The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-12-19
OUR BACHELOR FRIEND.

standing ny the Tray III HeI laIue I ) cosy
library. glanced inquiringly around into eyes
gray, blue, hazel, and brown like her own.
You are leaving the big chair for me-
Though l be the hostess, since l have
taken the liberty of appointing myself
speaker l will take i'll can cut short my
peroratiOn if you will kindly call to mind
that your notes ran something in this wise:
Miss Kittridge will be al home Wednes-
day, October 2lst at 8 IN the afternoon.
The favor of your company is especially re-
quested, as matter OF interest to US all will
be under discussion or a moment will
you be so kind as to take an inventory of
yourselves? Before to-day, have more than
three of you ever been under the same roof
together? Have more than two of you, ex-
cept in the case of the Misses Cube? Now,
who will be the first to surmise what matter
can be of common interest %
"A mani" cried the unconventional Miss
Salter, with one of her sparkling little trills
Of laughter.
THE man." amended Miss Norwich.
with her usual directneSs of speech.
"Why not say Mr.. Grange and be don
with it?" said Miss SODIUM, sourly. d" g
handsome triher who has made love to
every unmarried woman in the place
MISS hlllIllsc oMllGUt lutu hd!ltu d
moment as she glanced around.
'Ah, thirteen of us-an unlucky number
for Mr.. Grangel Young ladies, they say
a woman ca keep her own secret better
than that OF another. As the proceedings
of this little convention are of interest to
each of US | think We shall find no trouble
in holding them strictly confidential Now
the next condition l would impose is not as
easy as it looks at first blush. Hands up,
all of you'll Who Will tell the exact truth
for the next half hour? Come, Miss DayO.
wear your heart on your sleeve for once in
your life; it may ease IT,
The smile on the SPEAKERS lace was so
sympathetic, so sweet, 50 reassuring, that
though Miss Dayo's tender brown eyes
showed that her heart stood still midway
in its beat, like frozen waterfall" ye t she
raised her hand.
"Now set aside all self-depreci alton while
you answer this question from your own
private poiut OF view: How many of you
believe Mr. Grange ut some time showed
marked symptoms OF being in love while in
your presence? Come, Miss Demo, they
had you engaged to him."
80 have we all been, sighed Miss Salter.
Miss Dayo, you need not put rp your
hand; l read your aAsweT in your eyes"
As she looked around laugh shone in
her own bright brown orbs.
Gracious girls she exclaimed, what
a mighty fountain Of love must be yelling
up in mat heart of his that it can reach us
alp
1t may be one of those parlor fountains"
suggested Miss Norwich, using the same
water over and over again"
"Or his love may be like the wind" said
Miss Cube. II bloweth where a girl
hs.eneth, and no one knows whence it
cOmeth or whittier it goeth."
"Or, signed Miss Salter, 1.-THE wind or
wave motion moves on, but the calm depths
so tossed and torn must fall back in the
same old place-squeezed lemon fashion,"
On, Miss Sal,er, l beg of you do not
tell me that he pressed your hand, tooW
cried Miss Fair.
TALLY? Is not the language Of true love
ever tie same?"
Then l suppose" said Miss Ellsworth,
THAT he popped out of his Office like Jack
In the box at all OF YOU"
Come, girls, l must call you to order"
said Miss kttridge, at this juncture. 81
have another question. How many of you
have had an odd moment or two in which
you have iancled yourself in love with Mr.
Granger Miss Fair and Miss Ellsworth,
your hands are not up. Lucky girls! You.
to-, Miss Lynn
You see" said Miss Lynn. in that big
CHEEKY voice of hers, Il was engaged,
though if Mr.. Grange had begged me quite
hard but go on, Miss Salter."
Wei" said that lady with a laugh,
night after night | spread before him my
engaGeless hand, but to no purpose. He
seemed to take no real heart interest in me
till | wore Tom Martins ring; then he
found value that possession would not
show him."
Girls" said Miss Kittrldge, as she
leaned her chin thOughtfully III her hand,
since my engagement have been enabled
to see Mr.. Grange with other eyes; do not
say they are truer ones, but at all events he
~ md haFn int taa la lfrE.s
and not IN fancy's rosy rays. Now, young
ladies'. aside from his one fault, you will all
agree that he is model man. That he is
bright and talented his numerous cases
testify. How man so constant to his pro-
LESSON can be SO incOnstant in his love
dinand, he never found so full soul but
some defect in her did quarrel with the
nOblest grace she owned"
when he congratulated me upon my en-
gagement," said Mis-, Lynn, "he told me
confaentially the quality he most admired
In woman was modesty. am sorry to say
he added, that the girl Of to-day is too easily
won and repels lover by her eagerness 10
allure him."
There was a storm Of Indignation at this.
What is girl to do when a man all but
proposes cried bright Miss Salter. "Frown
him DOWN."
"Or run away% suggested Miss Sodum.
full height and give him glance of supreme
scorn," added Miss Klttridge. but to re-
turn to business. My purpose In calling
you here Is to declare plot to compel this
creature wrapped up In self to provide pin
money for some pining woman. His duty
seems very clear to me. He has been play
ing with our hearts, so he can find no fault
II We play or gamble or cast lots for his.
he is a man whose like, take him all in all,
we DO not often see, so we will take it for
granted that the girl whom destiny through
these balls selects will accept her fate with
becoming resignation. There are seven
white marbles and one black one; you are
each to take ball as you walk by this
bowl. Miss Dayo, dear, why are you shrink
ing back?"
u suppose" with a smile, "that ! need
not be greatly disturbed; the best-laid
plans OF mice and men gang aft agIey.' But
truly, Miss Kittridge. am sorry, for fear
you will find me of little help. l do not like
to ask him TO call, even. He always seems
SO busy"
Miss Kittridge kissed her.
What have you drawn, little grip"
"1he black ball"
"Bravol Then all is as it should be, and
you need DO no violence to your instincts.
Act out nature-don't Invite him to your
home. And do you," turning to the rest,
'overwhelm him with your admiring atten-
ton. The pleasure you will have, in COM
uOtCo8 NJ, ~ uUeS UOL Beem quite
correct; but everything is fair In love and
war, and this matter par.akes of the nature
OF both. Can you all meet me here at the
same hour IN two weeks? Remember, girls.
your part, and you, Miss Dayo, be your dear,
shy self. Good-by-good-byl Remember,
In two weeksN
''There. didn't l tell you SO? Every one
Of you, kitten like, have fallen on your feet.
Aren't you ashamed of yourseIve.-not a
heart bowed down by sorrow? You have
not met your loves Waterloo yet. / have
regrets from the Misses SODIUM, Ellsworth.
Fair and Lynn. Shall We have the reports
Of the members of this philanthropic So
eiely? Miss Cube, will you kindly begin ?"
There was a smile In Miss Cubes gray
eyes as she commenced.
II thought it best to let no grass grow under
my feet, so my sister set out next morning
for the office of Mr.. Grange. told him that
Irene and l had long been in doubt as TO
which he was most deeply attached; as it
was possible he could not decide all III mo
ment he might call in the afternoon and
mention his preference. He looked from
one to the other of us with such an express
sion! AS we reached the door Irene turned
and said, with languishing air, You will
nd