The San Francisco call., 1904-03-27

exercised
was forever broken.
She heard foot on the gravel. b,1t
did not look up; several. people had
passed close to her crossing to the main
drive. The newcomer advanced to-
ward her idly, noting the grace Of her
attitude. the rich and yet elegant pro-
portions of her figure. Her face was
turned from him. but he saw the roll of
rust-colored hair beneath her hat.
started. and Quickened .his pace. He
had come to a halt beside her before
she looked up startled. A quick red
rushed into her face He. for his part.
stood suave apd smiling. holding his
hat in one hand, no expression on his
face but one Of frank pleasure. Even
In his eyes there was not a shade of
consciousness.
What a piece of luck." he said.
Who'd have thought of meeting you
here?''
Mariposa had nothing to respond.
In a desperate desire for flight and pro-
lection she looked for Benito. but he
was at the top of the slope, well out of
earshot of anything but scream.
Essex surveyed her face with fond at
tention.
You're looking better than you did
before you moved" he said; you were
just a little too pale then. You know,
1 didn't know it was you at all. 1 was
looking at you as 1 came across the
drive, and 1 hadn't the least idea it was
you till I saw your hair'-his eye
lighted on it caressingly-'I knew there
was only one woman in San Francisco
with hair like that
His voice seemed to mesmerize her at
first. Now her volition came back and
she rose.
"Benito!" she cried; cone at once" :"
The two little boys had their heads
close together and neither turned.
What are you going to go for?' said
Essex in surprise.
What a question:" she said. picking
up her book with a trembling hand.
and thinking in her ignorance that he
spoke honestly; what an insulting
question:"
. "InsultingI What on earth do you
mean by that?" coaxingly. Please tell
me why you are going7"
Because 1 don't want ever to see
you or speak to you. again." she said
in a voice shaken with anger. Il
couldn't have believed any man could
be so lacking in decency as-as-to do
this"
do what?" he asked with an air Of
blank surprise What am 1 doing?"
''Thrusting yourself on me this way
when-when-you know that the sight
of you is humiliating and hateful to
me-"
"Oh, Mariposal" he said softly He
looked into her face with eyes brim-
ming with teasing tenderness. How
can you say that to me when my great
est fault has been to love you?"
Love mei' she calculated with
breathless scorn; "love me! oh. Beni-
to"-calling with all her force
come; do come. l want you!"
Benito, who undoubtedly must have
heard was too pleasantly engaged with
the companionship of his new friend to
make any response. Early lin life he
had learned the value Of an occasional
attack of deafness.
Mariposa made a motion to go to him,
but Essex gently moved in front Of her.
She drew away from him, knitting her
brows in helpless, heated rage.
You know you're treating me badly"
he said.
Treating you very badly" she now
fairly gasped, once more a bewildered
fly in the net of this subtitle spider,
''how else should treat you?"
Kindly" he said, softly bending his
compelling glance on her, "as a woman
treats a man who loves her"
Mr. Essex" she said, turning on him
with all the dignity she had at her COM
mand, I'VE don't seem to understand
each other. The last time I saw you,
you insulted and Inundated me.
don't know how 1t can be, but you seem
to have forgotten all about 1t.
haven't. 1 never can, and I don't want
to see you or speak to you or think OF
you ever again in this world"
What makes you think I've forgot
temp" he said, suddenly dropping his
voice to a key that thrilled with mean
ing.
He saw the remark shake her into
startled comprehension. That she
still took his words at their face value
proved to him again how strangely
simple she was.
What makes you think I've forgot
temp" he repeated.
She raised her eyes in arrested as
tcnishment and met his, now seeming
memories of the scene in the cottage.
How could l forget?" he murmured.
do you really think could ever for
get that EVENING""
She turned away speechless with en-
barrassment and anger, recollectfons OF
the kisses of that ill-omened interview
burning in her face.
When a man wounds the one wo-
man in the world he cares for, can he
ever forget, do you think?"
He again had the qualification OF
seeing her flash look of artless sur
prise at him.
"Then-then-" she stammered, COM
pletely bewildered. 'if you know that
you wounded me so, why do you come
back? Why do you speak to me now?
There is nothing more to be said be-
tween U.S."
"Yes, there is; much more"
She drew back, frowning, on the alert
to go. For second he thought he was
to lose this precious and unlooked-for
chance of righting himself with her.
"Sit down., he said entreatingly; "sit
doxvr,. 7 must spaa X RI Won