The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, February 25, 1906, Page 4

THE SAN FRANCISCO SUNDAY CALL. ! , = /‘$"' 0 a =~ [ —~ABeraeenr: o SFPorer~— seseain: B S b o i e spired and hated her for inspiring it. He appeared to resent the fact that the men- *h he labored haa tal pressure under wh not annibilated 7 ility of purer passion. And he ofte closed upon a gentier moed with burning bitterness. “How about your faith?" he inquired one day, after a passing tenderness. “Is it still the evidence of virtues not visible in me?” She flinched. as she always did at his flippancy There Is circumstantial evidence of those,” she replied, “suffi- clent to confound a jury.” Therp was a cloud upon his face. “Of the ‘ministering angel’ kind, I sup- pose,” he suggested. “Your judgment is warped,” he went on. “Do you expect to convince by such syllogisms as: It is virtuous to make presents of prunes. He makes me presents of prunes. Therafors he s virtuous. She looked -at him with wounded eyes. “That is met kind of you,” she “But, my dear lady, I am not kind. That is what 1 am arguing for.” Her lips closed firmly. She did not answer. “Is the assertion admitted?’ he in- quired. Her mouth quivered. He saw it, and his mood melted. “Do you mean to say,” he asked, ad- justing the rug about her shoulders and regarding her with an intent gaze, “that it makes any differenge to you™ The fragment of a sob broke from her. “Of course it makes a differenc: & she answered, 3 His hand closed firmly over the rug and rested against her shoulder. Why does it make a difference?’ he demanded. She stammered confusedly. “Because —becausé It does,” she replied. His face was very grave; the hand upon her shoulder trembled. “I hope to God it does not make a difference,” he said. “Look! There is a sail.” They rose and went to the ralling, following with unseeing eyes a white sail that skirted the horizom. At the vessel's side porpoises were leaping on the waves. She leaned over, her es brightening, her loosened hair blowing about her face in soft, brown strands. There was a pink flush in her cheeks. “1 should like to be a porpotise,” she sald, “and to skim that blue water in the sunshine. How happy they are “And you are not?” The flush died from her cheeks. Oh, no;” she answered. He leaned nearer: his hand brushed hers as it lay upon the railing. “Did love make you happy?’ he asked suddenly She raised met. “Love? s “That husband - of plained almost harsh him?" Her gaze went back to the water. A wistful tremor shook her lips. “He was very good to me,” she repliec walst was kiss- ger I yours, Ha you % “And I suppose you a cause he was good. Well, t suffices.” 5 ¢« She looked at him steadily: “Because 5‘0”;1//1_[ MAKE ME he was good to me,” she corrected. Then she hesitated. “But I did ngt love him in the way you mean,” she’zdded slowly. “I know now that 1 didmot SR RETE YOU, SN RETORIED. ugh scrawl « Jarr revine 70 “ER! he ejaculated half abse and then: “How do you know it?” She turned from him, looking after the vanishing sail, just visible in the remote violet of the distance. “There are many ways - His eyes rested upon the soft outlins of her ear, half hidden In her blown hailr. “What are they?” She turned her face still further from him. “It made no difference to me,” she sald, “whether he came or went. It wearied me to be with him —and I -was very Selfish. Whea he kissed me it left me cold.” His gase stung her sharply. “And if you loved some omne.” he sald, “it would make a great difference to you whether he came or went? It would gladd@en you to be with him, and when he kissed you It would not leave you cold?” “I—I think s0.” she answered. He bent toward her swiftly: then checked himself with a sneering laugh. “rn ive you a plece of valuable ad- vice,” he sald: “don’t allow yourself to grow sentimental. It is awful rot. And he threw himself Into his chair. He drew a notebook from his pocket and when she seated herself he did not look up. There was a gray cast about his face, and his lips were compressed She noticed that he was older than she at first supposed and that the hand with which he held the peneil twitched nervously. Then she lay watching him idly frem beneath lowered lids. An hour later he looked up, and their glances met. With sudden determina- tion he closed the book and replaced it in his pocket. “You look pale,” he re- marked, abruptly. “Do I7" she questioned unanimatedly. und ired if she .