The San Francisco call., 1904-02-07

rewe's absence, and told it in spite or
Mrs. Tanberry's utmost effort to pre-
serve, at all times, conjunction De-
tween herself and Miss Betty. For the
good lady, foreseeing these declarations
much more surely than did the subject
of them, wished to spare her lovely
charge the pain Of listening to them.
Miss Carewe honored each Of the
lorn three with a few minutes OF grav-
ity; but the gentle refusal prevented
never a swain from being as truly her
follower as before; not that she re-
sorted to the poor device Of half-dis-
missal. the everyday method OF the
schools girl flirt, who thus keeps the lads
in dalliance, but because, even for the
rejected, 1t was a delight to be near her
For that matter, It is said that no one
ever had enough OF the mere looking at
her Also. her talk was enliveninS even
to the lively, being spiced with sur
prising turns and amiably seasoned
with the art Of badinage- To use the
phrase Of the time. she possessed the
accomplishments, an antiquated charm
now on the point OF disappearing, so
carefully has 1t been snubbed under
whenever exhibited. The pursuing
wrath OF the young. II comes to sit,
ghost at every banquet. driving the
flower OF our youth to unheard-of eXer-
tions in search of escape, to dubious
diplomacy, to dismal inaction, or TO
wine; yet time was when they set their
hearts on "the accomplishments"
Miss Betty Carewe at her harp, ahi
IL was a dainty picture; the clear pro-
file. with the dark hair low across the
temple siIhouetted duskily in the cool,
shadowy room, against the open win
dow; the slender figure, one arm curv-
ing between you and the strings. the
other cleaning behind them; the deli
cate little sandal stealing from the
white froth OF silk and lace to caress
the pedal: the nimble hands futtering
across the long strands, Like white
blossoms borne on slanting lines of
rain;" and the great gold harp rising
to catch a 1avelin Of sunshine that
pierced the vines at the window where
the honeysuckles swung their skirts 10
the refrain-it was a picture to return
many a long year afterward, and thrill
the reveries Of old men who were then
young. And, following the light cas-
cading ripples Of the harp, when her
low contraIto lifted in one of the "old
see If the listener liked music, and her
brilliant, dark eyes would rest on his
with an appeal that blinded his en-
tranced soul. She meant 1t for the
mere indication Of a friendly wish to
suit his tastes, but 1t looked like the
divine humility OF love. Nobody Won
dered that General Trumble should fall
to verse-making in his old age.
Ut L.
the very strongest support for the as
sertion: Frank Chenoweth and Tap
bingham Marsh agreed. with tears of
enthusiasm, that "magnihcently'' was
the only word. They came to this con-
cluslon as they sat together at the end
of a long dinner Cat which very little
had been eaten) after a days picnic
by the river Miss Carewe had been of
their company, and Tappingham and
Chenoweth found each his opportunity
in the afternoon. The party was small,
and no one had been able to effect a
total unconsciousness OF the maneuvers
of the two young gentlemen. Even
Fanchon Bareaud comprehended Ian
guidly, though she was more blurred
than ever. and her far-away eyes be-
lied the mechanical vivacity OF her
manner. for Crailey was thirty miles
down the river. with a fshing-rod
neatly packed in a leather case.
Mr.. Vanrevel, Of course. was not in
vited: no one would have thought Of
asking him to join a small party OF
which Robert Carewe's daughter was
to be a memeber. But it was happiness
enough for Tom, that night, to lie hid
den in the shrubbery, looking up at the
stars between the leaves, while he lis
tened to her harp, and borne through
the open window on enchanted airs, the
voice of Elizabeth Carewe singing
robin Adair."
It was now that the town INDUCED its
Iiveliest spirit; never an evening lacked
it's junketing, while the happy folk OF
Rouen set the early summer to music
Serenade. dance and song for them. the
light hearts, young and old. making gay
together! 1t was all laughter, either in
sunshine or by candle-light, undis-
turbed by the far thunder below the
southern horizon, where Zachary Tay-
lor had pitched his tent, upon the Rio
Grande.
One fair evening, soon after that ex-
cursion which had proved fatal to the
hopes Of the handsc 20 Tappingham
and Of the youthful Chenoweth, 1t was
the privilege Of Mr.. Thomas Vanrevel
to assist Miss Carewe and her chaperOn
from their carriage, as they drove up
to a dance at the Bareauds'. This good
fortune fell only to great deserving, for
he had spent an hour lurking outside
the house In the hope Of performing
such offices for them.
Heaven was in his soul and the
breath departed out Of his body, when.
after a moment OF hesitation. Miss
Betty's little lace-gauntleted glove was
placed in his hand, and her white slip
per shimmered out from the lilac
hounces Of her dress to fall like a bene-
diction he thought, on each OF the car
riage-steps.
1t was the age Of garlands; they
wreathed the MUSES., the Seasons. and
their speech, so the women wore
wreaths in their hair. and Miss Betty's
that night was Of marguerites. Read