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


evening"" she added L suppose you
are off TO celebrate somewhere
we are going out TO supper, Bren-
don answered. L am only sorry We
can't take the whole lot OF YOU ne
added pleasantly
How nice of you!" Mrs. White muir
INJURED
Eighteenswould be rather too many
wouldn't it," Miss EllicOt remarked
with little conscious smile i think
supper parties are such fun"
we thought of going to the Carl
ton BrendOn said:
oh" Miss Elicott's interjection
was long drawn and expressive How
perfectly lovely It's the one place IN
the world I am dying TO see. Do look
around at all the people and the
dresses. and find out who is there, and
describe it al TO US poor stay-at-hOmes
tomorrow. OH"
This second interjection was OF
different character. Anna stood upon
the threshold buttoning her gloves, and
something very like sensation rippled
from one to the other. They had none
OF them seen Anna IN evening dress
They had probably never been in the
same room with a black gown fash
toned by an expert Partisan dress
maker. She wore no jewels. Her neck
and arms were bare. Her wonderful
brown hair, curving low over her fore
head, was drawn back with a grace
which a professional cOiffeur could
scarcely have matched. Even her pal
Tor seemed to add TO that marvellous
distinction Of presence, so subtle and
yet so unmistakable a gift. The women
felt suddenly tawdry and Old-fash-
Toned Miss Ellicot lost all faith in the
blouse which a few moments ago had
given her every satisfaction, and as for
her ornaments, she could have torn
them from her neck and arms and
thrown them into the fireplace. She
went slowly red and then pale. She
had lost her place at IS Montague
street She was wholly and entirely
eclipsed. There was not a male pair OF
eyes in the place which were not shin
ing with admiration.
Anna, utterly unconscious, or at any
rate Indifferent to the sensation which
she had evoked, came a little further
into the room.
Mr.. Brendon is going to take US to
the Carlton" she remarked pleasantly
to Mrs White isn't it nice Of him ?"
Very" Mrs. White answered. with
some reserve. Are you sure that you
won't catch cold with nothing on your
shoulders?"
well, I shall have to risk It." Anna
declared, with a soft little laugh. IT
don { possess an opera cloak.
Miss EllicOt rose herOically.
Il will lend you NINE" she said. IT
don't think you ought to go out like
that"
Anna, who had seen Miss ELECTS
opera cloak, stopped her.
1T is so nice of you she said, but
] really do not need it. have a piece
of lace outside I can twist round my
head and shoulders. am quite ready
now. Mr.. Brendon. Goodnight, every
body"
They departed, leaving behind them
had done nothing but simply stare at
Anna from the moment OF her en-
trance. Even after her departure he
remained looking at the door through
which she had issued.
Miss Ellicot broke the spell
We'll" she said impressively.
What there was about that dress, I
can't imagine, except that it seemed
more like a skin than anything, but
never saw anything look so indecent
in my life"
she looked like one Of those new
fashioned posters" Mrs White re-
marked, 'or like one of those French
women who come over to the music
halls, and drive about with mules and
poodles with diamond bracelets"
Every one had something to say.
Mr.. Gudden alone was silent. He had
removed TO a distant window, and was
standing there with folded arms.
IF I can't remember where I've
seen her, who she is in two minutes"
he murmured to himself, II shall have
fits. S'help me I SHALL"