The San Francisco call., 1903-01-18

Bulk ana the woman WAS dominant,
With flushed face and flashing eyes that
caught a double luster from the glow
ing love that made her heart beat fast
Her gown, too, was the best she could
have worn 10 show her charms. She
must have known Brandon was there,
ana must have dressed especially to go
to him She wore her favorite long
flowing outer sleeve, without the close
shoulder, and gave enhancing glimpseS
of her arms with every movement, Ieav-
ing them almost bare when she lifted
her hands, which was often, for she was
full of gestures as a FrenchwOman. Her
bodice was cut low both back and front,
showing her large. perfectly molded
OF beauty and strength, and disclosing her
bosom just to its shadowy incurving,
white and billowy as drifted snow. Her
hair was thrown back in an attempt at
nature, it could not brook restraint, and
perslstently escaped in a hundred little
curls that fringed her face and lay upon
the soft white nape of her neck like
ivory.
With the mood that was upon her I
wonder Brandon maintained his self-re-
Straint even for moment He felt that
his only ,~hope lay in silence, so he sat
beside heF and said nothing. He told me
long afterward that while sitting there
In the intervals between her speech the
oddeSt, widest thoughts ran through his
brain He wondered how he could es-
cape. He thought of the window and
that possibly he might break awav
through it. and then he thought of feign-
ing illness and hundred other absurd
schemes but they all came TO nothing
and ne sat there to let events take their
own course, as they seemed determined
to do in spite of him.
After a short silence Mary continued
half banteringly: Answer me- siri /
will have no more of this You shall
treat ME at least with the courtesy you
4
daughter"
Yes, know all that but am not II
can't be helped, and you shall answer
There is no answer. dear, Iady-I beg
yoJt-oh, do you not see
YES, yes; but answer my question:
Am not kind-more than you deserve?''
Indeed, yes; a thousand times. You
have always been so kind, so gracious
and so condescendiEg to me that | can
only thank you, thank yeu: thank you."
answered Brandon almost shyly not dar-
ing to lift his eyes to hers.
Mary saw the manner quickly enough
what woman ever missed il, much less so
leeen-eyed a girl as she-and it gave her
confidence and brought back the easy
banter of her old-tinne manner
How modest we have become! Where
is the boldness of which we used to have
so? How about the first time 1 met you?
Was | kind then? And as to condescen-
sion, don t-dont use that word between
us"
No returned Brandon, who. I'm his
turn. was recovering himself, mo; I
can't say that you were very kind at
first. How you did fly out at me and sur
prise me. 1t was so unexpected it almost
took me off my feet and they both
laughed in remembering the scene Of their
first meeting. No. / can't say your
kindness showed itself very strongly i'm
that first interview. but II was there new
ertheleSS, and when Lady Jane led me
back your real nature asserted itself, as
1t always does, and you were kind to me:
kind as only you can be-"
That was getting very near to the SEN
Gmental; dangerously near, he thought.
and he said to himself: IF this does NOT
end quickly l shall have to escape
You are easily satisfied if you call that
good 1aughing1y returned Mary II can
be ever so much better than that If
try"
LET me see you try" said Brandon.
why. l am trying now" answered
Mary with a distracting little pout.
Don't you know genuine out-ani-out
goodness when you see it? I'm doing INV
very best right now Can't you telI?''
Yes, I think 1 recognize It; but-but-
be bad again"
mo. WON'T will not be bad evan
10 please you; have determined NOT TO
be bad and will not-not even to he
good. This" placing her hand over her