The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-06-30
CARRIE CLAIRE.

INV emily the same musical voice re-
peated the call.
Silence still.
Then pretty Carrie Claire, raising herself
on tip-toe, held aside the clustering roses
and ivy-leaves that almost covered the little
back window of the lawn summer-h0use,
and peeped in.
"Oh. there you arel" she cried; adding
afterward, almost in whisper. why, he's
fast asleep!'
On making this discovery sh e stood still
for some moments, q fair picture of sweet
girlish beauty; her gloved hand half hidden
in the foliage, her heart beating little
faster, a heightened color in her cheeks, and
tell-tale, tender brilliancy in her soft
brown eyes, that the sleeper would have
given all the world to see
What a lovely, drowsy afternoon it was!
No wonder Robert Ruiton had found its in
1uence irresistible.
There had been great pretense of single
handed tennis between himself and Carrie
Claire after luncheon, until she had been
called away upon some household matter
which had detained her more than half an
hour She had left him to the Indulgence
of cigarette. The remains Of it were lying
on the rustic table close to his hand.
How handsome he looked, now that his
clear-cut arstocratic features were in rapt
repose; and how well his loose. white suit
set off his manly figure! Decidedly Robert
Ruiton was an unusually fine specimen of
English manhood.
d" 1t will never do to let him open his eyes
and catch me peeping thus" was the girls
next remark, and so she removed her hand,
and the leafy screen fell over the window
again. Then, struck with a merry thought,
she added, What a chance for a pair OF
glovesl What would he say?"
For a moment or so she was scared at the
audacity of the very idea. Then, with
slow steps and fluttering pulses, she fol-
lowed the winding path that led to the en-
trance of the summer-hOuse.
On reaching the threshold she paused and
was half inclined to ty.
Yet there lie sat-unquestionably sound
asleep. The temptation was strong indeed
Roster grew her cheeks. Rogush lights
twinkled in her eyes. The dimpies deep
ened round her parted lips.
"What would he say?"
She drew nearer as she asked herself the
question, her heart throbbing, every nerve
tingling.
Then she stopped short suddenly. upon
catching sight OF some glltterlng object that
lay upon the floor.
1t was n large gold l02ket.
1t had fallen from his pocket, or slipped
out of his hand perhaps. What could it
mean? She had never seen him in posses
sion of any such trinket.
For some seconds she gaZed at it as though
fascinated.
Then without another thought, impelled
by an irresistible impulse of curiosity, she
picked it up.
On lifting it the locket opened; it had
been simply closed, not clasped.
Carrie Ciaire'S gaze rested upon the pic
tured semblance of q smiling, beautiful
face-the face of young girl, apparently
about her own age.
Her smiles died away at the sight of it.
Her eyes, so sparkling al instant before.
grew dim and clouded. Her heart gave one
great bound, and then stood still. Her
breast was filled with bitter, jealous pain.
Mechanically she closed the locket. aud
laid it again at her lovers feet
Abashed and humbled, she slowly crept
away, dragging her heavy footsteps across
the lawn TO an old cedar-tree beneath
whose wide-spreadlng branches was a
garden-seat and on this she sank YEARLY,
so changed in outward aspect and inward
feeling that she no longer seemed like the
land Yet" she sighed, "how often he
has told me that he loved me and no other!
Can it be really true that there is no sim
cerity in manY'
With stern resolution she forced back the
tears that came thronging to her eyes.
"How often he has assured me, in spite
of my jealous doubts. that was his first,
as well as his only love, and yet, while tell
Ing me so, was all the time CARVING the
portrait of another woman-the portrait of
his first love, of course. How glad l am
that found it out today
But in spite of her words. there were no
signs of gladness visible. Truth to tell, she
sat there feeling miserable enough, uncon-
scinus of all around and about her, until
she was aroused by a shadow falling be-
tween her and the sunlight. CHANGING up,
she saw her lover standing smilingly before
her. How she hated him for that false, de-
ceitful smilel
dear grip said Robert fondly, "why
are you sitting here alone, looking so vexed
and sad? IL was too bad of me to fall
asleep; but surely you can't be angry with
me about that?"
angry? Oh, .no-not at all! p
Then what has happened to annoy
Nothing. That is, nothing that need
trouble you about, Mr.. Ruiton."
And she drew away the hand which he
would have taken in his own, rising at the
same time and bowling coldly.
IL beg you will excuse me now, Mr..
Ruton; l wish to go indoorsl Good after
noon!
She tried very hard to keep her voice
calm and steady, but only partially sue
ceeded.
"Come, Carriew exclaimed Robert, put
off this strangeness-be more like YOURSELF
I-ahem"
He stopped short, drawing back a step,
for he caught sight Of one OF the servants |
from the house advancing quickly toward |
them.
BEG pardon, miss; but some visitors
have called, and
''Do you know if Mrs. Ruiton is with |
them?" asked Robert, quickly.
Il think so, sir"
my dear, kind, good motherv' he ejacu- |
lated with Of
Come, Carrie, be once more your dear old |
self. First Impressions are everything |
and of course l want you to be at your most |
charming best. But you will stand the or
are proverbally hard TO please in such |
case; but she must like you, Carrie-I am |
sure she must!"
Carrie Claire felt by no means equal to |
the attempt of controlling the current of |
events. Her face looked apathetic, almost |
sullen; but she suffered her companion to |
lead her toward the house.
"My dear GIRL he added, earnestly, "if |
anything l have said or done has caused |
this change in you, let me beg of you to lay |
it aside a little while. Don't forget your /
promised Trust me!'
But Carrie marched on in silence, vouch-
safng no reply. That hateful, pretty !
painted face danced in the air before her.
She could see little else.
TO tell you the truth" continued Rob-
ert, Il scarcely thought it possible that my
mother could arrive to-day, though had
letter this morning to say she had joined
party of friends homeward bound from
Cannes, and that probably she would arrive
a few hours after | received her letter. 1t |
shows how very anxious she is to see my |
choice-the dear girl who is so soon to be-
come my happy wife-and who is to make
me the happiest of men,"
But not word of response could he elicit
from Carrie ana matters were in this I'M
sfartnrE nnnHittnn al
the drawing-roOm.
OF what was said and done on this occa-
sion Carrie had only dim and indistinct
idea. OF course she was duly introduced
to Mrs. Ruiton. and she had hastily glimpse |
of kindly looking. ruddy face, with pro-
fusion of white hair about it, and having O
strong resemblance to Roberts well-kn0wn |
features; then most perYerselY and unac-