The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-11-22

look mechanically at the doorway. Stand
ing there, head and shoulders above his
Deighbors, is a tall man, his face brown
and deeply lined, a heavy dark mustaehe
partly hiding a very determined mouth.
Its Neville Surtees!
A curious sort of singing noise comes
in my ears, and all at once the people seem
lar away and L stand there alone, a shadow
among shadows, facing my old lover.
The being in front of me, the dim, H.
L suppose beckons to Neville, for he
comes straight toward the little group of
which l form the shadowy background
why, Crofton. have you come through
the center of the earth? Havs you Just
left the Antipodes? We were just speak
ing of you. man, when we looked up and
saw you standing in the doorway"
VI came the usual way" answered New
lille, and his voice sounds harsh and distinct
through the buZzing in my ears. IL have
been away, Frank, seven years all but one
month. and l come back to find you Just
where l left You, in the corner of Lady
Somebody's drawing-room talking to Mrs.
Goldingham."
Both shadows laugh.
Are you home for gnod?"
'For good? ?" Neville seemed to ponder.
81 don't think anything is for good / have
come home for change"
Tired OF Australia, Neville?"
Tired of life"
Then the buzzing sound comes louder: I
seem TO hear through a mist, as though IL
were in another life. at is Dulce % and
then remember no more till / find myself
in smaller boudoIr behind the back draw
ing-ruom with Neville by my side.
"Did faint? Is it you?" L asked stupid
II. for l thought / must be dreaming.
THAT man called you Crofton; are you
really the Neville Surtees fused to
know"
bad imitation OF him labeled Crofton. An
old man in Australia died three years ago,
and left me his fortune and his name |
wanted neither, but / took both, and-I
have nothing to do with trade now, Dulce.
beg your pardon-I should have said Miss
Malcolm. By the by, how is air. Nal
colm?"
BE died three years ago. and 1 live alone
am SURPRISED to find how calmly can
speak. Perhaps the repression of the last
seven years has taught me self-control.
II never knew" be answered with O
paincd look in his brown eyes.
Suddenly figure appears at the door-a
small woman dressed in the extremity of the
fashion, with her fair golden curls piled
lightly into the last new shape.
"Are you not coming. Nevillep 1t is time
to 90 on to Mrs. Hawkes."
.'Ahr Neville seems about to say some
thing, then be turns to me and bites his lin.
Are you better, Miss Malcolm? Can /
leave your"
yes. thank you. But are you going?
Shall not see yon again soonp'
II think not Yes. Lydia, am coming"
for tile small person in the doorway is get
ting impatient. Good by" he says abruptly
holding my cold hand in his strong warm
grasp. II am going back to Australia d.
rectly."
They are gone and my cousin comes bustl-
Ing in. She is stout and pale, a humdrnm
sort of woman, very matter of fact and with
out the smallest spice of humor. quite in
capable Of taking in more than one idea al
time and unsympathetic to any one or any
thing that is not absolutely connected with
her own health or position in society.
"They tell me you tainted. Dulce-th
room Is very hot; but Lady Etheldreda is so
nice. her parties are always crammed. Such
q number OF nice people here. BY the by,
/ saw the tall man you used to know
Neville Something or other-he has brought
home new name and also wife"
"a wife, Cousin Elizabeth Was that
his wife?"
Somehow 1t had never occurred to me.
My head Is still stupid and confused, or /
must have known that was his wife.
Yes. a granddaughter If Lord BIS. my
dear, and a great catch. He always was a
lucky man, and he never stuck much In one
groove, but moved about and made fresh
friends wherever he went. He always got
on well with really nice people, although
DoileVo Ills ldlBtr was OILY an lr0nmaeter.
Come, Dulcs. 1t is getting late and IL you
look so white, l shall not take you to the
Colmans tomorrow
mot another AT Home Cousin Eliza
BETH" / pleaded. II will never go to one
again. The-the rooms are SO hot" my
voice breaks into tears.
Cousin Elizabeth stares. She calls every
mood she cannot understand at once "hys-
terical."
"You are hysterical, Dulce. At your age
you should know better. Come home at
once"
follow her meekly downstairs, give up
my cTumpled cloak ticket in exchange for
my equally crumpled cloak, and we drive
siIanty home through the dark. cool night.
The page OF my life's history is closed for
ever. / tell Cousin Elizabeth that London
and late hours do not agree with me, and
spend the quiet days in my country home,
each hour laden with small duties. my little
store OF withered memories watered by
silent tears.
And Neville? received this one letter
from him:
Dear Dulce-Yonr sad little face haupts me
ano can blame 10 one but myself Had been
patieDt tand yet could walt for your father.
death to fee your and lived my life on 10 Eng.
land all might have been SO different. Now the
spirit Oh unrest grows within me; must exor.
else him by change OF scene. My wife will not
go back with me to Australia, so think OF me
alone, as you are. Yours, as In old times,
NEVILLE.
have never seen him since we met and
| parted--at Lady Etheldreda's AT Home
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Indigestion Miserable Take Beecham's Pin.