The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-10-02
CHAPTER XXI.
John Fcrringhall, Gentleman.

Joln terFlnghall, Gentleman.
Confess, my dear husband" Annabel
said lightly, that you are bewildered."
Sir John smiled
My dear Anna" he answered 'sTo
tell you the truth. il has seemed lust
lately as though we were becoming in
- some measure estranged. You certainly
nave not shown much desire for my
society. have you?"
You have been wrapped up in your
politics" she murmured
He shook his head
There have been other times" he
said a little sadly.
Her little white hand stole across the
table There was a look in her eyes
which puzzled him.
4 have been very Selfish" she de-
Clared: But you must forgive me,
John"
Il would forgive you a great deal
more, he answered readily, for the
sake Of an evening like this. You have
actually given up dinner-party to
dine alone With me-"
And made you give up political
meeting" she reminded him.
Quite an unimportant one" he as
sured her Il would have given up
anything to see you your old self again
-as you are this evening"
Il am afraid ! have not been very
nice" she said sadly. Never mind
sometimes-as sort of atonement."
They were lingering over their des-
sert. The servants had left the room.
Annabel half filled her glass with wine,
and taking a little folded packet from
her plate, shook the. contents into it,
i am developing ailments. she said,
meeting his questioning eyes. 1T is
nothing of any Importance. John, 1
have something to say to YOU
If you want to ask. a favor" he re-
marked smiling, you have made it
almost impossible for me to refuse you
anything"
Il am going to ask more than
favor" she said slowly. II am going to
ask your forgiveness"
He was little uneasy.
I do not know what you mean" he
said, but if you are referring to any
little GOODNESS since our marriage let
us never speak of it again. ! am some
thing of an old fogy, Anna. I'm
afraid; but If you treat me like this
you will teach me TO forget it."
Annabel looked intently into her
glass.
John" she said, I'm afraid that L
am going to make you unhappy. 1 am
very, very sorry, but you must listen
TO me-"
He relapsed into a stony silence. A
few feet away, across the low vases OF
pink and white roses, sat Annabel,
more beautiful tonight perhaps than
ever before in her life. She wore a
wonderful dress of turquoise blue,
made by a great dressmaker for a
function which she knew very we'll
now that she would never attend. Her
hair once more was arranged with its
old simplicity. There was a new soft
ness in her eyes, a hesitation, timid-
ity about her manner which was al
most pathetic.
You remember our first meeting?"
Yes" he answered, hoarsely. 81 re-
member il very we'll indeed. You have
the look in your eyes tonight which
you had that day, the look of a fright
ened child"
She looked into her glass.
Il was frightened then" she de-
clared. Il am frightened now. But it
is all very different. There was hope
for me then. Now there is none. No,
none at ALL"
You talk strangely, Anna," he said.
eco on"
People talked to you in Paris about
u.s." she continued; about Anna the
virtuous and Annabel the rake You
were accused of having been seen with
the latter. You denied it, remembering
that l had called myself Anna. You
went even to our rooms and saw my
sister. Anna lied to you, lied to you.
l was Annabel the rake, Alcide of the