The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-25
CHRISTMAS, 1894.


tits Christmas morning in San Francisco
and Evelyn stands as she did three years
ago looking out of the window.
But what difference! The house is on
Pacific Heights The window is wide
open, looking out upon the blue bay mir
ror-like in its stiffness. Curtains of point
lace stir softly with the faint breeze. Rich
bowls of cut glass hold exquisite La France
roses whose fragrance steals family out to
meet the scent of growing violets from the
garden beneath.
The whole room is a picture of chaste
elegance, and Evelyn, plumper, fresher-
looking and silken -gowned, feels her heart
swell with gratitude to the wonderful
fate which has thrown her into this beauti-
full haven of rest and happiness.
There was nothing so very startling IN
it ALL looking back. 1t had all seemed to
come about so naturally. The young man
who snatched her from under the horses
feet. thus saving her life, and carried her
home with broken arm, was we'll TODD
American who fell in love with her, caught
her bruised heart in the rebound and mar
ried her within six months. After years
wanderings on the Continent and in the
United States he had brought her to a
house he owned in the beautiful Bay City,
which to her seemed like some dream out
of Paradise. with it's lovely park, its ever
blooming roses and its soft autumn sun
shine. She never tired of the roses and
always carried them with her OF had her
rooms full of them.
The old house in Finsbury square was
kept warm the year around now; plenty
of port in the wine-cellar and plenty of
Goals in the CRATE; another servant,
stronger tea and more butter on the toast,
besides new furniture and fresh pack of
cards month if they chose to have them
these were among the increased comforts.
There was a wonderful cribbage- board of
real ebony inlaid with real ivory just ar
irving there now as a Christmas present
from that fairy city over the sea, where
Evelyn had pitched her permanent tent.
Her husband, Irving Role, is not I'M
usual in any way-good looking and
manly-but called 'crank" by his friends
in the matter of his one superstition. He
had observed that on the eve of any great
event in his life which augured well for
him he always found in his very path the
ace of diamonds card. When boy of II
he had gone to the Colorado mines, where
he had staked out his claim and worked
indefatigably for months. Nothing came
of it. One gay it became a question in
his mind-"Shall give it all up, or shall
try little longer?"
To determine his action one way or the
other he took pack of cards in his hand
and said: II will cut; black card go,
red card 1 stay" He cut the ace of dia-
monds and staid. Within twenty-four
bours he had struck the finest lead in the
section and his fortune was made.
Thatwas the beginning of his supersti-
ton and the thing had now ceased to be
matter of speculation with him; it was a
fact. When he saw the card in Evelyn's
hand he was just as sure that she was to
be his wife, and the right wife for him to
secure as he was when he stood at the
altar with her.
| His wealth, which to Californians seemed
| moderate, to his wife seemed boundIess
aff1uence Never to think before she
| bought any article of her desire; never to
| walk in mud and rain, but to have pair
of sleek horses at her disposal; no rat
! ting omnibus nor even the finer luxury o.
| a hanson cab, but her own carriage, soft.
cushioned, easy-rolling, and servants and
an adoring husband to anticipate her most
careless wish.
| Her big, amiable husband found tears
| in her eyes as he came in from the garden
with bunch of violets he had gathered
with his own hands for her.
sIs wife homesick for England on this
| Christmas morning?" he asked caress-
ingly.
"Homesick?' and she smiled through
her tears. 81 was thinking this, she said
in her little, precise English way. which