The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-09-25

only haII IN earnest" she sad. Please
40 not say anything more about II. 1
cannot aford 10 lose another friend
Friends are help" he said dog
geoIy; "a husband would be aDsOiuls
protection. 1 am rich You know that
we would live where you like, how YOU
IKE. AND L would never ask you for
more than you are prepared to give"
1t IS impossible" she said firmly.
Last night l lost my best and oldest
friend IN this same manner. Why Will
you not believe me when say that at
present do not intend to marry? There
viii come time in my life, suppose.
when l shall feel differently about IL.
AT present nothing would move me.
Walter, she added, stretching out her
hand toward him. DO forget about
this. / am human enough, at any rate,
to hate solitude, and L have SO few
friends. Do not let me lose you. too"
he took her fingers and pressed them
ever so slightly.
You will not lose me- he answered.
Il shall be always at your call"
A maid interrupted them. She car
ried a card upon a silver salver. Anna
glanced at it and hesitated.
MIR. MONTAGUE HILL
You can show him in she said
suddenly. Walter, you will stay,
please. 1 am so thankful that you are
here You will stay, will you not? 1t
If you wish it, he answered
gravely.
Mr.. Montague Hill. came in. He was
dressed with obvious, too obvious care,
according to his conception OF the
prevailing fashion. His trousers were
a little light, and the diamond pin in
his tie twinkled mercilessly. He car
ried very glossy hat in his hand. and
his manner was apparently intended to
be conc1l1atory. When he saw BrendOn
he scowled.
Well" said Anna d-humoredIy.
You wished to see me. L hope that
you have come to apologize for your
ridiculous behavior"
I wanted to see you" he said, slow
ly, alone"
Thank yOu." Anna answered, but
your previous department toward me
has been such that must beg to be
excused. You know Mr.. Brendon. He
is my friend. Anything you have to
say you can say before him"
Il don't want to say things before
him, or any one else," Mr.. Hill an
swered shortly I want to talk TO
you. and to you alone. 1 don't see
what any one wants interfering be-
tween a man and his wife,
You will see me- Anna remarked
calmly, under the present conditions
or not at ALL"
Mr.. Hill set down his hat upon the
table.
Very WE'LL he said. Il came here
determined to keep my temper, and 1
will. / will say what 1 have to say be-
fore Mr.. Brendon. II you don't mind,
1 don't see why I should"
That is sensible Anna said. Won't
you sit down.
mo, thanks" Mr.. Hill answered.
I'm more at my ease standing. First
of all 1 want to finish what began
e. 4tru haF he
Anna opened her mouth and shut It
again.
"Go on" she said quietly.
ct know" he continued, that I was
guilty Of a shabby action In letting
you believe that I was Meysey
HILL 1t wasn't altogether my fault
was led into It I was mistaken
for him so often that got tired
OF correcting people. And then Made
moiselle Celeste found out, and she
only laughed. She advised me to keep
It UP. She told me that It was my only
chance Of getting you to look at me.
And you know how was about you.
Every one knew. It was the sort OF
thing I'd heard OF. but never under
stood. The thought OF you was like a
fever in my blood. couldn't sleep or
eat or rest for thinking about you. It's
hard to talk about-and before him.
he pointed to Brendon. but as I was
then so / am now. I knew that was
a cad to let you marry me, believing
1 was Meysey HILL can't help 1t now.
It's past and done with. What want
to say to you is this. We're man and
wife, bound hard and fast. We can't
get away from II. Won't you let by
cones be bygones. and make the best
of it? I'm not a rich man. I'm trav-
eler for a firm Of brewers and wine
merchants, but 1 don't do badly, and
you could keep on your show at the
music halls If you wanted to. I'd do
anything for you in reason. I'm not
bad sort really, though that Meysey
Hill business was shabby. Come. what
do you say?"
He was nervous His twitching fea-
lures showed II. There were drops OF
Precipitation upon his forehead. His
hand was extended half doubtfully.
Anna did not take 1t, but there was
something OF pity as well as contempt
in her steady regard Of him.
rs this ALP" she asked.
''All!" he repeated vaguely.
''All that you want to say to me-
she explained. Il should like to have
this matter quite settled up, now that
we are here face to face"
1T depends" he said. upon your
answer"
VERY WELL" Anna said Now nv
whole answer to you Is exactly what il
has always been. You seem to be sane.
can only conclude that you were the
victim or some extraordinary halluci-
nation. 1 do not know you I never
even saw you in Paris. 1 never was
married to you
He drew step nearer to her. She
did not finch.
Say 1t again." he muttered. LET
me look at you while you say It,"
Il never saw YOU in my life before
that evening in Montague street." she
repeated calmly. "As to my having
been married to you. the whole story
is an absolute and absurd fabrication"
The man was shaking with nervous
fury. Brendon came closer to him.
Your name" he cried DO YOU
deny that? You are AnnabeI Peilis-
sier. I could bring a hundred to prove
it,"
TT is not necessary" she answered.
ct do not deny IT,"