The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-01

families. / would mt dare to choose between
them, sir"
:! Certainly not" / rejoined unless you
had some good reason for doing so, such as
OF two of the ladies' to the hotel and not of
the third
They all had good pretexts for being
there. Mrs. Couldock gave her card to the
boy before going into the parlor and left as
soon as he returned with word that the lady
she called to see was not in. Mrs. Dawes
gave no card, but asked for Miss Terhune,
think, and did not remain a moment after
she was informed that that lady had left the
hotel"
And Mrs. Walworth?"
She came in from the street adjusting
her veil, and upon looking around for
mirror, was directed to the parlor into
which she at once stepped. She remained
there but moment, and when she came out
passed directly into tine street"
THESE words Disconnected me. The mir
ror was Just over the table in the small
room, but | managed TO remark noncha-
lantly:
Gould you not tell whether any of these
ladies opened the Bible?"
Not without seeming intrusive"
l sighed and dismissed The man. When
lie was gone | approached Taylor.
He can give us no assistance" | cried.
MY friend was already upon his feet, look
ing very miserable,
hHbn VI bul but lulIR 10 HC, lie re-
marked. Tomorrow l shall call upon Mrs.
Couldock and Miss Dawes and entreat them
to tell me if for any reason they undertook
to deliver letter mySteriOusly left in the
Bible of the - Hotel one day last month.
They may have been deputed to do so and
be quite willing to acknowledge it,"
And Mrs. WalwOrlh? VIII you not ask
her the same question:"
He shook his head and turned away.
Very we'll, said / to myself, then l
will"
CHAPTER II.
Accordingly, the next day | called upon
Mrs. WaIworth. She lived, as | already
knew, in a small and unpretentious house,
just on the verge of our most fashionable
quarter. But there was great taste dis
played in the furnishing of that house, and
| was not at all surprised to see evidences
eral effect tended to make you forget. |
was fortunate enough to find her in. and
still more fortunate to fiud her alone but
my courage fell as | confronted her. for she
has one OF those appealing faces that equally
interest and battle you, making you feel
that unless your errand be one of peace and
comfort, you had better not confront so
tremulouS mouth and so tender a hazel
eye. But l had steeled myself against too
much sympathy when | entered her pres
ence, so barely pausing to make my most
ingratiating bow, l took her by the hand,
and, gently forcing her to stand for a
moment where the light from the one win
dow fell full upon her face, l said
You must pardon my intrusion upon
you at time when you are naturally busy,
but there is something you can do for me
that Will lid me CT great anxiety. You
remember being in - Hotel one morning
last month";"
She was looking quietly up at me, her lips
parted, her eyes smiling and expectant, but
at the mention of that hotel l thought-and
yet l may have been mistaken-that slight
change took place in her expression if it was
only that the glance grew more gentle and
the smile more marked.
But her voice when she answered was the
same as that with which she had uttered
her greeting.
Il do not remember" she replied, yet
may have been there, | go TO so many
places. Why do you ask?" she inquired.
Because If you were there on that morn
ing-and have been told you were-you
may be able to solve a question that is
greatly perplexing me-"
Still the same gentle nquiring look on her
face, only new there was little furroW Of
wonder or interest between the eyes.