostess, and ad- her with extended hand. amusing note take, a salon, aced some one took soundings, vanced upon Evidently it little incidents which often are much alike have odd a * I trust T am not 1 was one of those called = “‘contretemr fr e people on the left hapven where nt doors nd quainte the blunderer begah at ogce. “It was so kind of you to think of me; so altogether charming, so delightful.” His eyes were dark and keen, his broad, unsheltered mouth, which seemed less to utter than to man- ufacture words, gave the impression of astonishing productive power, and Clara, though sorry for a fellow creature doomed to rude enlightenment, was glad he was not to be an element in her well ordered little dinner. But as her guests were walting she gave a slight impatient flut- ter to her fay. The other went on un- observant. “One can say so little of one's pleasure in a burried note, but I assure you, my dear Mrs. Fessenden, nothing short of a serious accident—"" Where had she met this formula before? “Oh, Mr. Hopworthy!" she responded with & smile, an automatic smile, self- regulating and sclf-adjusting, Ilike the phrase that followed, “I am so glad you were able to come.” And turning to her husband she announced, too sweetly to leave her state of mind in doubt: “Jack, here is Mr. Hopworthy, aunt’s old friend.” With her eyes she added “Fiend, behold your-work!’ Jack grasped the stranger's hand and wrung it warmly. “I'm glad you're out again,” he said. “Now tell my wife just how you left Aunt Bates.” And so saying he backed toward the door. for he could be resourceful on occasion. Two minutes later, when he reappeared, his face was wreathed in your smiles. “It's all serene,” he whispered to his “They have crowded in another at your end. We'll make the best wife. place of it.” Perhaps it occurred to Clara that things to be made the best of were oltenest crowded in at her end, but she had no time to say ®o, for Plerre had come into his own again—Madame was served. Jack led, of course. with the scintilles- cent Mrs. Balington, he having flatiy re- fused to take in the Countess. Jack's point of view was always masculine, and often elementary. The Couritess followed with a Mr. Walk- er, who collected eggs and was belleved to have been born at sea, which made him interesting ip a way. Then came Maude Penfield, preceding Lena Livings- ton, according to the tonnage of their husbands’ yackts. In truth, the whole procession gave in every rank new evi- dence of Clara’s kindly forethought. For herself she had not only the extraordi- nary, but, by perverse fate, another. “Mr. Hopworthy,” she explained, bring- ing both dimples into play, very charming girl has disappointed us. I hope you don't mind walking three abreast.” Clara’s untruths were never compro- mises. When they should be told, she told them, scorning to keep her score immacu- late by subterfuge. “Though the Record- ing Angel may be strict.” she often sald SAN FRANCISCO SUNDAY CALL. with childlike faith, “I am convinced he is well bred.” The pleasant flutter over dinner cards ended as it should in each guest being next the persons most desired—each guest, but not the hostess. For Jack's resource- fulness having accomplished the addition- al place, stopped short, and his readjust- ment of the cards, which had been by chance, had brought the Envoy upon Clara’s left and given to Mr. Hopworthy the seat of honor. . For a moment Clara hesitated, hopin .against hope for some one to be taken ill —for almost anything that might create an opportunity for a change of cards. But while she stood in doubt the diplomat most diplomatically sat down. Beyond him the Countess was already drawing oft her gloves, as though they had been stockings, and. further on the gentleman born at sea seemed pleased to find his dinner roll so like an exs. It was one of those unrecorded tragedies known only to woman. The fallures of a man leave ruins to bear testimony to en- a woman's edifice of cobweb falls whatever pain its deavo! without commotion, building may have cost. “I gave you that seat,” sald Clars to the diplomat in dffnpled confidence, “be- cause the window on the other side lets in a perfect gale of draught.” “A most kind draught to blow me near- er my hostess’s heart,” he answered, much too neatly not to have sald something of the sort before. Fortunately both the Envoy and the Countess appreciated oysters, and before the soup came, Clara, outwardly herself again, could turn a smiling face to her unwelcome guests. But Mr. Hopworthy was bending toward Maude, who seemed very much amused. So was the man be- tween them, and so were several others. Already he had begun to make himself conspicuous. ' People with broad mouths always make themselves conspicuous. She felt that Maude was gloating over her dis- comfiture. She detected this in every note of Maude's well-modulated laugh, could an interchange of beakers with the strangers have been sure of Florentine results, Clara would have faced a terri- ble temptation. As it was she asked the Envoy if he had seen the automobile show. He had, and by good luck machinery ‘was his favorite topic, a safe one, leav- ing little ground for argument. From machinery one proceeds by certain steps to things thereby created, silk and shoes and books, and comes at length, as Clara did, to silverwarc and jewels, pearls and emeialds. And here the Countess, who mistrusted terrapin, broke in, She had known an