The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-12-19

once, and now-you won't mind it so
much for one night, viii your
Miss Thorne sat up very straight,
chilled by sudden foreboding.
Mind what?" she demanded with
unwonted sharpness, and the young
woman from outside the window
laughed softly.
Changing places with me-" she an
swered. You see, there is only body
enough for one of US, and since you in
vited me in I have a right to it until
half-past in the morning-the turn
ing time you know-and you-well,
you have to go-go outside!"
Miss Thorne gasped. 1T is impossi-
ble!" she declared, quite impossible!
am sorry to seem selfish and disap-
point you, but 1 was never out in the
street alone after dark in all my life;
and, besides, have an engagement for
this evening. I couldn't think of
changing places with you, really"
The outsider" laughed again-a de-
murely, mischievous little laugh this
time. "You do not need to think of it,
she said, "for-see?' and with
comprehensive wave of her hand she
directed MissThornes attention to the
fact that a swift and singular change
was taking place in her personality.
From being transparent she had be-
come translucent, and was rapidly be-
coming Opaque!
At the same instant Miss Thorne
felt an odd creepy" sensation pass
over her, and as her Mortified eyes
looked down at herself she became in
dignantly aware that in some mystic
rious way she had been robbed of her
physical being, and that her visitor
was in possession, not only of her ap-
pearance. but also of her substance.
II think you are very rude, "she half
sobbed, land very ungrateful! and you
ought to be ashamed of yourselfl"
Il am" said the newly solidified Miss
Thorne earnestly. 81 really am, 1 as
sure you, but that doesn't make any
| difference under the circumstances.
You'll be obliged to co.
But 1 absolutely decline to help
carry out this absurd arrangement"
persisted the rightful owner of the
pretty face that was now regarding
her with mischievous triumph, and the
young woman in possession rose with
an air Of gentle decision.
Our rules are never broken" she
said, land you really must submit. 1
couldn't change back now until the
right time if 1 wanted to. And now
must bid you good-evening, for Jane
! is coming. Be sure to be close at hand
at half past 3 or you will have to stay
outside until next Christmas eve.
Thanks and goodnight"
And before she could at all realize
what had occurred the deposed daugh-
ter of the house of Thorne found her
own window bolted behind her and the
curtain drawn, shutting her out COM
pletely from the life that had been
hers.
Mr.. Van Aleyne was the first to bow
before Miss ThOrne when she made her
appearance, unusually late, under the
| brilliant lights of the crowded ball
room. and she graciously granted him
the privilege Of putting down his name
for two dances and a may be-" dis
tributing the rest impartially among
the especially favored ones of ''her
set" Outside the window pair
of unseen eyes watched her every
movement for was there not
painful possibility that this fair pre-
| tender might compromise the real Miss
Thorne beyond redemption? What
might not girl who had spent all her
existence on the outside of life be ca
pable of when she found herself inside
of the charmed circle? The independ-
ence for which she had longed was hers
for this one night, and she could make
what use of it she would.
She was flirting abominably-that
was certain. Was it possible, thought
the girl whose place she had taken, that
Miss Thorne, of whom she purported to
be perfect copy, ever made eyes" at
people in that way? Was the real Miss
Thorne always so conscious of her
pretty face and her pretty Shout
| ders and her pretty hands and her
pretty waist and her pretty feet and
her pretty gowns, and was this coun-
! terfeit a true presentment of
her? Was the real Miss Thorne
so full of mods and becks and
wreathed smiles" and did she
bestow them so lavishingly upon her
little court? And was the real Miss
Thorne so rosily triumphant over the
small victories of a ball room? If so,
then Mark was surely justified in feel
ing himself aggrieved and taking excep-
lions to her conduct. Poor Mark It
was no wonder that he had remon-
strated, and she had treated him most
| unkindly. If he would only give her