The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-04-16
HOW THEY Met.


matter with you? Whom do you see there?"
"I-ohl / saw an interesting head among
the crowd, really an exceptionally interest
ing head; but now | am very anxious to
become acquainted with your adoTer. Ali
that blonde youth? Not bad; that young
man has a distinguished air no doubt
comes from fine family-and what is much
better, he looks manly and healthy"
"How coldly you judge him! / think him
extraordinary! ! never saw handsomer
face BE has fine physique and appears
like prince, just as l imagine the prince
in the fairy tale For the last week / have
met him daily on the Promenade-oh! and
he has the sweetest snow white poodle, that
often jumps around NE in joyous leaps, as
If he had something to tell me! Since then,
too | always meet him at the theater, where
he fixes his cpera-gass steadily upon me as
soon as the curtain falls. Do you not think
he loves me. Regiua?"
Il cannot say with any certainty, but at
any rate you are in love with him."
"Oh. Regina. you are so cruel"
Well. dear, do not let your courage fail
you; | think you stand a chance of becom-
ing the mistress OF the sweet white poodle,
If his master continues 10 stare at you to-
night-for you yourself are not less sweet"
Regina replied, smiling at her younger sis
ter. brautifnl girl Of Is, with whom she
occupied one Of the first boxes.
Regina herself, 10 years her senior, who
had been suddenly widowed after an eX-
ceedingy unhappy marriage, was one of
those dignifed, interesting persons who are
characterized by an atmosphere of melan-
chOly. These women often go through life
alone, because they are rarely understood
and appreciated.
Reginas lovely eyes turned once more
In the direction whence her sister had
diverted her attention. Yes, she had not
been mistaken; il was q remarkable head
Ire man to whom it belonged could not
possess plain, everyday nature; he must
be an extraordinary creature. He was not
handsome, but there was something glow
ing, fascinating, something very forclble in
those features. as if passionate fancy and
unrelentiDg realism had combined to bring
forth true human soul, filed With sense
of beauty.
How strange! In spite of the distance, it
seemed as II his eyes were fixed upon her,
and she felt herself drawn to him by kind
OF magnetism.
There he took up the opera-glass, and
that dis urbed her impression, SO she turned
away. AT this moment the curtain rose,
and her attention was fixed upon the stage.
But between every act, as soon as the daZ-
z Ing light filled the theater. it seemed to
Regina as if she were to greet friend. one
long sought for and finally found, whose
look should tell her that he would under
Stduu ueT ueekHSI anu thoughts ana
sensations. Oh. how good, how lovely be-
yond description it seemed, after such long,
long wandering!
The little sister at her side was so alb
sorbed In her own romance that she no
longer beedrd her. The Nagnerjan music
and the glowing looks of her AMBROSE put
her into an ecstacy OF delight which well
became her eighteen years; and as both
were going home ia their closed carriage
each one leaned silently in corner. Re-
rfr7n hnd alr
dreaming, but Elsie sighed now and then in
most heart-rending manner.
Dear Madam: This can go on no longer; we
are acquainted. only enough. however, 10 know
that we must look for one another. We have
yeI 10 confirm that which we have told through
the opera glasses. l feel a wonderful agitation
In my soul, like unto that which must have
stirred the great soul of the universe on the
morn of the creation after the "Let there be
light !" Believe Inc. there Will be light for US
Do come; VIII await you tomorrow between
two and three, al the National Gallery In front
oil Makarps Katherine CoronarO.'
Elsie read and reread this tote as she was
riding IN the carriage toward the place
which be had appointed for their rendez-
yous. 1t had been delivered that morning
10 her. and she did not doubt for a moment
who the author was Only she found the
style aud contents somewhat unusual. and
felt slightly agitated. She had not men
toned the note to her sister.
The writing did not harmonic in the
least with the young man she had pictured
to herself in every detail. The brisque.
forclblt sentiment which showed so plainly
in these lines hurt her, and seemed almost
command, when Elsie had expected a be-
seeching, modest entreaty in consideration
of the boldness Of the request. And this
all pervading rhapsody was making her feel
uneasy. Why did he not simply say II
love you," or Il am dying of loYe?" That
would have been much simpler and prettier
Amid all these considerations she but
toned the last button OF her faultless gloves,
while her heart beat violently; then once
more she drew forth small mirror to
closely examine her fringe and the effect of
her little hat; alas! every woman knows
very well how important her fringe, the
shape of her hat and the cut of her dress
are, in the great decisive moments of her
lilei
When finally the carriage stopped at the
entrance OF the National Gallery her tremb-
ling limbs scarcely brought Elsie to her
place of destination. At first she seemed to
see everything through haze, and, not
Daring 10 look around, she seated herself,
waiting Tor him TO come up and speak to
her.
But no one came About 10 minutes later
she took heart and looked about Was 1t
possible? he was not yet there! Elsie
wanted TO grow angry, but then she said to
herself that life was full Of unexpected
events. AT the last moment be might have
received company-a wealthy old uncle
might have dropped In whom he could not
very well ward of-or he might have been
detained at the glovestore, or his coachman
plight have taken him in the wrong direc-
ton, indeed, there were many reasons
Some tiresome elderly English ladies
stood about and few schoolgirls were try
Ing their best to appear appreciatiye of art.
couple OF young men stared boldly Mt
her. some went by indifferently, and several
earnest looking elderly gentlemen were
deeply interested In the study of Makart's
great work of art.
why, oh, why are there SO many super
Tu0us people In this world? Ii the ground
would only swallow them up! There in
the corner sat very old fellow, strange to
say. He had fixed his eyes On the entrance
as II Re were expecting some one. A glow
OF expectancy shone ia his eyes. AS vet he
had not even glanced at the painting. Ia
which he had turned his back, and he him
self looked like an artist or something OF
the sort, thought Elsie.
Minute after minute passed by, and one
. quarter of an hour after another, but the
expected one came not.
The visitors in the art gallery came and
went like the pictures Ia a Kaleidoscope
only Elsie and tile "odd fellow" did moi
move.
Elsie would have gone long before, bu,
she was full of curiosity to see whom the
stranger awaited. He looked as If life and
death depended upon this, expectation
Elsie. too, hung her dear little head de.
spairingly. She was bitterly diSappoin ted
So she had in vain felt feverish all thai
. forenoon. had not eaten bit OF luncheon
In vain she had spent two long hours upon
her toilet. aud lad told her sister a false
hood about friends sudden illness. And
now ali terrible doubts as to his love and