The San Francisco call., 1904-03-13

She was so used to such remarks that
her rose-leaf color did not vary the
fraction OF a shade. Maud, to whom
no one ever paid compliments, looked
at her with wistful admiration.
''Is that alI2" she said with an air of
disappointment. Il hoped it was some
thing that would make US all smile"
Well, have an idea that may make
you all smile"-he turned TO his wife
how would you like to go to Europe
next spring. Bessie ?"
Mrs. Shackleton looked surprised and
not greatly elated. On their last trip
to Europe. two years before, her hus-
. band has been so bored by the joys Of
foreign travel that she had made up
her mind she would never ask him 20
go again. Now she said:
But you don't want TO go TO Europe.
You said last time you hated it,"
Did /? Yes. guess 1 did. Well, I'm
prepared TO like it this time. We could
take spin over in the spring to Lon
don and Paris. We'd make quite a
stay in Paris, and you women could
buy clothes. You'd come. too. Pussy,
wouldn't you?" he said. turning to the
girl.
Her color rose now and her eyes
sparkled. She had never been even TO
New York
Wouldn't I?' she said. That does
make me smile
II thought So" he answered good hu-
moredIy-'and Maud, you'd like it. of
course?"
Maud did not like the thought of
going at all. In this little party of
four, two were moved in their actions
by secret predictions of which the
others were ignorant Maud thought
of leaving her love affair at the critical
point it had reached. and, with anguish
at her heart, looked heavily Indifferent.
Il don't know" she said, crumblins
her bread, Il don't think it's such fun
in Europe. You just travel round in
little stuffy trains, and have To live in
hotels without baths
We'll, you and /. Pussy" said Shack
Teton, seem to be the only two whC've
got any enthusiasm. You'll have to
try and put some into Maud. and if the
worst comes to the worst we can kid
nap the old lady"
He was in an unusually good temper,
and the dinner was animated and
merry. Only Maud, after the European
suggestion, grew more stClidly quiet
than ever But she cheered herself By
the thought that the. spring was six
months off yet, and who could tell what
might happen in six months?
After dinner the ladies repaired TO the
music room, and Shackleton, following
a custom of his. passed through one
of the long windows into the garden.
there to pace up and down while he
smoked his cigar.
The night was warm and OdOrOus
with the scent of hidden blossoms.
Now and then his foot crunched the
gravel of a path. his walk took him
back and forth over the long stretch of
lawn broken by flower beds and narrow
walks. The great bulk of the house,
its black mass illumined by congeries
of lit windows. showed an inky, irreg-
ular outline against the star-strewn
sky
Presently the sound of piano fioated
out from the music room. The man
stopped mis- pacing. listened fer an in
stant, and then passed round TO the
side of the house. The French windows
of the music room We're opened. throw
ing elongated squares of light over the
balcony and the grass beyond. He
paused in the darkness and looked
through Cne of them. There, like a
painting framed by the window casing.
was Pussy Thurston seated at the pi-
ano singing, while Maud sat near by
listeningN One of Miss Thurston's
most admired social graces was the gift
of song. She had small agreeable
voice, and had been we'll taught; but
the %ight frail tones sounded thin in
the wide silence of the night. 1t was
the-feebly pretty performance of the
accomplished young lady
ShackletOn listened with a slight
smile that increased as the song drew
to a close As it ceased he moved
away, the red light of his cigar coming
and going in the darkness.
Singing" he said to himself. they
call that singing. Wait till they hear
my daughter"