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

How unkind!" she exclaimed.
"Still, since 1t is better to tell you, Sir
John is very much in earnest, but his
respectabilitv is something altogether
too overpowering. OF course / knew
all about him years ago and he is ex-
actly like everybody's description OF
him ] am afraid, Anna, just a little
afraid that in Paris and my friends
here might seem trife advanced. Be-
sides, he might hear things. That is
why I called myself Anna"
"You-you did what?" Anna ex-
claimed.
called myself Anna" the girl re-
peated coolIy. ''It can't make any
difference to you and there are not
half dozen people in Paris who
could tell US apart
Anna tried to look angry, but her
mouth betrayed her. Instead she
laughed, laughed with lips and eyes,
laughed till the tears ran down her
cheeks.
You little wretch!" she exclaimed
weakly. Why should bear the bur-
den Of your wickedness? Who knows
what might come of it? l shall per-
nit nothing of the sort"
Annabel shrugged her shoulders.
Too late, my dear girl" she ex-
claimed. Il gave your name. called
matter? 1t was just to make sure.
Three little letters can't make bit Of
difference"
But it may matter very much in
deed" Anna declared. Perhaps for
myself l do not mind, but this man is
sure to find out some day, and he will
not like having been deceived. Tell
him the truth, Annabel"
The TRUTH"
There was a brief but intense ST.
lence. Anna felt that her words had
become charged with a fuller and
more subtle meaning than any which
she had intended to impart. THE
TRUTH" 1t was a moment of awk-
wardness between the two sisters
moment, too, charged with its own
psychological interest, for there were
secrets between them which for many
months had made their intercourse a
constrained and difficult thing. 1t was
AnnabeI who spoke.
How crude you are, Anna? she
exclaimed with little sigh. "Sir
John is not at all that sort. He is the
a little dust in his eyes. But heavens,
! must oacki"
She sprang to her feet and disap-
peared in the room beyond, from
which she emerged a few minutes lat
er with flushed cheeks and disheveled
hair.
1t is positively no use, Anna" she
declared, appealingly. You must
pack for me. I am sorry, but you
have spoilt me. can't do it even de-
Gently myself, and l dare not run the
risk of running all my clothes. Lis
ten! What's that?"
There was a sharp tap at the door
The words seemed to die away on
Annabels lips. The old look of terror
Anna, seeing ii, caught her by the arm.
''Annabel, what is the matter?"
They were face to face in the mid
die Of the room. Anna on her way to
open the door. But her sister inter-
posed.
Don't answer it, Annal Gomez
The gesture was one of entreaty
Anna found herself perforce obeying
it. The two girls stole away into the
inner room. Annabei softly locked
the door. but remained kneeling
down by the keynote. They were
scarcely concealed before the outer
door opened and the shrin voice Of
Marie, the eldest daughter of their
concierge, commenced a torrent of ex-
postulationS.
But you see! 1t is as I told you.
monsieur. The room is empty. The
young mademoiselle has been here
and gone. She packed her boxes in
one half-hour and departed for Eng
land II was a loss, but what mat
tiers? Such rooms let easily-mon-
sieur can see FOR himself the beautiful
light, the view, too"
A mans voice interposed-coarse
and strident-the voice of an English
man speaking the most abominable
French.
IT wonder whether you are telling
the truth. girl"
Marie was justly indignant. Her
shrill voice grew shriller.
But what does monsieur suppose?
Is il for such insults that l have
climbed all these stairs and admitted
monsieur here? Well, il is over. Mon
sieur viii be so good as to descend at
once"
The unseen man pointed apparently
to the door, behind which the girl was
covering.
There's another room there How
do / know that she isn't hiding? If
what l guess is true, she'll be none
too anxious TO be dropped upon just
yet"
And what business of monsieur's
is it if there is another room there?"
Marie demanded. He asks for Made
moiselle Pellissier. and l tell him that
she is gone, gone, gone Is it so diff
ficult 10 understand? Those rooms
beyond were not even let to her. They
are let TO another tenant. If mon
sieur Dleases."
Monsieur was apparently bundled
out. The outer door was closed. Steps
were heard descending the stone
stairs. Anna looked with grave eyes
at the girl who was still on her knees
by the keyhole, and whose face was
blanched with terror.
rs ii you, Annabel?" she asked, in
a low tone. "who have bought these
lies from Marie?"
Annabel rose Slowly to her feet. Her
knees were still trembling. The hunt
ed look remained in her eyes. She
had had a shock.
There was no buying" she an
swered. Marie was always our
friend. told her if any one came for
me-that I had left. l do not wish to
be worried Just now"
Who is that man ?"
Il do not knowi''
Nonsense. Who is hep"
Indeed 1 do not know" Annabel
persisted. He is the friend of some