The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-04-03

The Count de Lamolle gave Essex a
quick glance, and, as they stood to-
gether in front Of one of the fires-the
two girls and Win having moved away
to look at painting of Bouguereau' s
on an easel-addressed a casual re-
mark to him in French The Count
had already met the newspa per man,
and set him down, without iilnsion CT.
hesitation, as a clever adventurer. He
overcame his surprise at meeting him
In the house of the bonanza widow. by
the reflection that this was the United
States, where all men are equal, and
women with money free to be wooed
by any of them.
The Count was in an uncertain and
almost uncomfortable state of mind
The letter he had received from Mrs.
Shackleton, bidding him to the feast,
was the second from her since Maud S
rejection of him. The first had been of
a consolatory and encouraging nature.
Mrs. Shackleton told him that Maud
was young, and that many women said
no, when they meant yes. The Count
knew both these things as we'll as Mrs
Shackleton; the latter, even better. But
1t seemed ITO him that Maud, young
though she was, had not meant yes. and
the handsome Frenchman was not the
man to force his attentions on any
woman. He watched her without ap-
pearing to notice her. She had been
greatly embarrassed at sight of him.
Maud sat beside Essex, and even that
easily fluent gentleman found her diff
cult to interest She appeared dull and
unresponsive. Looking at her with
slightly narrowed eyes, he wondered
how the Count, of whose name and ex-
ploits he had often heard in Paris,
could contemplate SO brave an act as
marrying her.
The Count, who, having more heart.
could see deeper, asked himself If the
girl was really unhappy. AS he listened
to Miss Thurston's marvellous French
he wondered, with little expanding
heat of irritation, If the mother was
trying to force the marriage against
the daughters wish. He had broken
hearts in his day, but it was not pas
time he found agreeable. He was teo
gallant a gentleman to WOO where his
courtship was unwelcome.
When the gentlemen entered the
wine and cigars, they found the ladies
seated by one Of the fires below the
Mexican onyx mantels. Bessie rose as
they approached and, turning to Es-
sex, asked him if he had seen the Bou-
guereau on the easel, and steered him
toward it.
1T was one of Mr.. Shackleton's last
purchases" she said; "he was very an
xious to have a fine collection. He had
great taste"
Her companion. looking at the plump,
pearly SKINNED nymph and her atten-
dant cupids, thought of Harney's de-
scription of Shackleton in the days
when he had first entered California,
and said, with conviction:
What a remarkably versatile man
your husband was!. / had no idea he
was interested in art.H
"Oh. he loved it, said Bessie. "and
knew a great deal about it. We were
in Europe two years ago for six months,
and Mr.. Shackleton and l visited a
great many studios. That is a Meis-
sonier over there, and that one we
bought from Rosa Bonheur She's an
interesting woman, looked just like a
man. Then in the Moorish room there's
Gerome Would you like to see it?
It's considered a very fine example,
He EXPRESSED his desire to see the
Gerome, and followed Bessie's rustling
wake into the Moorish room.
1--WE hoped" continued Bessie, sink
ing into a seat, ''tc have fine collec-
ton, and build a gallery for them out
in the garden. There was plenty of
room. and they would have shown off
better all together that way. rather
than scattered about like this. But
I've no ambition to do it now, and
they'll stay as they are"
why don't you go on with the coll
lection?" said The young man, taking
a seat on a square stool of carved teak
wood. 1T would be a most interesting
thing to do, and you could go abroad
every year or two, and so to the stu
dios and buy direct from the artists
It's much the best way"
"Oh, 1 couldn't" she said. with lit
tie shrug; Il don't know enough about
it. / only know what / like, and 1 gem
orally like the wrong thing. I'm not
versatile like my husband. When
first came to California / didn't know a
chrome from an oil painting. In fact
she said, looking at him frankly and
laughing little. Il don't think I'd ever
seen an oil painting
Essex returned the laugh and MUIR
INJURED a word or two of compliment
tary disbelief He was wondering when
she would get to the real subject Of
conversation which had led them to the
Gerome and the. Moorish room She
was nearer than he thought.
1T would be temptation to go to
Paris every year or two" she said.
That's the most delightful place in the
world. It's your home, isn't it? So, of
course, you agree with me-"
Eyes, 1 was born there, and have
lived there off and on ever since. To
me, there is only one Paris"
"And can you fancy any one having
the chance to go there, and live and
study, with no trouble about money, re-
fusing?"
Essex looked into the fire. and re-
sponded in tone that suggested polite
indifference:
mo, that's quite beyond my powers
of imagination"
Il have sort of think you call it
~.-o4ooa-icnsf that fho unrd o--uecp-