The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-09-25

cd lnCreQlule Ii
rered whether I am a married Woin-
an or not There is Mr.. Montague
HtlL"
The lights were lowered, and an at
tentiVe waiter lowered round Anna
cloak They left the room ahhOils
the last and Ennison had almost TO
elbow his way through A group OF ac-
orafrtances who had all some preteXt
for OBTAINING him. TO which he abso-
tpfelv refused TO listen They entered
q hanson and turned on to the En-
bankment The two great notes on
fhpfr right were still ablaze with lights
ON their left the river. with its gloomy
pile OF buildings on the opposite side,
and 2 huge revolving advertisement
throwing its strange reflection upon
The black water. A fresh cool breeze
blew IN their faces. Anna leaned
back. with half-closed eyes.
Delicious" she murmured.
His fingers closed upon her hand She
yielded it without protest, as though
unconsciOuslv. Not a word passed be
tween them. It seemed TO him that
Kneech would be an anticlimaX.
He paid the D, and turned 10 fol-
low her She passed inside and up
stairs without n word In her httie
sitting-ro0m she turned on the electric
light and looked around half fearfully
I am going through the other rooms
] shall not let you go till 1 am quite
sure"
IF he has a key" Ennison said,
show are you 10 be safer
Il had bolts fitted on the doors yes
terday." she answered. IF he Is not
here now j can make myself safe.
il was certain that he was not there.
Anna came back into the sitting-room
with a little sigh of relief
Indeed" she said. 1t was very for
tunate that ] should have met you this
afternoon. Either sydney or Mr. Bren-
don always comes home with me, ana
tonight both are away. Mary Is very
good bat she Is too nervous TO be the
slightest protection
4 ann very glad" he answered IN
low tone. 1T has been a delightful
evening for me-
"And for me-" Anna echoed.
A curious silence ensued. Anna was
sitting before the fire little distance
from him-Eunison himself remained
standing Some shadow of reserve
seemed 90 have crept up between them.
She laughed nervously, but kept her
eyes avertCd.
III Is strange that we should have
met Annahel." she said. / am afraid
your broken dinner engagement viii
not b. SO easy 10 explain.
ffe was very ltiltlLtitilN- III Ia AiS
was thinking Of other things
7 am going" he said. Ito be imper-
firent d do not understand why you
and your sister should not see more Of
one another. You must be lonely here
with only few men friends"
She shook her head
Loneliness" she said, is luxury
which ] never permit myself Besides
there is Sir John
aSfr Holm is an asst" he declared.
He Is AnnabeIs husband" she re-
minded him.
beir' He looked at her thought
fully. 1T is rather odd" he said, but
always thought that your name was
Annabel and hers Anna"
Many other people" she remarked.
have made the same mistake"
Again" he said. L am going to be
fmperfinent 7 never met your sister
in Paris. but ] heard about her more
than once. She is not in the least like
the descriptions Of her"
she has changed a good deal, Anna
admitted.
There is some mystery about you
both" he exclaimed, with sudden
earnestness. NO. don't interrupt me.
Why may ] not be your friend2 Some
how or other I feel that you have been
driven into a false position. You repre-
sent TO me an enigma, the solution Of
my life I want TO g.ve you warning
that have set my TO solve it. To-
morrow / am going to Paris.
She seemed unmoved, but she did not
lock at him.
To Paris, But why? What do you
hope 10 discover there?'
i do not know" he answered, but
am going TO see David Courtlaw."
Then she looked up at him with
frightened eyes.
David Courtlaw!" she repeated
what has he to do with it?"
He was your sisters master - her
friend. A few days ago 1 saw him
leave your house. He was like a man
beside himself. He began to tell me
something stopped. ! am going 70
ask him TO finish il"
She rose up.
I forbid it, she said firmly.
Thov were standing face to face now
upon the hearthrug. She was very pale,
and there was a look Of fear in her
eyes.
Il viii tell YOU as much as this" she
continued. There is a secret. admit
f.. Set spurself 10 find il out il you viii
but il you do. never dare to call your
self my friend again"
1t is for your goOd-your good only
] am thinking" he declared
Then Jet me be the judge Of what is
best" she answered.
He was silent. The tlnhlng bell OF a
passing hanson seemed to ring into the
room with curious distinctness. He felt
his heart beat faster and faster-his
self-restraint slipping away. After all.
what did IL matter2-it or anything else
in the World2 She was within reach of
his arms. beautiful, compelling, herself
as IL seemed suddenly conscious of the
light which was burning in his eyes.
quick nl.sh stained her cheeks. She
put out her hands To avoid his embrace.
No" she exclaimed. You must not.
II is impossible"
His arms were around her. He only
laughed his defiance.
I viii make it possible" he cried.
I viii make all things possible"
Anna was bewildered. She did not
know herself Only she was conscious
OF an unfamiliar and wonderful emo
ton. She gave her lips TO his without
resistance. All her protests seemed
stiied before she could find words to
utter them. With a little sigh Of happi-