The San Francisco call., 1904-12-18

What more obvious, since Charley was
TO land at Fairhaven and to stay a
month in England P Spend that month
III London. where things interrupted
and people started and old-time talk
was remembered? Mo- Kate Ray
more jumped at the idea that this
wonderful month should be spent in
the country. in quiet and seclusion.
among old friends whose lips would
be guarded, whose looks friendly,
whose hearts in sympathy.
When Jeremy made this arrange
ment-SO excellent one that
he may be pardoned for al
most forgetting the selfish side OF tt
he had not failed to remember Dora
Hutting. There had always been alter
native .endings to that story. Jeremy's
present scheme was a variation from
both Of them None the less. he had
come decidedly to prefer it to either
But he had not allowed for the pres
ence Of the cuEate: and this circum-
stance, casually brought to his knowl-
edge by Grantley Imason on the even
ing OF his arrival. had rather disturbed
him. There was another feature in the
case for which he was quite unpre-
pared. The name Of the curate was a
famous One-actually famous through
the length and breadth of the land
This was rather staggerer for Jere-
my. who might deride but could not
forms OF glory may appeal more to one
man than to another. but all are glori-
GUS The curate was Mallam OF SOM
erset.
The Mallam?" asked Jeremy.
Yes, the Mallam," said Grantley,
gravely.
BY Jove." Jeremy murmured.
Il think you ought to forgive her.
Grantley suggested He's played twice
for England. you know, and made a
century the first time
Il remember Jeremy acknowledged,
looking very thoughtful.
This was quite different matter
from the ordinary curate. Ritualistic
prOclivities. however obnoxious to Jere-
my in their essence. became a pardon
able eccentricity in a man whose solid
reputation had been won in other
fields.
1t was not surprising that Dora car
ried her head very high, or that the
cool pOliteness Of her bow relegated
Jeremy to a fathOnlless Oblivion. Know
ing the ways of girls and reluctantly
conscious of Mr.. Mallam's greatness
conscious, too, perhaps, that his own
riches and fame were not as yet much
in evidence-he was prepared for that
But, alas. Charley was cricketer. too,
and had infected Eva with his enthusi-
asm for the game. She was quite ex-
cited about Mallam. Jeremy did not
appreciate this feeling as generously as
he might have; yet Eva made no at
tempt TO conceal it. She rather en-
phasized it: for she had come to the
stage when she sought defenses. At
ter the first eager spring to meet the
offered and cOngeniaI love there comes
often this recOil. The girl would have
things stay as they are, since they are
very pleasant. and the next step is
into the unknown. She loves delay
then, and, since the man will not have
1t for it's own sake (nOt knowing it's
sweetness nor the fear that aids it's
charm) she enfOrces it on him by
triclxery and makes him afraid Of los
ing the draught altogether by insist.
ing on his slipping it at first. She will
use any weapon in this campaign, and
an ardent admiration for Mr.. Mallam
was a very useful weapon to Eva Ray
more. She said more than once that
she considered Dora Hutting a very
lucky girl. She thought Dora must be
charming, since Mallam was in love
with her. She held Mallam to be very
handsome and refused to believe-well,
that his talent was so highly special
lied as Jeremy tried to persuade her in
words somewhat less gentle than these.
Jeremy's knowledge Of girls gave out
before this unexpected call upon Ii. He
recolfected how Dora had served him,
and how Anna Selford had trifed with
Alec Turner. He grew apprehensive
and troubled-also more and more in
love- He forecast complicated TRACE
dies, and saw Mallam darkening his
life wherever he turned. But the wo-
men understOod-Kate Raymore. Chris
tine, even Sibylla. They glanced at one
another and laughed among them
selves. They were rather proud OF
Eva. who PLAYED their sexs game so
we'll.
..-rhan1~ evoodness sba,s 1aa-,a6 e.
fiirt." said Christine. A woman is no.
where without that. my dear, and I
don't care whether she's married or
not"
she just adores Jeremy" Kate as
sured Sibylla- "Only men can't see.
you know"
Sibylla laughed. She understood now
better than in the days when she her
self was wooed But she blushed a lit
tie. too, which was strange, unless. per-
chance, she found some parallel to
Eva's conduct which she was not In
clined to discuss with her friends. Jer-
emy was not the only man who went
counting just now in Milldean- Nor was
Kate RaymOre the only woman whose
heart expected a wanderer home, and
trembled at the joy Of long-desired
meeting. The period or Mrs. Mumple's
expectation was almost done. In two
or three weeks she was to go on a jour
ney; she would come back to Old Mil
House not alone. The house was swept
and garnished, and Mrs. Mumple had a
new silk gown The latter she showed
to Kate-and new bonnet, too. which
was a trifie gayer than her ordinary
wear; 1t had a touch Of youth about II.
Mrs. Mumple knew very well who was
the best person to show these treasures
to. who the best listener to her specu-
lations as to the manner of that meet
ing And she. in turn. was eager to
listen to Kate when the news came
that Charleys ship was TO be In quite
soon. Kate could not say much about
that to anybody except to Mrs. Num-
Pile; but she was sure that Mrs. Num-
pie would understand.
When on the top Of all this came the
announcement that Dora Hutting's
wedding was fixed for that day three
weeks, Christine Fanshaw was moved
to protest.
Really, Grantley." she exclaimed.
this village Is a center OF lQve-mak-
ing, of one sort or anotEeri"
'All villages are" said Grantley.