The San Francisco call., 1904-11-27

her fingers upon IT.
Il know this has been a-a-" He
looked around the room, seeming to
seek an apt form Of expression. This
has been an uncomfortable Job for you,
but you really mustn't look at II like
that, you know"
IF you give It me, must take it.
daren't accept the responsibility OF re-
fusing it
He was quite eager to comfort her.
You're doing quite right You Eere
perfectly square with me; now you're
being perfectly square with John.
Perfectly square with John! Chris
tines lips curved in a smile Of scorn.
But-well, sometimes one loses the
right or the power to be perfectly
square.
And I'm downright glad to help
downright glad you came to me-"
Il only came because ! couldn't
help it"
Then I'm downright glad you could
not help It"
She had loved this unalterably good
temper Of his. and admired the tactful
way he had OF humoring women. II
they wouldn't have IL in one way he
had always been quite ready to offer 1t
to them in the other, so long as they
took it in the end; and this they gen
orally did. She rose to her feet, hold
ing the check in her hand.
"Your purse. perhaps?" he suggested,
laughing. You see, It might puzzle
your young friend. And give old John
my remembrances-and good luck TO
him. Are you going now7"
Yes. Frank. I'm going now"
Good by, Christine. often think
Of you, you know. I often remember
ah, 1 see. I mustn't often remember!
Wei, you're right, I suppose But I'm
always your friend. Don't be in any
trouble without letting me know"
Il shall never come to you again"
He grew a little impatient at that,
but still he was quite good natured
about 1t.
What's the use Of brooding?' he
asked. Il mean, If you're running
straight now. It's no good being re-
morseful and that sort Of thing; 1t
Just wears you out. 1t would make
you look old, II anything could. But 1
don't believe anything could, you
know"
She gave him her hand. Her lips
trembled, but she smiled at him now.
"Good-by, Frank If 1 have any
hard thoughts, they won't be about
you. You can always hesitated
a minute-"always disarm criticism,
can't your"
CayIesham stopped and kissed her
hand lightly.
Don't fret, my dear" he said.
You're better than most by long
way. Now take your check off to poor
old John, and both of you be as jolly
as you can" He pressed her hand
cordially and led her to the door. I'm
glad we've settled things all. right.
Good-by."
She shook her head at him, but still
she could not help smiling as she said
her last good-by. With the turning OF
her face the smile disappeared.
Caylesham's smile lasted longer. He
stood on his hearthrug, smiling as he
remembered; and an idea which forced
its way into his head did not drive
away the smile. He wondered whether
by any chance old John had any vague
sort of-wel, hardly suspicion-but
some vague sort of an inkling. He
would not have hinted that to Chris
tine. since evidently she did not believe
IT, and il might have upset her. But
really in the end, was il not more odd
to send Christine If he had had no
fnkling at all than If he had just some
sort II an idea that here was a rea-
son why her request might be very
much more potent than his own? He
was inclined TO think that John sus-
pected just a filtration. The notion
made him considerably amused at John,
but not at all angry with him. 1t was
self. perhaps. Still you never can tell
what you viii do when you are in a
really tight corner. His racing expert
ences had presented him with a good
many cases which supported this con-
cIusion.
Christine felt very tired, but she was
not going to give way to that; Anna
Selford was too sharp-witted. She
chatted gaily as they drove home,
,Fy,Tr al cT1hippf xUhirh crrfpWpd
them both so much-Mrs. Selford's
taste in frocks, Matters were in
an even more dire way now; Anna
could get no frocks. Between pic
lures and dogs, she declared, her
wardrobe stood no chance. Chris
tine was genuinely unable TO compre-
bend such a confusion OF relative i'm
portance.
7 detest fads." she said severely.
1t doesn't give me a fair chance,
lamented Anna; because l should pay
for dressing, shouldn't 1, Mrs. Fam
shaw"
Christine reiterated her belief to that
effect. 1t was a melancholy comfort
to poor Anna.
suppose I'd been going TO see Lord
Caylesham dressed like this."
My dear, he's old enough to be your
father"
THAT doesn't matter. He's so smart
and good looking. I see him riding
sometimes with Mr.. Imason, and he's
just the sort Of man I admire. I know
1 should fall in love with him"
Christine laughed, but turned her
face a little away.
I won't help you there; our alli
ance is only on the subject of frocks."
But how well she knew what Anna
meant and felt, And now she was
tTifle uneasy. Had any of that talk
filtered through leaky Selford conver-
sations to Anna's eagerly listening
ears?
Mamma once told me he'd been
very, very wild"
Stuff They always say that about
a man If he's a bachelor. Sheer fem
mime spite, in my belief, Anna"
What die you go TO see him about?
oh. is ii a secret?"
Christine was really rather glad to
hear the question. 1t showed that moth
ing very much Of the talk had filtered.
And she had her story ready.
Oh, about a horse. You know we've
had to sell our bays and he's got one
that we thought we could buy cheap.
John was so busy that l went But,
alas it's beyond US after all"