The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-05-10
THE SHADOW OF FATE.
BE Had the DeBartHdl Drop Down Fine, but
an Awful Name.

did not drop down on my knees prop
erly, Miss BIack?" he asked, with wild.
yearning anxiety in his voice.
The young woman took a lace-bordered
handkerchief from her pocket with grace
ful sweep of the hand. drew it In correct
geOmetrlcal curve across her lips, and re-
turned it to her pocket with the same care
ful accuracy of curYilinear motion.
While not strictly correct from DeiSar-
team point of view, MI. Savage" she re-
piled, land not wholly pleasing TO an eye
and intellect trained in what is known as
the philosophy of expression, yet the evil
dent sincerity of your feelings might lead
me to overlook the crudity, if | may so ex-
press myself, of their outward manifesto
tioA."
And may dare to hope?"
" have not said so much as that, Mr.. Saw
age; yet"
Miss Black-Etta-hear mel he pleaded.
Il do not claim to be posted in this Delsar-
team business, Ii l had practiced on a
graceful-um-fop for a week L don't be-
ieye l could have got down on my knees in
any better style than did. l haven't had
any instruction. You can't expect green
hand to take hold of new wrinkle in science
the same as a regular jOurneyman scientist.
Is there anything in the textbooks that tells
how to do this kind of thing?"
There are certain clearly established
principles, Mr.. Savage" said the young
woman, regarding the outward expression
of the inner nature, and the careful student
Of"
Certainly, certainly, Miss Eta" cor
daily aSSented the young man, "bnt may
ask if you have any objection to me person
ally, aside from my-hum i-crudity ?"
A faint, decorOuS, DelSartean blush passed
with graceful, WaYe-lik6 motion across her
face.
''Why, Mr.. Savage" she answered "pos-
sibly might waive certain high artistic con-
siderations Tiff l could silence voice that
seems to rise from the depths of my inner
consciousness and bid me beware of taking
any irreyocable step in this matter"
If it is anything about my bank account
Miss Eta, let ME assure you
''Mr Savage, / beg of you to believe that
no sordid considerations influence me in
hesitating to consider the flattering pro-
pOsal you have made me. Do you not seem
to hear warning? Is there no impapable
shadow that seems to rise between us? On,
Mr.. Savage" she exclaimed, do you not
see it?"
''oee an impalpable shadow Well, 1
should rather say"
"Oh, Mr.. SaVagep'-and the young woman
shuddered in slow, economically correct
shudderS as the full realization of the awful
truth was borne in upon her mind-''it is
fatel 1t is fatei Do you not see it?"
"See what?"
The utter lmpossibility OF my ever be-
coming your wife,
No! How? Why? Whatdo you mean ?"
Mr.. Savage" said the young woman,
rising up, pale but strictly correct, and
speaking in calm, inexorable accents that
smote on his ears like hammer-strokes of
destiny. sit is impossible If l should
marry you and again a Delsartean shud-
der decorously agitated her frame-"if l
should marry you l would be-
What? Don't keep me in suspense, for
heavens sakeI You would be what?"
" would be Eta Black Sayager'
1t would never do. The yeung man saw
it. Under cover of the thick shadow that
fate had thrown across the pathway of
these two young persons Mr.. Savage hastily
brushed the dust of his knees, picked up
his hat. cane and gloves, and made his es-
cape.-Chicago Tribune