The San Francisco call., 1896-03-15

closely followed our host of the hour. ut
terly ignoring us all at suppertime. her
sole attention bestowed on the host and
hostess. That worthy couple, with that
hearty. yea, loving hospitality, the like un-
known elsewhere in the world, but found
all over California, in return piled her
with "Sech as it is" and "The most Won
derful black berries,' until she pleaded ex-
hauStion.
How loath they were for her to leave them
$50 soon," as if she and all of us were in
yited guests leaving too soon, instead OF
each and all nothing else but intruders.
My lady had such rare intuition she
always OWNED how good travellers story
was to such of these that were martyrs to
routine. never knew whether she was at
her best batting or landing a story. Any
way, she "harmonized, as she called it,
by going over to the parlor organ, and
commenced "Maxeltown braes are bon
ME-" Aye and aye! As she sang we all
thought for one Annie Laurie, at least, we
could ''lay US down and dee." Then came
our great surprise.
Sing something, Serge" said the artist
to the little fellow.
What shall | sing?" he laughed.
Something decent and in English" the
other answered.
'All my songs are decent" said the
curly headed one with demure accentua-
ton 81"
The taller interrupted his friend with
an explanation to the company.
He goes in for all kinds of strange
music, and if | bad not suggested differ
emily, like as not he would be giving us
Russian or Chinese or some such"
My lady nestled up to her hostess. She
knew by instinct we were going to have
treat. (Besides had she not argued he was
a musician, for in Gilroy he was whistling
from "The Meistersinger. He began
only an old song, but -
kathleen Mavourneen, the gray dawn
is breaking and the pathos of that won
drous voice filled with emotion. Gradually
the room was peopled-on the hair sofa
her ladyship. her uncle and the hostess;
the two chairs, respectively. by the chum
and myself; the hosts sister on a camp
stool; the host himself finding a partial
seat on the little table, where in state re-
posed two gorgeously bound big books.
The farmland and neighbor's son and
a neighbor's daughter dropped in, but re-
mained standing as if glued to the wall.
Who could resist? Not he, the gift ed fell
low. One song after another he poured
forth in that square, bare. artforsaken
room. Urged on by his adoring chum to
yet another effort, each more beautiful
seemingly than the last. The chum,
catching his cue from my lady's eyes:
"Tell them, Sergus," said he. ''Tell them
how we plotted to see 'Tannhauser.'
'Tell them yourself" he answered
iovially, finding seat on the little ocz
tagonal footstool by the fireplace.
But, by the insistence of her ladyship,
he told US of the plot.
Give over there (nodding to the artist)
and l have rooms together in San Fran
cisco. One month a little while ago we
had been very extravagant-spent a great
deal of money-in fact, giving q little
party, and going to two or three more.
We both of US get a little money
from back East; not much, but
we needn't starve.
Now we had landlady that W as jewel.
She was nonesuch for cleanliness. The
house was always full. No wonder, for it
was neat as wax. And the food (on the
European plan) was q thing to be con-
tented with. Also she had a faculty of
out apparently disturbing either Gives
painting or my music.
But oh, she was perfect terror on rent.
To the hour, in advance, her rent must be
or you received your dismis-
sal then and there, from which there was
no after appeal, though you offered her
double. 1t was her idiosyncrasv.
As she spoke slightly broken English
we often wondered of what nationality she
was.
We were together counting our resources,
wondering if it would run to little sup
per afterward. for we were going to hear
"Tannhauser" that night. As it happened
we were both wild to see it. Accident had
ever kept US from hearing it in full. and
Give is as Wagner as l am. (My
lazy gave patronizing little nod.)
When all at once, the same thought
came 10 both of US. Together we said:
whats the day of the month Graciousl