~ nd I am going to brim of his cap. “Well, without comment, 1 will state that your hair s fallen upon your forehead and that loosened lock is lying upon your heek—no, don't put it back.: I beg pardon— : spot appeared in the cheek xt to him. Her ey “How olerable you ar The smile in his eyes deepened. “How s you are!” he retorted. he remark That was I wonder if 3 as 1 dc prise his s sm good c} se from her chair, drawing her- self to her full stature. “I shall change* shortly, a ghe & For a long time they nt. Then, " she began. . s as the luncheon gong sounded and the the stecamer lurched, and she start quickly. The words were shot out “I do not see any re; £o uy passengers flocked past he nd hent and grasped the arm he held With the fares-o2 bille frete o Sthash. SED ¥ Teason why I should stewa s professional over her chair ou wil e « I—I am so dizzy,” she finished, sustaine v the | “Perhaps—: er all right,” broth?” he sald distinctly I will send appealingly. ietained by the impyise of e — ps—so long as it Is not unbe- . . . y 'Don’t,”” she sald pleadingly; “please, ming to you. sbe remonstrated the gentleman ulrr“‘_m] And before recovered He put her back into her chair and please don't.” ©"Why will you say such things?" she Y € Yo her su se he left her 2 ) 3 0 : o b Seroeles ha att bet. - et oot SOnOAL o RS S e T “Don't what?" he demanded roughly. fnqeess Mon patir i tem” » A e T I s rubrpesre) Taimu T L “Don't cu lackes: ¢ eed? Yes, pall ar soon after the steward reappeared bear- p When he placed the pillow be- e uvzdis:m‘sh;le%3-c'k3§~[u“;fl“"|ml that ing to you. It l'i‘:'esn;n:x’ frogy s - failed g _foud ucvnts “Fh tleman sent neath her head she noticed that his Bl Sk BRIt e hae . T e W 8, . sne « Jlips. “It is not like you.” e edge of her rug until it gl v “But you will be cold,” she remon- Ha' - toriiad let, glowed scar- d the she remarked strated from beneath his rug. «Pshaw! How d“om;.;n ::;wms“""“““"’“ meat: There!” she exclaimed in resent- they both he came up from the “Not L" he responded. “I am a tough L don't know. -1 only belleve." “That gives vo e 8 with closed ; .l.r-i-.m:,.;}fin.:-:“- himself into knot. If the fiery furnace has left me “I pever had much use for‘el.nlld he marked Comw&'fi.:l; radiant look,” he re- For“d'n’\ ;;»s[a;” r‘ Cosiia Sk R w:x:sc.’.\ll]]ed‘ a‘ little cold wind won't do % returned; “it is a poor sort of thing. Her eyes flashed. “You will make an in t he d s more than chap me.” She met his bitter gaze wit Fate e . me blankly, his brow wrinkling. She SaWw His voice had grown serious and she calm. “And yet men have s:;en:e;tdl:::): He zml.ltd'!:l'lg;e(!lonerg- . el i s of ‘her. 229 Todked'aip InguitluBly {EEe frvy T 5 farige.” “I am trying to" he oo po Wit ., mnace?" she repeated. = ¥ Above her head an electri; She st: . i - smsi:x A rndkmd-—nhmn the prunes, Oh, predestined damnation, if you ::2.; ?J:‘ce:;)oll;fa«l at lns“sez atndhsal;ow the world should be gentle to a thing like ing, and it cast a wmterlfgjhett :::n’hh':; "Then'y::gvegn'r:e:uctg:;d“;h':filz.“l":“' | , e ed. prefer. Are you religious?” . srim line of the jaw you* ssmall figure buried unde ou. you hear? I wi o e r pardon.” she replled, ety be repeated, vaguely. P i nd plented & thigee 1ants (TN OYERRE. by the iophatuntisfder, N(iino ahie.protested, °1 am not rugs. Her eves were glow:;;he'n::':"o' A 30;)2:;:{‘::{ o L R on whence the words Then he brought himself together With coming into her eyes, and she added: ggcgr s reckless lip. It was not a good.' & aoft | aufiualen, upon Mer l\' hu O . ? “ E a jerk Oh, you are the little Woman «The damned are not kind—and you 10 ace, this she knew. It wastheface His eyes lightened. “Any misdemeanors whether from the salt spra: oo “Do you hate as you next chair leaned to- Who was sick—yes—I remember e e of @ man of strong will and stronger punishable by law? s N d bl S R R i St d e sl 8 They were ver aid more Her words faltered, but they chased Hne wonderoq had lived hard and fast. T am discontented,” she went on. “I “Well, believe in me if you choose,” h “I gon’t know." she repl - m_n}x_ ; X the recklessness from his eyes. track Be b t‘i‘guel" at the furrowed rage when things go wrong. I am not & said; “it won't do any harm, even if ;: think I could hate you “_l;- ed. “I hardly am glad you liked them,” he re- ~Kind?" he returned. I wonder Now yonre Tho wondas amage.of njspast saint 5 req. 2gesn't do any good. ey Sour-sous Dtatainma s TR ) 3 * awed her, and she “I might have known it,”” he remarked, During