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


This is indeed a gala nioht." he
said. raising his glass. and watching
for a moment the golden bubOles-
WAS it really only this afternoon that
I met you in St. James Park
She nodded and made a careful Sc
lection from a dish Ct qr-ils-
1T was just an hour before teatime.
she remarked Il have had nothing
since, and it seems a very long time.
''An appetite like yours he said re-
signedly. "is fatal to all sentiment"
Not in the least" she assured him.
II find the two inseparable."
He sighed.
Il have noticed" he said. that you
seem to delight In taking a topsy-
turvy view of life. 1t arises. I think
from an OverdevelOped sense CT humOr-
You would find things to laugh at even
in Artemus Ward.
you do not understand me at all,
she declared. Il think that you are
very dense. Besides, your remark is
not in the least complimentary I have
always understood that men avoid like
the plague woman with sense of
humOr."
So they talked on while supper was
served. falling easily into the spirit
of the place, and yet both Of them
conscious of some new thing underly-
ing the gayety of their tongues and
manner. Anna, in her strange strik-
ing way, was radiantly beautiful,
without single ornament about her
neck, or hair, wearing the plainest Of
black gowns, out OF which her shout
ders shOne cleaning white, she was
easily the most noticeable and the
most distinguished-lOo woman in
the room. Tonight there seemed to
be a new brilliancy in her eyes.
deeper quality in her tone She was
Lass ~
spirits almost hysterical. Perhaps, af-
ter ALL the others were right Per
haps she had found this new thing In
life the thing wonderful The ter
rors and anxieties OF the last few
months seemed to have fallen from
her, to have passed away like an ugly
dream, dismissed with shudder even
from the memory. An acute sense OF
living was in her veins, even the taste
of her wine seemed magical Ennisor
too, always handsome and debonair
seemed transported out of his calm
self. His tongue was more ready, his
wit more keen than usual He saic
daring things with a grace which
made them irresistible, his eyes
flashed. back upon her some eloquent
but silent appreciation of the change
in her manner toward him.
And then there came for both OF
them a least n temporary awakening
1t was he who saw them first coming
down the rOOm-Annabel in won
derful white satin gown in front, ano
Sir John stiff, unbending, disapprov-
ing, bringing up the rear. He benz
over to Anna at once.
cit is your sister and her husband.
he said. They are coming past oui
table"
Annabel saw Ennison first. and no
ticing his single companion calmly .
ignored him. Then making a pretense
of STOPPING to rearrange her flowing
train, she glanced at Anna, and hah
stopped in her progress down the
room Sir John followed her gaze
and also saw them. His face cloud
ed with anger.
1t was after all a momentary affair
AnnabeI passed on with a strained
nod TO her sister, and Sir Johns bow
was a miracle OF icy displeasure. The5
vanished through the doorway, Anna
and her. escort exchanged glanceS. al
most simultaneously they burst on
How do you feel?" she asked
"Iimp." ne answered las a matte
OF fact. I deserve to- i was engaged
to dine with your sister and her hus
band, and I sent a wire.
1T was exceedingly wrong OF you
Anna declared Before I came {
EngIand / was told that there wer
two things which an Englishman wht
was comme-il-faut never did, tn
first was break a dipner engagement.
and the second
MAKE love to a single woman.
ssYour knowledge of our ways" h.
rnurmured, sis profound Yet I sup
nose that at the present moment
am the most envied man In tn
room"
Her eyes were lit with humor. =
have spoken lightly on such a sub