The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-07-31

Is my leading man, you know. why,
she pulls the wool over his eyes and
makes him the laughing stock Of the
company. I can't stand her any more
than I can Marie Avon, who's never
without two strings"
All at once / stopped. But wasn't
1t like me to spoil it all by bubblinS
over? I tell you. Maggie. too much
truth isn't good for the Bishops set;
they don't know how to digest it.
L was afraid that I'd lost him, for he
spoke with a stately little primness
as the carriage just then came to a
stop; 1 had been so interested talking
that 1 hadn't noticed where we were
driving.
"Ah, here we arei'' he said. Il must
ask you to excuse me, NISSAN, Mrs
that is-there's a publ'c meeting of the
Society for the Prevention Of Cruelty
to Children this afternoon that I must
attend. Good-by. then"
''Oh, are you bound for the Cruelty.
too?" 1 asked. why. so am 1. And
yes-yes-that's the Cruelty"
The Cruelty stands just where it did,
Mag. when you and hrst saw it; most
things do in Philadelphia. you know.
There's the same prim, official straight
up-and- downness about the brick front
The steps don't look so steep now and
the buildings not so high, perhaps be-
cause of a sky-scraper or two that've
gone up since. But It chills your
blood, Maggie. darlin', just as it always
did, TO think what it stands for. Not
mans inhumanity to man. but women
cruelty to children, Maggie, think of it.
if you can, as though this were the
first time you'd heard of such a thing.
Would you believe it?
walked from that to find myself
marching up the stairs behind the Bish-
ops rigid little back. Oh. it was stiff
and uncompromisins: Beryl Black
burn did that for me. Poor, pretty, pa
gan Beryl!
Ny coming with the Bishop-we
seemed to come together, anyway
made the people think he'd brought
me. so 1 must be just all right. I
had the man bring in the toys I'd got
out IN the carriage, and / handed them
over to the matron. saying:
They're for the children. 7 want
them to have them all and now.
please, to do whatever they want with
them. There'I always De others.
I'm going to send them right along.
If you'll let me, so that those who
leave can take something Of their very
own with them-sOmething that never
belonged to anybody else but just
themselves, you understand. It's terri
BILE. dUn't you know. to be a deserted
child or a tortured child or a crippled
child and have nothing to do but sit
up in that bare. clean little room up
stairs with q lot of other strangelings
and just think on the cruelty that's
brought you here and the cruelty you
may get into when you leave here. IL
Id had a doll-if Mag had only had a
set of dishes or a little tin kitchen-if
the be- with the gouged eye could
have had set of tools-oh, can't you
understand
I became conscious then that the ma
tron-a new one, Mag. ours is gone
was staring at me. and that the people
stood around listening as though I'd
gone mad
Who came to my rescue? Why. the
Bishop. like the manly little fellow he
is. He forgave me even Berry, in that
moment
tie Nance Clden. ladies'" he said.
with a digniied little wave OF his hand
that served 70 ran Introduction. she
begins her Philadelphia engagement to-
night in And the Greatest OF These. %
Oh, I'm used to it now, Maggie. but 1
do not like it. All the Iady-sweHs buzz
ed about me. and there Nance stood
preening herself and Growing softly
till-tiu from among the bunch of mil
linery ore OF them stepped up to me.
She had big smooth face with plenty
of chins. Her hair was white and her
nose was curved and she rustled in
silk and
1t was Mrs. Dowager Diamonds, alias
Henrietta, alias Mrs. Edward Ramsay
Clever. My, how clever," she ex-
claimed, as though the sob in my voice
that I couldn't control had been a bit OF
acting.
She was feeling for her glasses. When
she got them and hooked them on her
nose and got good look at newly.
she just dropped them with a smash
upon the desk.
looked for a minute from her to the
: Bishop.
L remember you very well. Mrs.
Ramsay. 1 hope you haven't forgotten
me- I've often wanted 10 thank you
for your kindness" 1 said slowly, win lie
: she as slowly recovered. I think you'll
be glad TO KNOW tnat am thoroughly
well-cured. Shall 1 tell Mrs.
Ramsay how. Bishop"
I put it square UP to him. And he
:, met It like the little man he is-per-
haps. too. my bit Of charity to the Cru
city children had pleased him.
II don't think it will be necessary,
Miss Olden." he said, gently. II can
do that for you at some future time"
,fr 4
: didn't dare.
2 We had tea there in the board rooms.
t oh. Mag, remember how we used to
! peep. into those awful, imposing board
rooms!. Remember how strange and
resentful you felt-lixe a poor little