The San Francisco call., 1904-08-07

a matter. She said as much, but not
as one who appeared unwilling.
I am not clever; 1 fear the Doctor
is mistaken in me-" she protested. "Of
course I am very anxious TO know what
he wishes me TO 60. but If you tell me
that / an TO wait viii do as you de-
sire. AT least could never forget his
kindness TO me this morning"
&c is kind to every one Julia re-
piled; he can almost break his heart
ever little starving children in the
streets. Believe me, dear Esther, you
Viii never have anything TO fear from
Francisco Xavier. Whatever happens
remember that he desires you to be
happy. and will be disappointed if you
are not"
she laid a little emphasis on the
words almost as one who would utter
= warning, and this was not lost upon
Esther Indeed, when she went up to
her own bedroom at eleven o'clock and
found herself alone. the whole events
of that strange day recurred to her
one by one Ike the pages of some eX-
citing story she had read in her child
hood. How different ii had been yes
terdayi Then she stood upon the
brink of a woman's supreme tempta-
ton No certain lone was open TO
her, no prospects in this great heart
less city. She had been driven from
door 10 door like an ourcast whom
none would harbor. All her fine
schemes Of success and advancement
IN London turned to ashes, and were
blown away upon the winds Of de-
spair The long hours at the doors Of
the theater. her rejection there. the
bitterness Of failure. were Of too recent
occurrence 10 be forgotten She knew
that she had suffered greatly, and from
suffering had passed almost with fabu-
lous swiftness 10 the extreme Of JOY.
Employment shelter. sOOd friends, cf
these the Doctor had spoken when he
invited her to his house. And was it
true rnessaEe2 Could she believe it?
This silent beautiful house appeared TO
invite her TO rest ard forgetfulness.
Might she trust in that appearance?
Was there nothing beyond 4 which
woman must dread? Esther did not
dare to deceive herself so Car. There
must be a secrct, she thought.
She undressed at her leisure and re-
luctantl. turned out the lamp by ner
bedside when at last a little WEAKNESS
helped her. Il was SO absolutely quiet
in the room. the summers night fell
50 still that not a leaf seemed to stir
In the garden. nor a whisper of the
trees made itself heard. For quite a
long while she lay seeking TO win sleep,
but failing 10 compose herself Once
she thought she heard a soft footstep
upon the landing outside, and she
started up in alright and listened in
tently for many minutes. Reassured
bv the silence she laughed at herself
for such babyish alarms, and lay back
10 dream again. 1t must have been
very late when at last she fell into a
gentle slumber. and she had not been
asleep very long when she awoke
again. but without fear, and not un-
willingly. Very greatly TO her surprise
she discovered that her room<was now
lighted up by a soft mellow light,
which AT first she believed to be moon
light shining down upon her bed In
this. however. she was mistaken. and
when she had lain little time, be-
nitohed by the translucent beams, she
perceived that they fell from an aper-
ture in the wall in spreading arc of
green-white light. so soft and gentle
10 the ewes that Esther seemed almost
To De IN some QLeGInlGAUs v llGAG NCA
thing entranced and pleased her. Anon,
she felt that the light compelled her to
sleep in spite Of her desire TO remain
awake. She closed her eyes and
opened them again. tossed and turned
little restlessly, tried 10 wake up but
failed TO do So The spell was irresisti-
ble She had no will to resist it, and
was on the point Of sleeping, when she
became aware that face regarded her
from the open door. and that a man
with the complexion and dress of a
Moor peered in at her as she lay Had
Esther believed that this apparition
was anything but that of dream, she
would have fed the house upon the in
stant and never re-entered it. but a
confidence she could not explain. some
spell Of the light deprived her, for the
time being, both of the power TO rise
and of the Wit to think. Surprising as
II was she did not feel inf any way
alarmed. The face did not frighten
her. she had no fear of the man who
watched By her bedside; and telling
herself that it was all imagination, she
fell suddenly into so heavy a sleep that
all the scene was instantly blotted out,
and not one memory Of it remained.
When she aWnks The birds were sing
ing in the garden, and the fountain
splasbed merrily. Sunlight fell upon
the western wing. and busy servants
we're crossing the quadrangle. Esther
scarcely remembered that she had
dreamed. OF If she did, she never
doubted that il was a dream.
CHAPTER V.
A pretty gown Of French muslin had