The San Francisco call., 1904-12-11

her own affairs here.
And we won't say anything more
about what you did" Sibylla went on.
I'VE won't discuss whether you were
right or whether I'm grateful, or any
thing of that sort"
cor even whether 1 ought to be-
though, Of course, you'd want to think
that"
Christine was disappointed. In her
heart she had rather hoped to be put
on her defense just enough to entitle
her to use her weapon and to tell some
of the truth about Watelr Blake.
Sibylla's attitude gave her no excuse
Though she would say nothing
more about what Christine had done,
Sibylla was easilya persuaded to break
the principle of silence about the main
affair. Christine's curiosity lost the
zest of difficult satisfaction; she had
the whole history for the asking. she
heard it, marveling at the want Oh re-
ticence her friend displayed, seeking
how to reconcile this seeming I'M
modesty with the rest of her impress
sion of Sibylla. She recollected being
very shy and ashamed Gin the midst
of her exultation) when she had let
Harriet Courtland worm out the secret
OF her love for Caylesham. Sibyila
was not ashamed-she was candid.
Sometimes she was excited, sometimes
she played the Judge; but she was
never abashed. Christine's wits sought
hard for an explanation Of this. Sud-
denly it came to her as she gazed on
Sibylla's pure face and far-away eyes
MY dear, you were never in love
with himl" she cried.
If she hoped to surprise, or even
to win a compliment on her penetra-
ton, she was utterly deceived.
"Oh. mol" said Sibylla- In the way
you mean I've never been in love with
anybody except Grantley."
Then why did you? oh. tell me
about it," Christine implored.
He appealed to my better feelings.
Sibylla smiled back to her, mocking
again. I'D give the world that we
hadn't been stopped! No, 1 can't say
that, because
"Well?"
u think Grantley would have done
what he said.
Christine was the last woman in the
world TO rest ignorant of what Grant
ley had said. Sibylia was again dis
appointingly ready to tell the whole
thing without any pressure worth mem
tioning.
u And you really. believe he would
have? p" Christine half whispered when
she had heard the story.
IL
whole heart shouldn't be here. I
should be-well, somewhere-with
Walter Blake"
THANK God you are not!"
why do you say that? The pro-
prieties, Christine?"
"Oh, only partly; but don't you
think lightly Of them, all the same!
And the rest Of the reasons don't mat
ter" Christine got up and walked
nd hoOLr IN ha-
fore she came to a stand opposite ST.
bylla. Il call that a man worth being
in love WITH she said.
walter"
Heavens, no! Grantley Imason.
Oh, 1 know he's your husband! But
still"
Sibylla broke into a gentle laugh.
1T has the attraction of the horri-
BILE, she admitted. He'd have done
it, you know" .sl,4ss.54
fondly. 'tAnd you were going away
with Walter Blake!" She drew her
little finger up straight. a"Sibylla,
you're no1woman if you don't man
age a InahSlike that in the END. He's
worth 1t. you know
You mean, if L don't let him man
age me?" Sibylla was a little con-
temptuous. Il don't care about tyr
rany, even tempered by epigrams,"
she explained.
We'll. not when you only do the
epigrams," smiled Christine.
That's not true. L only ask real
partnership"
You must begin by contributing all
you have"
II did. But Grantley-'
Paid a composition? Oh yes, my
dear; men do. That's as old as By
ron anyhow" She came suddenly to
Sibylla and kissed her. And you'd
be adorable. properly deluded."
You. shan't put it like that, Chris
tine"
yes willard I know he loves
HE can't love anything-not re-
ally
Il shall watch him. oh. my dear,
what a comfort to watch anybody be-
sides John! oh yes. 1 supposed you'd
better have my story, too. You've
had most of it bef6re-without the
name. But look away. I've no the
ories you know-and-weIl, 1 was in
love-"
She laughed little. blushing red.
But her composure returned when she
had finished her confession.
And now what do we think of one
another?" she asked with her usual
satirical little smile. You don't
know! On, yes! You think me
rather wicked and 1 think you very
silly; that's about what 1t comes to-"
Il suppose. that is about it," SibyI-
Ia laughed reluctantly.
But I've repented, and you're only
going to repent"
Never"
Eyes, you are! take no credit for
having done it first. It's much easier
to repent of wickedness than of nom
sense. The wickedness is much pleas
anter at the time and so seems much
worse afterward.
And you're in love with John?"
Good heavens. no." She pulled
herself up. Well, I don't know. If
I'm in love now it's not what / used
to mean by it One gets to use words
so differently as time goes on
Il don't think I shall ever learn
that"
Destiny assumed Christine's small.
neat features for a moment In order
to answer sternly:
But you must,"
1t was the worst way of dealing
with Sibylla.
Il WON'T" she answered in overt
rebellion, her cheeks flushing now as
her confession had not availed to
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