The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-08-27

7 is all new experience to the girls.
Many and many of the mothers and
wives have been through II before.
4 or have watched it. The Civil War
IS not so very far back after all. But
the girls; misses Of the bread and butter
age in the April weather stage; it is new
to them.
Delirtously new. They are tearing emo
ton TO tatters in a way that melodrama
would hardly recognize. They are gor-
geously intoxicated with laughs and tears
and hugs and Mysteries. Behind these Is
q good sound basis of feeling that will
grow more reserved in manner before we
have another war Our own boys are
coming home too sound to admit of many
tragedies, and most Of the tears are the
kind that femininity revels in. To shed
oceans of tears on a big shoulder just be-
cause of those tears you didn't have to
shed; do you fancy it reasonable?
The April weather showed its first
symptoms in the bay parade of Thursday
l was its barometer on the Sunol Now
the Sunol carried the Camera Club a
quiet and demure enough boatload. who
wanted for the most part to take pictures
But the first sight of the Sherman was
the signal for a little hysterical gasp.
The girl IN Happy blue paced like bear
in cage. The wind played havoc with
her. She was the beauty of the boat. but
she didn't care. She let her hair be blown
out OF curl and the picture hat dashed as
the wind listed. She only walked. walked
the deck alone, and she looked as If she
might soon walk trippingly out on the
gray crinkles that lay between her and
the Sherman. There were such a lot Of
stories in her face; is It impudent 10 Won
der?
The plump one was as calm as you ex-
pect plumpness 10 be until we were near
EEa
saw him. or she thought she did. which
was quite as good. Then the April wealth
er broke loose in a great gale. Her camera
dropped heavily TO the bench and she
seized the first flag at hand. Dick, Oh,
Richard. Do you see me?" she asked
through quaTter-mile OF scolding wind
and pop-banging guns.
Richard did not reply, or at least we did
not understand him if he did.
Dick" she called again. rs your arm
all right, Dick?"
She was reaching out as far as her
plump little arm would go. and she waved
that bit Of stars and stripes as II il stood
for whole cOnQuering army. Then a
young hopeful, who owned the flag clam
bered on the bench and watched his
chance. Suddenly both his little hands
Clutched for the treasure. She chung TO ii.
and together they let it drop, strugglingIy,
Not until then did she know lust what
she had done
Was it your flag. little boy?" she asked
repentantly. He was too grief-stricken to
answer. III get YOU another one-a. great
big one-and a horn. too-just as soon as
ever We get back to town" she protested.
But I had 10 wave AT Dick. because 7
knew he'd be looking for me Don't ever
tell she added. conhdentially. TO the re-
covered hopeful, but Dick and I have
been engaged three years"
1t was q secret among half dozen of
Us at that end Of the deck.
The tall woman s-club looking girl
heard with scorn and looked upon the
April weather with an Tm-above-it glance
that struck dumb But I watched her
Ten minutes 1t was, while she grew
suller and cloudier. Then it came. There
was a gulp and down went her head on
the next girls shoulder, and off bobbed
the glasses and the instructive look was
cast away. 1t was good to see her cry
and wave and laugh and scream like the
rest of them. Don't be afraid. The clubs
may do their worst, but they cant quite
make over our girls after all.
All Of this. as I told you was prelim-
inary-the symptoms of what broke out
fully on Friday. When I reached Union
depot, long before the breakfast hour, I