The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-09-25
CHAPTER XIII
AnnabeI and "AIcide. "


Lady FerringhaI lifted her eyes TO
the newcomer. and the greeting in
them was obviously meant for him
alone. She continued to fan herself.
You are late" she murmured.
My chief" he said, took it into
his head TO have an impromptu dinner
party. He brought home a few wav-
erers TO talk TO them where they had
no chance of getting away"
she nodded.
Il am bored" she said abruptly.
This is q very foolish sort of enter
tainment- And. as usual" she con-
tinued. little bitterly, Il seem to have
been sent along with the dullest and
least edifying OF Mrs. Montressor's
guests"
Ennison glanced at the other people
in the box and smiled.
I got your note just in time" he
remarked. 4 knew Of course that you
were at the Montressors'. but I had
no idea that il was a music hall party
sfterward. are you all here?"
Five boxes fun she answered
Some Of them seem TO be having an
fully good time, too. Did you see Lord
Delafeld and Miss Anderson? They
packed me in with Colonel Arson and
Mrs. Hitchings, who see TO be abb
solutely engrossed in one another and
boy Of about seventeen, who no
sooner got here than he discovered
that he wanted to see a man in the
promenade and disappeared"
Ennison at once seated himself
Il feel justified then" he said, in
GnneXing this chair. / expect you had
been snubbing him terribly"
We'll, he was presumptuous," Anna
bel remarked, 'and he wasn't Mica
about il. / wonder how II is" she add
Cd. that boys always make love so
impertinently."
Ennison laughed softly.
Il wonder" he said how you would
like 70 be made love to-boldly or tim
orously or sentimentally."
Are you master of all three meth
oos2" she asked, stopping her tanning
for moment 10 look at him.
Indeed, no." he answered. Mine 10
primitive and unstudied manner. It
needs cultivating. 1 think
His fingers touched hers for a mo-
ment under the ledge of the box.
That sounds so uncouth." she muir.
INJURED. II detest amateurs"
I viii buy books and a lay figure"
he declared. Ito practice upon. Or
shall ask Colonel Arson a few
hints?''
For heavens sake no." she declared.
would rather put up with your own
efforts, however clumsy. Love-making
at first hand is dull enough. At second
hand il would be uncomfortable"
He leaned towards her.
rs that a challenger"
She shrugged her shoulders, all
ablaze with jewels.
why not2 1t might amuse me"
Somewhat irrelevantly he glanced AZ
the next few boxes where the rest Of
Mrs. Montressor's guests were
Is your husband here to-night?" he
asked.
MY husband" she laughed a little
oerisively. No, he wouldn't come here
OF all places-5ust now. He dined and
then pleaded a political engagement
was supposed TO do the same, but
didn't"
You know" he said with some hesi-
tation. that your sister is singing"
She nodded.
"Of course. want to hear how she
does it."
she does it magnifcently." he de-
clared. Il think-we all think that she
Is wonderful"
She looked at him with curious eyes.
! remember" she said, that the
first night / saw you, you spoke Of my
sister as your friend. Have you seen
much OF her lately2'
Nothing at ALL" he answered.
The small gray feathers Of her ex-
quisitely shaped fan waved gently
backward and forward. She was
watching him iDtently.
DO you Know" she said, that every
one Is remarking how I'll you look.
too can see it. What has been the mat
ter?'
"TOothacl.4" he answered laconically.
She looked away.
You might at least" she murmured.
have invented a more romantic
reason"
"oa, I might" he answered, have
gone further still / might have told
you the truth"
Has my sister been unl1ind to your"
THE family" he declared, has not
treated me with consideration
She looked at him dOubtfully.
You promised faithfully to be there"
he said slowly. II loathe afternoon
concerts, and -