emerald larger than an egg—Mr. Walker looked up hopefully. It had been-laid by royalty at the feet of beauty—Mr. Walker, who had been about to speak, resumed his research, and the Countess held the floor. given and She wore a bracelet her by a potentate, whose title suggested snuff, as a reward for great devotion to his cause, and its exhibition occupied a course. Meanwhile the hostess. as with astral " nette; and sa b __several proyvinces Sprang to arms, and ears, heard snatches of the conversation all about her. “And do you think so really, Mr. worthy 7" ‘ “Oh, Mr. Hopworthy, Were you actus ally there?” “Please tell us your opinidn—" Evidently Jack's aunt's, acgualntance was being drawn out, encduraged to dis- play himself, made a butt ‘df fa point of fact! ng Maude Pen- fleld There always a streak of something not ex- actly nice in Maude. As Clara, with her mind’s eye. saw the broad(Hopworthian mouth in active operation, she felt—the feminine instinct in such Mgtters is un- erring—that Butler Penfleld cherished every phrase for future retalfation at the club, and Lena Livingston, who ne: * laughed, was laughing. After.all, i£'tor eigners are often dull, at leagt they have no overmastering sense of humor. “My Order of the Bull was given me &t twenty-six,” the envoy was relating, and though the story was a long one, Clars listened to it all with swimming eyes. “Diplomacy is full of intrigue as an «§8 of meat,”” it ended, and gnce more Mr. Walker looked up hopefully. Again the hostess forced herself to turn with semblance of attention {o her right. But Mr. Hopeworthy d4id not appear to notice the concession. He did not appear Hop~ This came from tak into her confidence. to notice anything. He was haranguing. actually haranguing, oblivious that all within hearing of resonant voice re- garded him with open mockery. Jack, in the distance, too far away to apprehend the truth, exhibited his customary uncon- cern, for Jack's ideals were satisfled If at his table people only ate enough and talk- And perhaps it was as well that Jack aid not comprehend. “To fllustrate,” the orator was saying— ed. fancy & man who says ‘‘to ! " “This wine is, as we may say >phy- sitic”—here Mr. peworthw held up his glass and looked about him whimsically —“possessed of dual potentialities, taining germs of absolute antipathies—" Even Jack, could he have heard, must have resented the suggestion of germs Y his champagne. “Perhaps you would rat Burgupdy, with your dv Mrs. Fessenden with herc Mr. Hopeworthy, checked thought at once. madam, revive an amgtent “T.am sure. 1 did not sajd igegretfully, and n- r have som ston, “how, very o0dd!’ “It was Indeed.* assented Mr. worthy, and went on ‘Once, as kmow, the poets of Reims and Beauns waged war in vegse over the mespective clafgs of the blond wine and;the bru- ter grew the fight that Hop- you Louis ,XIV was forced to g0 to war to keep the peace.” It was pure malice in Maude to show 80 marked an Interest in a statement so absurd, and it was flendish in the rest to encourage Mr. Hopworthy. Even the most Insistent talker comes in time to silence if nmobody listens ‘Or. Mr. Hop—Hop—Hopgood.” cried the Countess, “if you are a savant, per- haps you know my Axel!” “And _bhave you taken out & patent for your axel?” asked the diplomat, whose mind reverted to mechanios The Countess favored him with of glance through her lorgmettes—a pr ent from the exiled King of Crete—and stralghtway took her bag and bagzage to the hostlle camp. For, of course, the young Count Axel was known to Mr. Hopworthy, or ‘at least he so de- clared. “Please tell me how you won your Order of the Bull” sald Clara to the diplomat, her one remaining hope. “I think I mentioned that just now," he answered, and conversation perished. And thus the dinner wore away, a grim succession of demolished triumphs. ‘When after an aeon or two Clara gave the signal for retreat, she sought hes own reflection In the glass to make sure her halr was still its normal brown. “Clara,” said Mrs. Penfleld when the ladies were alone, “you might at least have warned us whom we were to meet.” Mrs. Fessenden drew herself erect Her breath came fast, her eyes were bright, and she had nearly reached the limit of forbearance toward Maude. “Mrs. Penfleld—" she began with dig- nity, but Maude broke in. ] must have been a baby not to have recognized the name.” lara hesitated, checking the word upon . her lips, for with her former friend to b {nelegant was to be sincere. “I do not understand,” she substituted prudently. “To think, my dear, of you being the first of us to capture Horace Hopworthy and keeping it from me!" cried Maude. “T am sure I mentioned that we hoped to have him,” murmured Mrs. Fessenden, “So sweet of you to give us such a sur- 1 prise, it was most delightful,” Lena Liv- ingstone drawled. g “Your house is always such a Joppa for ? successful genius,” declared Mrs. Balllng ton, *“or is It Mecea? I've forgotien which. How did you come to know he was In town?" “Jack's relatives in Boston always send § us the most charming people with let- | ters,”” answered Clara. “Shall we take coffee on the balcony? The men are laugh. ing so in the smoking-room we can’t-talk here with any comfort.” Later—an hour later—when the last car- riage door had slammed, Jack lit a eigar- ette and said ““That Hoppy fellow seemed to make 3 5 he was rather a fortunate Qi she said, “but, Jack, we rea take a literary mazazine.”