the next few d “Ni a ays he nursed ‘Not though it were a part of wisdom > joined, and was silent. Then he broke many men we left in America would into an irrelevant laugh, ahd the lines yphold that—that verdict— felt half afrald of his grimness, grow- upon his forehead deepened. She saW many women, for that matter at he carried a habitual sneer upon Her honest e: e or you wouldn’t have spoken to me. I her with consta b ng grimmer n the gathering dusk. If have known lots of saints-mostly wom- out in the AEItag SHE P e i ehets no'mw" " I RaE e Sy xe hwere in his power, how quietly he en—and they always look the other way at the foot of the stairs, read; 5 ‘:.dltln" might bend and bresi mere. Aesh and wWhen & sinner comes along, The reputa- her om deck. When she went et his lips. With a half-frightened gesture wil] stand by it,” she replied simply. I beg your pardon,” he she drew from him S bone. But across the moodiness of his tlon of a saint is the most sensitive thing nigh " L T o it I hans I sk e that oy Ana. i(te melun: b "f?g;';lt‘]‘:;"‘[‘g‘;‘v‘:}"g;i%i’e:n;fl:fi face she caught the sudden warmth of on earth. It snould be kept in a hee e e M S ek e o o s : ¢ seered a lemon to that gray- ing,” she observed stiffly. I don't manT’ he demided dLHhEIT is glance and she remembered the case.” “Good night” before h!’l‘l z‘” ed her < .. 010 himself fres from an imag- B L e it e bow 1000s | Tie Survezed her: with . Sopbed i JARINRG & thausanE: Raiaby orcsl. touch GF Rl8 Hemas e eia’ . "Are you sa yery wicked?" she asked Her mele Were sceynd ofaide. sud abp nary welght, passing his hand across his ge. But are il in earnest?” humor. “It is not life, my dear lady, dent thrown in.” strong. She moved nearer, laying her frankly. o s (hr e SR End e O s T a5 Wi alént exactly choose it for Jest,” it is—you.” nt thrown dnt e bittesly, pe. [8EMe ADFersion the arm of'hIs chairl 34 was Sazios.out o ska whiors the c0'fo'a host of trivialities ufifes extend- Works foF PAte." he Teaponded. “spd for Ehe though somehow it does She spoke shore stiffiy still. “I don’t cause of the prunes?” H ; I am afraid you are unhappy,” she water broke into waves of deepening It was not a confl 7y Tas e B o e DOk O e Eralall Ta i a a 2 e T o hatlbe i Coieilie ey o i b || A% WO Jot wiwe) M ovelm’ Sures pms jons as days and weeks. It hat on one side?” wn into her face. e prunes o LLE Started nervously and faced her sl an cmerald set in & fawn-colored dome. out speaking; and et i s S Y ’ e ; 1119 m;g‘h‘.d again. “It Is perfectly and—and other things,” she answered :::ltderdo“silefleiin;lvwm ‘\Is hgpp,yr. he de- The llapp(ndg sound of tlhe wahves at the with aggressive irony. At auch‘(cimeeg l:l:: alul‘he:;".‘;“mx;e-r”n;’v. ;\d virtuous, A alapced, 1 assure you.' A ghost of the sneer awoke about e - gly. “Are you?” vessel’'s sides came softly through the smarted beneath the sting of hi: e " he said. “Love a says” she an- “Is my hair uncurled 5725 he shrank slightly, “Somehow I think stillness. Suddenly he spoke, his voice but it w s sneers, Wan because e is decenit—because he ir e e i« mao bt E shoulaiee Hivh Hptieed 455 s e T it Ry e B e e e e B e e M e e e vad gt the Gifugs thar 3 It is very pretty.” 1 % y; “but you—" monious whole. a thing icers 3 ove a fool. ¢ oply, 408 in @ moméat his - She wat g i oreadsl Qigutty. "oT a0 "with drtaios P AR the e | T A LA R el 1t el i SATHA 1) & 1% bt When 1E.Srake rorttral: o Mok 0 B Sl S o P les who glance wandered to the card upon her not desire compliments,” she returned. That evening he did not ng the deck. crossing his face, his keen glance soften- Aevil he Bl an€ T gueas ha, wato't St often,@id, 1€ 1ashea alfke the Ioet an i Tt § and feaves. it &t 6: T NT be ucationt: S atsll sbrely SnEorTIREIORZ iooak evining ke Sl P epeat it Me - vt colbasiion. - e 1t MRIEOI fer viets. Oniy, If 1 was & single devil the unjust, the sinner and the sfned than the damestic one of Mo HorPhers L SEs T e Gmeona e It shesing Bt eveh Nl e T A, ;;n::i;,o * Be sald. “What s sooaness for he was o lesion steeped In one. What a against. It did not mir Thit Rt o n.'.".i.'&%&"?éfé}"’»."i‘&."' - o < By J e one happy? I am a scoundrel he was!” il CHEIOCE: oy M TTIAE MOl il ot P R TN Seee nd card read Mrs. L. Smith.” in his chair, looking at her from under crept over the amber If: ne of the hori- rough brute, and I get my deserts. but The passion in his t . . ones caused her to in a dozen minor ways. It was as if he Continued o i n Page &