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

She smiled family.
The rest" she said, holding tight
ly to his hands, lis the most important
OF all. You came to me, you wished
me TO speak to Anna. l went TO her
rooms tonight. There was no one at
home and L was coming away when
saw that the door was open. I de-
clded to go in and wait. In her sit
ting-room 1 found Montague Hill. He
had gained admission somehow and
he, too, was waiting for Anna. But
he was cleverer than any OF you.
He knew me, Nigel. AT last he
cried. L have found you! He would
was his wife and shot him. Nigel.
as his arms were closing around me.
Shot him, do you hear?"
Good Godr' he exclaimed, looking
at her curiously. rs this true, Anna
bel? Is he dead?'
She nodded.
II shot him. I saw the blood come
certificate from his pocket and burnt
it. And then I came here
You came-herei" he repeated
vaguely.
Nigel. Nigel" she cried. Don't
you understand? 1t is l whom you
cared for in Paris. not Anna. She is
stranger to you You cannot care for
her. Think of those days in Paris.
Do you remember when we went right
away. Nigel, and forgot everything?
We went down the river past VeraZ,
and the larks were singing all over
those deep brown fields and the river
farther on wound its way like a coil
of silver across the rich meadowland
and along the hillside vineyards. oh,
the scent Of the flowers that day, the
delicious quiet, the swallows that
Owed before US in the river. NIGEL
You have not forgotten It was the
first day you kissed me. under the
willows, coming into Veraz. Nigel,
you have not forgotten!"
No." he said, with a little bitter
smile. II have never forgotten
She suddenly caught hold Of his
shoulders and drew him down toward
her.
Nigel, don't you understand? L
must leave England tonight. 1 must
go somewhere into hiding. long, long
way of. killed him Nigel. They
say that 1t was murder. But II only
you will come do not care"
He shook her hands off almost
roughly. He stood away from her.
She listened with dumb fear in her
eyes.
Listen, Annabel." he said hoarseIy
I'VE played at lovemaking in Paris. II
it lasted. but We played it with our
eyes open and we perfectly understood
the game-both Of us. Other things
came. We went our ways. There
was no broken faith-not even any
question or anything Of the sort.
met you here as Lady Ferringhall. We
have played at a little mild lovemak-
ing again. II has been. only the sort
of nonsense which passes lightly
enough between half the men and
women in London. You shall know
the truth. I do not love you. have
never loved you. / call myself man
of the world. a man of many expert
ences. but 1 never knew what love
meant-until 1 met your sister"
You love-Anna she exclaimed.
1T do" he answered. Il always shall.
Now if you are ready to go with me,
too am ready. We will go to Ostend
by the early morning boat and choose
a hiding place from there / will marry
you when Sir John gets his divorce, and
1 will do all can to keep you out OF
harm. But you had better know the
truth to start with. 1 will do all this
not because I love you, but-because
you are Annals sister"
Annabel rose to her feet.
you are magnificent" she said, but
the steel Of your truth is little over
sharpened. 1t cuts. Will you let your
servant call me a hansom?" she con-
tinued, opening the door before he
could reach her side. Il had no idea
that it was so abominably late"
He scarcely saw her face again She
pulled her veil down, and he knew that
silence was best.
Where to-" he asked, as the han
som drove up.
Home, Of course, she answered.
IS Cavendish Square"