The San Francisco call., 1904-12-04

which was incalculable He was a de-
cided assistance to Jeremy in enliven-
ing the Selford household and in keep
ing Anna's wits busy and bright
L suppose nothing would induce you
to be successful?" she said to him
with malicious simplicity.
Success for me means something
quite different" Alec explained. 1T
lies in influencing the trend Of public
opinion
But the public's hopeIessIy stupid
1t seems to me rather foolish to spend
your time trying TO influence hopeless
ly stupid people,
Jeremy chuckled He did not see
how Alec was going to get out of that.
II spoke of the bulk. There is a
small intelligent minority on whom one
can rely"
IF you can rely on them already,
why do they want inf1uencing?" OBJ
jected Anna.
ION whom one can rely for hearing
and for intelligent appreciation, Miss
Selford."
'Then the fewer people who care
what you say, the more successful you
really are?"
That's hardly the way should put
mo, don't suppose you would" in
terrupted Anna. But it comes to
that, doesn't it, Jeremy?"
''Of course it does" agreed Jeremy.
THE fact is, writing about things Is
all rot. Go and do somethihg-some-
thing practical"
Dyeing was something practical.
"Oh, yet, go into business, of course,
and get rich by cheating Trading's
only another name for cheating"
We'll. you're right there for once
Right" cried Jeremy. hercely.
We'll. then, why isn't it cheating
when he" Che pointed scornfully at
Alec charges a ha'penny for his
/. beastly opinion about sOmething?"
"Oh, it's not for me to say! You
must ask Mr.. Turner that"
In fact the discussions were of a most
spirited order, since everybody was al
ways quite wrong. and each in turn
could be rapidly and ANONYMOUSLY re-
futed, the other two uniting in a warm
but transient alliance to that end.
This young and breezy society was
good for Selford, and for his wife too.
1t gave them something to think about.
and did not leave each so much time
to consider the unreasonableness Of the
other. Tiffs became less frequent, the
false sentimentalism of their recOncilia-
tions was less in demand: and as they
watched Annals deftness and bright
ness, they began TO ask whether they
had been as proud of her as they
ought to be.
She's got brains, that girl of ours"
said Selford, nodding his head COM
placently.
And a taking manner, don't you
think. Dick?"
Those boys find her attractive, or
It looks like 1t, anyhow"
''Of course she's not exactly pretty,
but do think she's rather distinguished
somehow"
Your daughter would be sure to be
that. my dear Janet" he remarked gall
lantly.
mo, r ly think she's more like
you" insist, 1 Janet amiabIy. Il must
make an effort" (Mrs. Selford was fond
Of that praise) "and take her out into
society more. / don't think were quite
giving her her chance"
'Ah. you've begun to think Of
matchmaking" he cried in playful re-
proof.
But it pleased him highly to think
that he had, after all, an attractive
daughter. He took much more notice
of her than he had been used to take,
and Mrs. Selford eyed her with critical
affection. Decidedly the increase of
human interest, as opposed to artistic
and canine, was a good influence in the
Selford household.
improved She was not demonstrative
about 1t, but she appreciated it. She
was also sharp enough to use it. The
next time an invitation to party
came, she refused to go unless she
might have a frock of her own choos-
ing.
II won't go If I'm to look a guy" she
said.
There was a battle over that. a battle
between her and Mrs. Selford, and a
tiff between father and mother to boot.
For Selford was with Anna now. They
won the day, and Anna with a check in
her pocket, went off to consult Chris
tine Fanshaw, nursing in her heart
that joy which only the prospect Of
being dressed really just as you'd like
to be dressed seemsSable to excite.
Merely malicious desire to cut out
the other girls" comment Alec lOftily.
II really don't think you ought to
talk about dress" retorted Anna, ey
ing the mustard suit.
But when Anna appeared in the frock
which Christine had sedulously and
lovingly planned, she carried all before
her. She was most undoubtedly dis
tinguished.
well, 1 suppose you've come to an
age when that charming simplicity
which used to suit you so well must
give way to something more stylish,
even Mrs. Selford admitted, capitulating
and marching out-but with the honors
of war.
Grantley Imason was rich; yet fifteen
thousand pounds is a solid sum Of
money. To put that sum at John Fan
shaw's disposal had not caused him
serious inconvenience, but it had en-
tailed q little contriving. To lay out
another five thousand in Jeremy's SER
vice would involve more contriving,
and the return of the money rested, Of
necessity, in a distant and contingent
future. Nevertheless, when Kate Ray
more uggeted that the happiness
of life should be secured,
he found the proposition attractive.
He was a man lavish Of money and
appreciative of all the various pleas
ures of giving it away-both those of
a more and those of less Self-regard-
ing order. He enjoyed both the delight
of the recipient and the sense of his
own generosity and his own power. He
would like Jeremy to be indebted to
him for the happiness Of his life-of
oor1rca that IUoc an eva Qrorpraffd WqV Of