The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-07-04
AN EVASIVE ANSWER.
BY ALDoN ALToBELLL.

- HEY were both msrvelously beauti-
Ess ful-Rachel dark as an Andalusian;
,fkfS Rebe uca blonde as an Anglo-Saxon.
Aud Carlo, their cousin, since the days
when he had rolled hoops and played blind
mans buff and other infantile games with
taem had gone every day to visit them, en-
loving immensely the deliciOusness Of this
intimate and gay intercourse. Really he
mad never perceived that he was in love
with them, but when he sat between them
by The 1iGeside in winter and in the garden
in summer he felt his heart jump back and
forth from left to right, and if by chance
they touched his hand or looked at him, or,
bending toward him, swept his face softly,
the one with ebony curls, the other with
ringlets Of gold, then the youth blushed as
red as a coal, thrilled in every fiber, heard
a strange buzzng in his brain, and yet
whenever lie tried 10 think which Of the
sisters was the most adorable his efforts
meyer were crowned with decision. Not
seldom the excitement made him gay, with
tie gavety Of intoXication, but in such mo-
usrlts wee to him if he showed an inclina-
lion for one more than the other. While
the preferred sister showed her triumph III
a brilliant smile The other darted al him
spteful jests.
A. all events he found sweetness in this
sMavlng uf his soul, overwhelmed, now by
d dark eye full of sunlight, now by an eye
LIue AS the sea. He felt in the first the al
most savage delight of an ardent tropical
nature; in the other, the idyllic careSS OF
love, IN the warmth OF parl0r with VIII
doW-panes beaten by Teutonic tempest.
But not inlrequently Carlo, when alone,
felt the Joy of this double triumph of love
expire within him, and heard an Inward
voice: They are foOlDg thee, they are
foulng thee"
Ard really. even if they were not fooling
him, II appeared as if the two girls were Sc
cretly in accord to impel the young man to
declare himself finally either Tor the one or
tie other.
One evening they were in the garden, all
three seated on the same BENCH Rachel.
after glance of intelligence at her sister,
said:
I'VE have been reading an anecdote to-
day, so very, very pretty
AS pretty as yourseltW
e. On, more so-as pretty as Il" the
azure glance Of Rebecca seemed to answer
him.
And what was it?"
This was the story" replied RebeCca.
an. dc Talleyrand was in boat with Nine.
Recamier and Nine. de StaeL Nine. de
Stael asked him which of the two lie would
save if the boat should be overturned. oh,
baroness lie answered, / am sure that you
swim Ike an angel.
Carlo considered this witty reply of NJ.
de Talleyrand; but suddenly he grew silent,
observing himself to be the target of two
mlSchievous little smiles; and while he was
Tummaglng in his memory for an amusing
anecdote that should Danish those smiles,
he was startled by these words from Rachel:
We'll, Carlo, if this bench were boat in
the middle Of lake, and should overturn,
which of US two would you save?"
I'VE should be drowned, all three" he
replied, after long and painful silence
''All three of US, because | cannot SWIM"
After the audacity Of this proyocarion
Carlo understood that he must either freely
90 bis ways, or make his choice of a bride.
He wished TO begin with careful eXamina-
non OF his own feelings, as others make OF
their conscience; but 1t was in vain that he
collected himself for lengthy meditations,
that lie analysed and compared the charms,
the dispositions and the moral qualities of
the two girls; he saw them always paired
together in his mind, like two beautiful pro-
hes as seen in certain antique medalions;
1t seemed to him that they gave and received
beauty to and from each other: for the Dru-
nette was strength and tile blonde was gen.
tleness; one intiamed the heart, while the
other softened it; Rachel would be deli
eious tyrant, Rebecca delicious slave.
After several days passed in a state Of in
decision he was called by family affairs to
betake himself to Tuscany, where he was
detained for more than a month, which
seemed to him a century; and whence he
returned, with the proposition IN his mind
of giving the preference to the cousin who
should show the most affection for him.
He hastened, therefore, without delay, to
pay visit to the beauties When he was
alone with them, and his journey had been
discussed in detail, he came out with
question;
!" !. you saw me in danger which of you
would stretch forth her hand to help me?"
l." replied his cousins together.
III l were dying Of hunger or thirst
which OF you, young ladies, would give me
food and drink?"
L" and IL"
!" And if-if l were dying of love which
of you beautiful girls would restore my life
with kiss?"
Both were silent.
What Would you be so eruel?"
They still were silent.
Then you would let me dep
healing you, replied Rachel, interrupt
who fulfills revenge Healing you with
kiss. L should want my fiance."
And j, mine," added Rebecca.
Carlo sprang to his feet, pale as death.
Too late he learned that women are like
quail; there is one moment to hit Them
when that is passed, farewell, sportsman!
Hs Second Conviction.
William Ennis, who pleaded guilty to the
charge Of grand larceny, was sentenced,
yesterday, by Judge Murphy, to two years