The San Francisco call., 1904-02-14

ing and smiling, held out her hands to
him, so that Mrs. Tanberry vowed this
was the loveliest creature In the world,
and the kindest.
Mr.. Carewe bowed slightly, as to an
acquaintance, and disregarded the ex-
tended hands.
At that. the blush faded from Miss
Betty's cheeks; she trembled no more.
and salutation as icy as her fathers
was returned to him. He bent his
heavy brows upon her. and shot black
glance her way, being, of course, imme-
diately enraged by her reflection of his
own manner, but he did not speak to
her.
Nor did he once address her during
the evening meal, preferring to honor
Mrs. Tanberry with his conversation, to
that diplomatic lady's secret anger, but
outward amusement. She cheerfully
neglected to answer him at times, hav-
ing not the slightest awe of him, and
turned to the girl instead; indeed, she
was only preyented from rating him
soundly at his own table by the fear
that she might make the situation more
difficult for her young charge. AS soon
as it was possible, she made her escape
with Miss Betty. and they drove away
in the twilight to pay visits of duty,
leaving Mr.. Carewe frowning at his
coffee on the veranda.
When they came home, three hours
later, Miss Betty noticed that q fringe
of illumination bordered each Of the
heavily curtained windows in the cupo-
la. and she uttered an exclamation, for
she had never known that room to be
lighted.
Look" she cried, touching Mrs. Tan
berry's arm, as the horses trotted
through the gates under drizzle Of
rain. II thought the room in the Gu
pola was empty. It's always locked.
and when I came from st. Mary's he
told me that old furniture was stored
there"
Mrs. Tanberry was grateful for the
darkness. "He may have gone there to
read" she answered. in queer voice.
Let us go quietly to bed, child, 30 as
not to disturb him."
Betty had as little desire to disturb
her father as she had to see him; there
fore she obeyed her friends injunction,
and went to her room on tiptoe. The
house was very silent as she lit the
candles on her bureau. Outside, the
gentle drizzle and the soothing tinkle
from the caves were the only sounds;
within, there was but the faint rustic
of garments from Mrs. Tanberry's
room. Presently the latter ceased to be
heard, and a wooden moan of protest
from the four-poster upon which the
good lady reposed announced that she
had drawn the curtains and wooed the
rulers Of Nod.
Although it was one Of those nights
of which they say, 1T is a good night
to Sleep" Miss Betty was not drowsy.
She had half unfastened one small
sandal, but she tied the ribbons again,
and seated herself by the open window.
The ledge and easement framed a dim
oblong of thin light from the candles
behind her, q lonely luster, which
crossed the veranda to melt shapelessly
into darkness on the soggy lawn. She
felt a melancholy in the softly falling
rain and wet, black foliage that chimed
with the sadness of her own spirit. The
night suited her very well, for her
fathers coming had brought weight
of depression with it. Why could he
not have spoken one word to her, even
a cross one? She knew that he did not
love her, yet, merely as a fellow being,
she was entitled to measure Of cour-
tesy: and the fact that she was his
daughter could not excuse his failure
to render It. Was she to coutinus 70