The San Francisco call., 1904-09-18
CHAPTER XVI.
..This Is NV Wife,

Tor time at any rate her depressing
struggle against continual failure was
at an end. She had paid her bill, and
she had enough left in her purse to
pay many such. Beyond that every
thing was nebulous. She knew that In
her new role she was as likely asanot
to be rank failure. But the rehef
from the strain of her immediate ne
cesSitieS was immense. She had been
In the drawing-room for few minutes
before the gong had sounded and had
chartered gayly to every one. Now IN
her old place she was doing her best
thoroughly to enjoy most Indifferent
dinner.
Your brother has gone ?'' she asked
Sydney between the courses.
He nodded.
Yes, David left this afternoon. I
do not think that he has quite got over
his surprise at finding you established
here"
She laughed.
after all, why should he be sur
prised 2" she remarked. "Of course.
enc lives differently in Paris. but then
Paris is Paris. l think that board
ing-house is the very best place for
woman who wants to develop her
sense Of humor. Only L wish that it
Gid not remind one so much of sec
ond-hand clothes shop"
Sydney looked at her doubtfully.
Now / suppose Brendon under
stands exactly what you mean,' he re-
marked. He looks as though he did,
at any rate. 1 don't! Please enlighten
me"
She laughed gayly-and she had
way when she laughed of throwing
back her head and showing her beau
tiful white teeth, so that mirth from
her was thing very much to be de-
sired.
Look round the table," she said.
Aren't we all just odds and ends of
humanity-the left-overs, you know.
There is something inconglOmerate
about US. We are amiable to one an
other, but we don't mix. We can't"
You and 1 and Brendon get on all
right. don't we?" Sydney objected.
I'VE may be exceptions" Anna an
swered. I'VE can't disprove the theory.
Besides, / am thinking more of our
relations with the rest of the world
than with one another. There's old
Mr.. Carter, for instance He has
grandchildren and nephews, but they
won't have anything to do with him.
They know that he has an evil temper,
a wretched digestion and nothing be-
yond his pension. He's a leftover,
and so he's drifted here. Then there's
Mrs. Shaw. She has two married
daughters, but their husbands are do
ing we'll and getting their noses into,
at any rate, what they imagine to be
society. Mrs. Shaw eats peas with her
qxnife. Ergo, Mrs. Shaw remains here.
She, too, is a leftover. Miss Eli
cot and her mother have plenty
of relatives. They won't have
the girl to live with them because she
wants to marry every man she meets.
and isn't clever enough to hide it. Miss
Ellicot, too, is a leftover"
How about Brendon and me?" Sgd
ney asked.
you two? Oh, you don't count. You
are only boysl" Anna laughed.
II am 26 years DID," BTendOn said.
land l object to being considered any
thing of the sort. l do not mind being
called a leftover, but l object to not
counting"
"Well, then. you shall count for what
you like" Anna answered gOOd-humOr
edly, but you are neither of you in the
least like the ordinary boarding house
young man. You don't wear a dinner
coat with a flower in your buttOnhole.
or last nights shirt, or very glossy
boots, nor do you haunt the drawing
room In the evening or play at being
musical Besides"
She stopped short. She herself. and
one other there. recognized the inter-
position of something akin to tragedy.
A thickly set sandy young man, with
an unwhole some complexion and grease
smooth hair, had entered the room. He
wore a black tail coat buttoned tightly
over his chest, and a large diamond
pin sparkled in a white satin tie which
had seen better days. He bowed awk-
wardly to Mrs. White, who held out her
hand and beamed a welcome upon him.
Now, isn't this nicei" that lady ex-
claimed. I'm sure we're all delighted
to see you again, Mr.. Hill. 1 do like to
Tee old friends back here. If there's
any one here whom you have not met
will make you acquainted with them
after dinner. Will you take your old
place by Miss Ellicot?"
Miss Ellicot swept aside her skirts
from the vacant chair and welcomed
the newcomer with one of her most en-
gaging smiles.
I'VE were afraid that you had desert
ed us for good, Mr.. HILL she said gra-
ciously. II suppose Paris is very. very
distracting. You must come and tell
me all about it, although 1 am not sure
whether we shall forgive you for not
having written to any of us"
Mr.. Hill was exchanging greetings
with his hostess and salutations around
the table.
Thank you, ma am. Glad to get
back, I'm sure" he said briskly. Looks
like old times here, 1 see. Sorry I'm
bit late the first evening. Got detained
in the city, and"
Then he met the fixed, breathless
gaze OIL those WOnQer1uI eyes from Jne
other side of the table, and he, too,
broke off in the middle of his sentence.
He breathed heavily, as though he had
been running. His large, coarse lips
drew wider apart. Slowly a mirthless
and very unpleasant smile dawned
upon his face.
Great Scotti" he exclaimed huskily.
''Why-it's-its your
Amazement seemed to dry up the tor
rents of his speech. The girl regarded
him with the face of sphinx. Only in
her eyes there seemed to be some ap-
prehension of the fact that the young
mans clothes and manners were alike
undesirable things.
Are you speaking to me?" she asked
calmly. Il am afraid that You are
making mistake. 1 am quite sure that
do not know YOU"
a dull flush burned upon his cheeks.
He took his seat at the table, but
leaned forward to address her. A note
of belligerency had crept into his tone
Don't know me, Ell? 1 like that.
4