The San Francisco call., 1904-11-27
Copyright by Mcclure. Phillips & Coz
CHAPTER VII
: Nindication of Conscience.

II was q AAlls CAl441 aALIA iANDA III
March. Christine Fanshaw hud-
died her slight little hgure-she
looked as if the cold would cut
right through her--Over a blazing FIRE
in her boOdoi-. She held q screen be-
tween the flames and her face and
turned her eyes OIL Anna Selford, who
was paying her a cali Anna was a
plump, dark girl, by no means pretty,
but with a shrewd look about her and
an air Of self-conidence rather too
absurd for her years; she was dressed
in a would-be artistic fashion, not well
suited 10 her natural style
"Awfully sad, isn't it 2" she was say
ing. But mamma says Mrs. Raymore
is splendid about il. Mr.. Raymore was
quite upset and was no good at all at
first It was Mrs. Raymore who went
and got Charley away from the woman
and hushed uD all the row about the
money-oh. he had taken some from
the Office; he was in a solicitors Of
nee, you know-and arranged for him
10 be sent out 10 Buenos Ayres-did
the whole thing in fact She's quite
heartbroken about II, mamma says.
but quite firm and brave, too. How
awful TO have your son turn out like
that! He was only 19. and Mrs. Ray
more simply worshiped him.
He used TO be a very pretty little
boy. A little boy. And now!" Chris
tine plucked idly al the fringes of her
hand screen.
And mamma says the woman was
80 and not very good looking eitheri"
What lot you know, Anna You're
hardly Il, are you? And Suzette
Blghs q. But she's a baby COM
pared TO YOU"
oh, mamma always tells me things
Or else 1 hear her and papa talking
about them. When I'm washing the
dogs they forget I'm there, especially
If they're squsbbling at all. And I
keep my ears open.
But generally mamma tells me.
She always must talk TO somebody.
you see. When / was little she used
10 tell me things and then forget it
and box my ears for knowing them"
Anna spoke without rancour; rather
with a sort OF quiet amusement as
though she had given much study to
her mothers peculiarities and found
permanent diversion in them.
Poor Kate Raymorei Well, there's
trouble everywhere, isn't there, An
na2" She shivered and drew yet a
little nearer the fire. How are things
at home with you?"
Just as usual; nothing ever hap
pens with U.s."
I might be much worse than that"
i suppose IL might. It's only just
rather dull; and suppose shall have
TO endure 1t for a long while. You
see, I'm not very likely to get mar
ried, Mrs. Fanshaw. No men ever
come 10 our house-they can't stand it.
Besides I'm not pretty"
oh, come and meet men here; and
never mind not being pretty; / could
dress you to look quite smart. That's
it, You should go in for smartness,
not prettiness. I really believe il pays
better nowadays. Get Janet-get your
mother 10 give you an allowance and
wei put GUY heads together over it."
That's awfully kind of you, Mrs.
Fanshaw."
'Oh, I like dressing people; and 1
do think girls ought TO have their
chances. But IN those things she
makes you wear-oh, my dear Annat"
Yes, know. I'll ask her.
And
Anna hesitsted, then rose and came
over to Christine. Suddenly she
kissed her.
It's nothing. my DEAR" said Chris
tine, amused but annoyed; she was
very ready TO help Anna. but did not
care in the least for being kissed by
her.
Anna sat down again. and long
pause ensued.
tine resumed. its six Of one and half
a dozen Of the other. 1 think. Oh. /
should have hated to be an old maid;
but still one would have avoided so
much worry. Look at these poor
Raymores, They've always got on so
well, too, I'D to now!"
She laid down her screen and pulled
up her dress to let the warmth get to
her ankles. Anna looked at her
dainty face LIT up by the glow.
I wish ] was like you, Mrs. Fan
shawl"
Christine did not refuse the compli-
ment; she only denied the value of the
possession which won it for her.
Much good it's done me, my dearw
she sighed. But people who've not
got looks never will believe how little
good they are. on, 1 don't mean to
be rude, Annai I believe in you, you
know. / can do something with you.
Only" She stopped, frowning a
little and looking vaguely unhappy.
Well she resumed, IF II turns out
that I can't take you under my wing,
we must get hold of Sibylla. She's
always ready 10 do things for people
and they've got lots Of money, any
how"
Annals curiosity was turned in the
direction of Sibylla.
What was the truth about Mrs.
Imason, Mrs. Fanshaw2"
Il made sure you'd know that tool"
smiled Christine And il you don't,
suppose oughtn't to tell you"
II know she-she had an accident"
"Oh, well. everybody knows. Yes.
she had, and they thought II was
worse than il was The country doc
tor down at MiIldean made a mistake
took too serious a view, you know.
And-and there was a lot of bother.
But the London man said it would be
all right; and so 1t turned out. The
baby came all right, and it's a splen-
did boy"
1T all ended all right. them"
Christine looked a little doubtful.
The boys all right, and Sibylla's
quite well" she answered.
But mamma said Mrs. Raymore
hinted-"
We'll, Sibylla wouldn't believe the
London man, you see. She thought
that he-that he'd been persuaded to