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

"Of course" I repeated, ''and have al
ways thought her one of the most attractive
women in town, Another shake upon it,
old man."
But nv heart was heavy and my mind
.perpiexed, notwithstanding the forced cor
diality of my tones, and took an early op-
pOrtunity 10 withdraw by myself and think
over the situation.
Mrs. Walworthi She was pretty woman,
and what was more she was to all appear
ance woman whose winning manners be-
spoke a kindly heart Just the person"
I contemplated, whom / would pick out
for the helpmate of my somewhat exacting
friend, If -" Ipaused on that if. 1t was a
formidable enc. and grew none the smaller
or less important under my broodings In
deed it seemed to dilate until it assumed
gigantic proportions, worrying me and
weighing so heavily upon my conscience
that I at last rose from the newspaper at
which ! had been hopelessly staring, and
looking up Taylor again, asked him how
soon lie expected TO become Benedict
His answer startled me. In a week" he
replied, 'and if l have not asked you to the
ceremony, it is because Helen is not in a
position TO -"
! suppose he finished tie sentence. but |
did not hear him. II the marriage was so
near, Of course it would be folly on my part
to attempt TO hinder it. l drew III for the
second time
Bat | could not remain easv. TAYLOR is a
good fellow and it would be n shame to
allow him to marry a woman with whom he
could never be happy. He would feel any
such disappointment so keenlY, so much
more keeuly than most men. A lack of
principle or even OF sensibility on her part
would make him miserable. Anticipating
mi 4al- hall tp r,,al Z
him wretrhed, a pUrgatory would do it.
Was l right then in letting him proceed in
his intentions regarding Mrs. WalwOrth,
when she possibly was the woman Who'll
paused, and tried to call up her countenanee
before NE. 1t was a sweet one and posi-
bly, a true one. I might have trusted her for
myself, but do not look for perfection and
Taylor does, and will certainly go to the
bad if nc is deceived in his expectations.
Bit in weekl 1t is too late for interior
ence-Only it is never too late till the knot is
tied. As l thought of this, l decided I'M
pulSiyely and perhaps you may say I'M
wisely, to give him hint OF lis danger, and
did it in this wise.
''Taylor," said l. when / had him safely
in my own rooms, 81 am going to tell you a
bit of-peTsonai history, Curious enough. /
think to interest you. even upon the eve of
your marriage. do not know when shall
see you again, and | should like you to
81 know how lawyer and man of the world
can sometimes be taken in"
He nodded, accepting the situation good
humoredly, though I saw by the abstraction
with which he gazed into the fire, that
should have to be very interesting TO lure
him from the thoughts that engrossed him.
As / meant to be very interesting, this did
not greatly concern me.
zone morning last spring." / began, 81
received in my morning mail a letter, the
delicate penmanship Of which at once at
: tracted my attention ana awakened my
curiosity. Turning to the signature, | read
the. name of a young friend of mine and
somewhat startled at the thought that this
was the first time had ever seen the hand
writing of one)I knew so well, | peruSed the
letter with an interest that presently be-
came painful as l realized the tenor of its
contents: | will not quote the letter, though
l could. but confine myself to saying that
after modest recognition of my friendship
for her-quite fatherly friendship, assure
you, as she Is ONLY IS and ], as you know,
am well on toward 50-she proceeded to ask