The San Francisco call., 1904-03-27

AOA = ncA anu Turn lAlC hC--
Upstairs Benito had found MaripOsa
sitting in front of the fire. She had
been giving lessons most of the day
and was tired. She stretched herself
like sleepy cat as he came in, and
put her hand up to her hair, pushing
in the loosened hairDins-
It's some one about lessons. 7
guess she said. rising and giving A
hasty look in the glass. AT this rate.
Ben, I'll soon be rich"
She was in coed spirits at the pros
poets of a new pupil and. with her
hand on the dOor-knob. threw BenitO
q farewell smile. which was still on
her lips as she entered
1t remained there for a moment. for
II the first glance she did not recog-
nize Essex, who was standing with his
back TO the panes of the unveiled win
dows; then he moved toward her and
she saw who il was.
She gave a smothered exclamation
and drew back.
Mr.. Essex" she said: why do you
come here2"
He had intended TO meet her with
his customary half impudent. half ca
not The sight of her filed him with
fiery agitation.
Il came because I couldn't keep
away" ne said. advancing with his
hand cut.
No" she said. glancing at the hand
and turning her head aside with an i'm
patient movement; there can't be any
pretenses at friendship between US. /
don't want to shake hands with you
l don't want TO see you. What did you
cOme fOr2''
ITO see you I had to see you"
His eyes. fixed on her as she stood
in the light OF the window, seemed to
italicize the words Of the sentence.
There's no use beginning that sub
ject again" she said hurriedly:
there's no use talking about those
things"
What things? What are you refer
ring tor"
For moment she felt the old help
less feeling coming ever her. but she
forced it aside and said. looking stead
lily at him:
The things We talked about in the
park the last time we met"
She saw his dark face flush. He was
too much in earnest now to be able to
assert his supremacy by teasing equiv
ocatfons-
Nevertheless. I've come to-day to
repeat those things"
.DOn't-don't," she said quickly;
there's no use. I won't listen to them.
It's not polite to intrude into a lady's
house and try to talk about subjects
she detests."
The time has passed for us to be
polite or impdite. he answered hOtly;
we're not the man and woman as So
ciety and the world has made them
We're not speaking TO each other
through the wells OF conventionality;
were speaking face TO face We have
hearts and souls and passions. We've
loved each other.
Never" she said: never for a mo-
ment-"
You have a bad memory" he an
swered slowly; lis it natural or culti-
vated2"
He had the satisfaction OF seeing her
color rise. The sight sent a thrill Of
hope through him. He moved nearer
to her and said in a voice that vibrated
with feeling:
''Ycu loved me once
NO. never. never. It>-was never
that
Then why" he answered. his lips
trying to twist themselves into a sar-
donic smile, while rage possessed him.
why did you-Iet US say-encOurage
me so that night In the cottage on Pine
street?'
Though her color burned deeper. her
eyes did not drop. He had never seen
her dominating her own girlish i'm
pulses like this. 1t seemed to remove
her thousands of miles from the circle
of his power.
'I'll tell you" she answered: Il was
lonely and miserable, and you seemed
the only c ature that had TO care for
1 thought you were fond of me, and
thought IT was wonderful that any cne
as clever as you could really care for
me. That you regarded me as you did
1 could no more have imagined than
could have suspected you of picking my
pocket or numbering me. And that
night In the cottage, when in my lone
iness and distress / seemed To- be
holding cut my arms to you. asking you
to protect and comfort me, you laughed
at me and struck me a blow in the
face. IL was the end of my dream
wakened then and saw the reality. But
yOu-you as you areas 1 know you
n0w-I never loved, never could have
loved