The San Francisco call., 1904-11-17

oONh Will Il little cry VI uiSLhoJ 90
the cleaning, lustrous, costly fabric
was revealed.
What have 1 done to make Uncle
Bruce's wife and daughter dislike me
so she whispered. They knew
You know, Aunt Lucinda-that 1 can
never wear such a shade!"
Lucinda Ferguson shook her head.
Iears of disappointment came into her
gentle old eyes as she gaZed down on
the expensive robe. 1t was OF raw
crude, brickish pink-the very last
nue. that a girl with hair the copper
color Of Lesda's dare wear.
The girl laid back the layers OF It's
sue paper with fingers that trembled.
I'm sorry, because Uncle Bruce
meant so well. And then" with lips
that would quiver, Il get chance to
go to dance so seldOm!"
The long, hot golden days Jagged
by. Never had the giving Of music
lessons seemed so tedious, nor had the
pupils ever appeared so tiresome.
Coming home just as the relentless
sun was dropping down the west, the
eirl frightened with wan pleasure at
the sight of the little old gray cottage
she called home. In the house she
knew would be balm-the balm of
s4 mpathy, or rest, of love-"
I'll have a bath and fresh gown"
she told herself, "and get out here in
the silence and the sweetness and read
until l forget there are gay people
dancing the night away-and 1 not
enc of theml'
Not for worlds would she have ad-
mitted even to her own heart that it
was less the social eXhilaration she
missed than the wee, hidden hope she
had harbored of seeing once more a
well remembered dark head, of feeling
the warm clasp of a strong, firm hand,
and of meeting the half tender, half
quizzical glance of expressive blue
eyes.
She was very resolute in reading the
tiny volume of Tennyson she had
brought when after supper she came
out into the fragrant solitude. Her
gown was of simple lawn. that trailed
about her feet in a sweep as of broken
waves. Her arms shone pearl fair
through its transparency.
The afterglow faded. Shadows
crept stealthily up the garden ways.
1t was not possible to read longer.
Anyhow, she had hardly been aware
Of that which she was reading. Now
the guests were gathering at her
uncle's imposing home. Lights were
blazing and the gay music from the
city resoundlng. And now. She
closed her eyes, drifting away into a
reverie, vari-hued, melodious, kaleido-
scopic, so absorbing that she did not
notice the stopping of carriage at
the gate nor the heavy footstep muf-
fed by the thick grass.
Il wonder If a kiss would waken
herl" meditated a quizzical voice.
I'm not She started to her
feet, the flooding light of the warm,
young midsummer moon full on her
face "Gordonv' she murmured.
Older, heavier. manlier than the
young fellow who had gone away,
there was still the admiration in his
eager eyes-the smile of tenderness
about the square-cut lips.
You're a nice girl" he cried, hold
ing her cold, slight hands in his warm.
heavy pressure, Never to come to
party given in the honor of your old
friend ! looked for you everywhere.
Your uncle said you had promised
MIN YOU would come. So he sent me
to bring you. Or rather" he laughed,
Il asked him if l might not come for
you. Come-Lessiei''
It was the old childish name that
no one else had called her.
But l can't, Gordon!" She was
biushing like a rose. Not in this
old gown!''
He glanced over her criticaly-in
bewilderment.
Isn't that the-the right thing?
It's just stunning. You look like an
Undine-a silver-birch incarnated!
All pale green and white-except for
crown of gold!" And this audacious
young man stoopel to touch the shin
ing coronet with reverent lips
'Lessie, you must know why I've
come back" His voice dropped TO a
coaxing cadence. I've come-for
YOU! Dear, have l startled you?
Well. come UP to the dance, and I'll
promise to be dumb until-the last
waltz
In a dress that cost quarter
yard-and that l made MYSELF" she
queried, her voice tremulous with ex-
citement.
Come for your uncle's sake.' he
begged. Every one here in Linden
Vile knows you. 1t will be great fun!
And then, Lessie, come for my sake!"
1t was great fun. The verdict that
the girl in the sea-green gown, with
cheeks like wild roses, was the belle
Of the ball was practically unanimous.
Only HoEtense and her mother ex-
changed a glance of dark and signifi-
cant disappointment when Bruce Fer
guson. smiling indulgently if obtusely,
whispered: "Cophetua up to date!
Not such q bad match for little
music teacher"