The San Francisco call., 1904-03-06

Dan Moreau's daughter lack for any
thinr. Her. father'd have left for
tune If he hadn't been man that
thought Of every one else before NM
self
THAT was father exactly. lie must
have known him well. Mother, isn't II
odd he never spoke of him? What dld
you say then?"
'I? Why. of course, I saw my open
ing and Jumped in. / said, Wen,
guess I can arrange for you to meet
Miss Mcreau at my rooms. / see her
twice a week when she comes TO give
Edna her piano lesson. III ask her
when she can come, and let you know
and then she'll sing for you He was
pleased. he was real pleased, and said
he'd come whenever i said. And now
young woman" laying a large white
gloved hand on Mariposa-s knee, that
ought to be the beginning Of career
for youl"
Good gracious" said Mariposa.
whose cheeks were crimson, Il never
heard anything so exciting in my life.
and we were just talking about IT, III
probably sing like a dog baying the
moon"
Don't you talk that way. You'll
sing your best. And he's not a man
that you wouldn't like Mariposa to
meet"-turning to the pale and silent
Lucy. Whatever other faults he's
had he's always been straight man
with women. There's never been that
sort Of scandal about Jake Shackleton
There's a story you've probably heard,
that he was originally Mormon. L
don't believe much in that myself. he
had, anyway. only one wife when he
entered California, and she's been his
wife ever since, and she amt the kind
to have stood any nonsense OF the
Mormon sort"
Lucy gave a sudden gasping breath
and sat up. The light OF the gray
afternoon was dying outside, and by
the glow Of the fire her unusual pallor
was not noticeable.
1T was very good Of you" she said.
"Mariposa will be glad to 60"
And you'll come, too?' said Mrs.
Willers. He asked about you"
did he say he'd ever known ne7'
said Lucy, quietly.
''No-not exactly that. No, don't
believe he said that. But he was inter
ested in you as the wife OF the man
ne hLOWn 81 luis d6O-
'Of course it would be only in that
way" murmured Lucy sinking back.
No, I can't come. 1t wouldn't be
possible. I'm not well enough"
"'Oh, mother. do You know you go
out on the cars sometimes, and the SUIT
ter-street line is only two blocks from
here. 1 know you'd enjoy it when you
got there
mo, dearest. No. Mrs willers.
Don't. please, urge me. I am not able
to meet new people. No oh, please
don't talk any more about my going"
Something of pain and protest in
her voice made them desist She was
silent again. while Mariposa and Mrs
WiIlers arranged the details of the
party. This was to be small and choice.
Only one other person, a man referred
to as Essex. was to come. At the name
of Essex, Mrs. Willers shot a side look
IF inspection a Mariposa. who did what
was expected of her in displaying a fine
blush.
1t was decided that Mrs. willers' hos
pitality should take the form of wine
and cake. There was a consultation
about other and lesser viands. and
finally an animated discussion as to the
proper garb in which MaripOsa should
present herself to the first truly dis
tinguished person she had ever met.
During the conversation over these
varied questions Lucy lay back among
her cushions. sunk in the same pale
silence
Darkness had fallen when the guest.
having threshed out the subject to the
last grain. took herself off. MaripOsa
looked from the open doorway into a
black street, dotted with the yellow
blurs of lighted lamps. The air was
cold with that penetrating marrow
searching coldness of a foggy evening
In San Francisco. AS the night swal-
lowed Mrs. Willers. Mariposa shut the
door and came rushing back
''MOther." she cried, before she got
into the room. isn't that the most
thrilling thing? Oh. did you ever know
of anything so unexpected and wonder
full and exciting Do you think he'll
like my voice? Do you think he really
could be interested in me because he
knew father? And he can't have
known him so very we'll, or father
would have said more of him. Did you
ever hear father speak about him.
The mother gave no answer, and the
girl bent over her. Lucy. mCtionless
and white, was lying among her cush-
Ions, unconscious.