The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-24

don't you know; she'll need bit O. driv-
ing; but / really don't see why you should
come to grief. / don't, pom my soul. No.
With tact on your part, you might very
well pull through
How dye mean tact, Lord Thrapston?"
''Oh, amuse her. Let her travel; give
her lots of society; don't bother her with
domestic affairs. Don't let her feel shes
under any obligation. That's what's she
kicks against. So do [; always did,"
Calder pulled his mustache. Lord Thrap-
ston had briefly sketched the exact oppo-
site of his ideal of married life
The fact is" continued the old man,
''the boys an uncommon handsome boy.
She can't resist that. Nor more can [;
never could"
There CHANGED to be a mirror opposite
Calder, and he dispassionately considered
himself. There was, he concluded, every
prospect OF Miss Glyn resisting an engross-
ing passion for him.
Its very good of you to have told me all
about it" he remarked, rising. I'll think
it over"
Eyes, do. OF course, I admit she's given
you perfectly good reason for breaking off
your engagement if you like. Mind that.
We don't feel aggrieyed, Calder. Act as
you think best. We admit we're in the
wrong but we must stand by what we've
done"
II should not like to give her and PAIN
Pain! Oh, dear me, no, my dear boy
She won't fret. Make your mind easy
about that"
Calder felt a sudden impulse to disclose
10 Lord Thrapston his secret opinion of
him, and he recollected, with a pang, that
IN the course OF so doing he would have 10
touch on more than one characteristic
shared by the old man and Agatha Where
were her visions OF quiet home in the
country, OF freedom from the irksome
duties OF society, of q dutiful and devoted
wife, surrounded by children and thanked
by jam potsP He had once painted
this picture for Agatha, shortly after
she had agreed to that arrange
ment, which she declined to call
promise of marriage; and it occurred
TO him now that she mad allowed the SUBJ
leet to drop without any expression of con-
currence. He took leave of Lord Thrap-
ston and went for a solitary walk. He
wanted to think. But the position of
affairs was such that other persons also
Ielt the need of reflection, and Calder had
not been walking by the Row very long be-
FORE lifting his eyes, he saw young man
approaching. The young man was not at
tired as he ought to have been; he wore a
Light suit, dissolute necktie, and soft,
wldeawake crammed down low on his
head. He had obviously forsworn the van
tiles of the world and was wearing the will
low. He came up to Calder and held out
his hand.
Wentworth, " he said, "I-left you rudely
the other day. / was doing you an inius-
tice. l have heard the truth from Mrs
Blunt. You are free from all blame. We
we are fellow sufferers"
His tones were so mournful that Calder
shook his hand with warm sympathy, and
remarked:
Pretty rough on US both, amt it?''
''For me-" declared Charlie, everything
is over. My trust in woman is destroyed
my pleasure in life is-'
We'll, l don't feel al myself, old chap, y
said Calder.
II have written toto her, to say good
by
mo; have you, thought"
"What else could / do? Wentworth. do
you suppose that, even if she was free. I
would think of her for another moment
Can there be love where there is no esteem,
no trust, no confdence?"
II was just thinking that when you came
up" said Calder.
mo, at whatever cost, I--every self-re-
speeding man-must consider first OF all