The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-09-11

May ask" he said, "if you have
Quarreled with your sister,?
She shook her head
NO" she answered. IT have not
Quarreled with her. It Is simply our
point OF view which is altogether diff
ferent. want to get away-to go to
London. cannot explain beyond
that"
'aThen I am sure" Sir John declared.
that I shall not ask you know
nothing about the matter, but feel
convinced that You are right You
ought to have had better advice two
years ago. Paris is not the place for
two young girls. I presume that you
have ben ]. living alOne?"
MY sister," she murmured. rs 50 in
dependent. She is Bohemian to the
fnger-tips, She makes me feel ter
ribly old-fashioned."
Sir John smiled and congratulated
himself upon his insight He was SO
seldom wrong
THE next question. Miss Anna" he
said, is how. am / to help you? 1 am
wholly at your disposal"
She looked up at him quickly. Her
expression was a little changed. less
Innocent. more discerning
ANIMAL" she repeated How do you
know-why do you think that my name
Is Anna"
He smiled in a quietly superior way.
II think" he said, that I am right.
am very good at guessing names"
Il am really curious" she persisted
You must have heard-have you--Oh,
tell me, won't your she begged Have
you heard things?"
The tears stood IN her eyes. she
leaned q little toward him Nothing
but the publicity of the place and the
recollection OF that terrible constitu-
cney kept him from attempting some
perfectly respectful but unnistakable
evidence OF hts sympathy.
II am afraid" he said gravely, that
: E0ur sister has been q -indlscpeet.
. 1t, IS nothing at all for you to worry
about
she looked away from him.
II knew" she said in low despair
ing tone, that people would taIk.
lie coughed gently.
ut was inevitable" he declared 1T
IS not. OF course, q pleasant subject o.
conversation for you or FOR me, yet
think 7 may venture TO suggest to you
that your sister s-e-- lndiscretions--
have reached a point which makes
separation between you almost neces-
sity."
She covered her face with her hands.
..It-it-must come she faItered.
IT do not lay claim" he continued,
"to any remarkable amount OF insight.
bit 1t is possible. IS it not, that have
p stumbled upon your present cause OF
you are wonderful" she muir
INJURED.
He smiled conplacently.
mot at all This is simply chapter
of condolences. Now what want you
to feel IS this. / want you 10 feel that
YOU have found a friend who has
strong desire TO be OF service to you.
Treat me as an elder brother, IL you
like. lie is here by your side. How
can he help you?
She threw such look upon him that
even be- Sir John Ferringhall, carpet
merchant. hide-bOund Englishman,
slow -witted. ponnpous, deliberate. felt
his heart beat to music. Perhaps the
Partisan atmosphere had affected him.
He leaned toward her. laid his hand
tenderiv uDon hers. For the first time
since he had sat In that chair he utterly
and entirely forgot that he was . new
Hedged country magistrate and Par
lianlentary candidate for the borough
of Tunbridse Wells
81 hope you realize" he went on, in
lower and less assured tone. that I
am in earuest-very much In earnest
You must let me do whatever can for
you. I shall count it a privilege
Il believe YOU" she murmured,. Il
trust you altogether. am gong 70
take you entirely at your word 4 want
10 leave Paris to-day. VIII you lend
me the money for my ticket to Lon
with all the pleasure In the world
he answered heartily Let, me- add
too. that am thankful for your os-
cision. You have somewhere to 80 10
In London. hope:
She nodded.
.gTbere is my aunt she said This
one who used to live at Lyndmore.
3 She win take me in until I can make
h some plans. 1t will be horribly dull.
r and she is a very trying person. But
anything is better than TINS.
He took out his watch
o "T,et me see" he said. Your best
\ route will be via Bouiogne and Folke-
Il stone at 9 O'Clock from the Care du
e Nord. What about your luggageE
= Il could get a few OF my things. at
any rate" she said. My sister Is sure
: " .sVery- wen" he said. 1T Is Just S
O'clock now Sppposing you fetch
e what YOU can, and II you Will allow
me 7 will see you OF. II would gtve
y me great pleasure II you would dine
with me somewhere nrst
She looked at him wtstfully, out with
some unwilling doubt In ner wElnAleo
: forehead. TWAS excellently done. ,es-
Q pecially, as she loved good dinnerA
2 you are very kind 10 think OF H.
Q she said. ssbut-donst you think per-
haps-that / had better nors
He smiled. indulgently.
= ssATv .dear. child" he said, with me
= Won need have no apprehension am
+ almost old enough tosbes your. father =
= She looked at him with uplfted eye
= :, lorows-a look of whimsical incredulity.
s&Sir John felt that after all ~ was not
). so very Old
I. .sThat sounds quite absurd, she
= answered. yet Il is my last evening.
o and think-if you are sure that you
n would like to have me-that' win risk
IT.