The San Francisco call., 1904-12-25

could ind courage TO use lt and TO force
an issue. For MIN too Charley and
Charley's sorrow had done something.
They had induced in Eva a softer
mood: the armor OF her coquetry was
pierced by q shaft of deep feeling. AS
thew walked she was silent forgetting
to torment him. silently glad of his
friendship and his company. She said
nothing of Dora Hutting's good for
tune or Of Maliams good looks now.
She was thinking Of her mothers face
as she welcomed Charley, and was
musing or love. II was Jeremy's mo-
ment. if ne could make use of il. But
in this mood she rather frightened him,
raising about herself defenses different
from the cleaning barrier of her CO.
quetry. yet not less effective. He
feared to disturb her thoughts, and it
seemed to him that his wooing would
be rude and rough.
Suddenly she turned TO him.
You'll be friends with Charley, won't
you? Real friends. ! mean? You
won't let what-whats happened stand
in the way? You see. he'll be awfully
sensitive about it. and if he fancies
you're hanging back, or anything of
that kind"
Her eyes were very urgent in their
appeal
.of course I shall be friends with
him: l shouldn't dream Of
I'm sure you'il like him for his own
sake, when you know him. And till
then. for mothers sake, for our sake.
you'll be nice to him. won't you?"
DO you care particularly about my
being nice to him."
"Of course de- We're friends. you
see
Jeremy's fear wore off; excitement
began to rise in him; the spirit of the
game came upon him. He turned to
Are We friends?" he asked. You've
not been very friendly lately"
Never mind me. Be friendly with
Charley"
For your sake?'
For our sake, yes
y said. for your sake.
\ smile dimpled through Eva's graV-
Your is a plural. isn't it?" she
asked
That's singular. anyhow.
"Oh, for my sake. then, if YOU think
it worth while"
I don't think anything worth while
except pleasing you. Eva. L used TO
manage it. 1 think; but somehow It's
grown more difficult lately"
He stopped in mis- walk and faced her,
She walked on a pace or two, but he
would not follow. Irresolutely she
halted.
More difficult? Pleasing me grown
more difficult
Gwen. pleasing you as much as
want to, mean" Jeremy in his turn
smiled for moment. but he was IN
deadly earnest again as he stepped up
to her ard caught hold Of her hands.
"Now's the time" he said. You've got
10 say yes or no.
You haven't asked me anything
yet" she Inurmurcd, laughing, ner eyes
away from him and her hands In his
Yes, 1 have, dozens of times-dozens
and dozens. And I'm not going TO ask
il again-not in words anyhow. You
know the question"
Its horribly unfair to-to do this to-
day-to-day, when I'm
Not a bit To-day's the very day
for it, and that's why you must answer
to-day" A deeper note came into MS
words, deeper than he had commanded
when he made love to Dora Hutting on
these same downs not so very long ago.
i make love to you to-day because
loves in your heart to-day. You're
wanting TO love; it's round about US,
Eva"
For an instant she saw in him a like
ness she had never noticed before-a
likeness to Sibylla; Sibylla's ardent all
demanding temper seemed to speak IN
his words.
Yes. this is the day-our day. And
this day shall be the beginning or the
end You know the question. What's
the answer, Eva?'
He let go of her hands, and drew
back two or three PAGES. He left her
free; if she came to him, it must be Of
her own motion.
How very peremptory you are"' she
protested.
Her cheeks were red now, and the
look Of sorrow had gone out of her
eyes. Her breath came quick, and
when she looked at the sea the waves
seemed 10 dance TO the liVeliest music.
At sea and land she looked, at the sky
and at the wintry sun: her glance
touched everywhere save where Jeremy
stood.
The answer" demanded Jeremy.
For a moment more she waited. Then
she came toward him hesitatingly, her
eyes not yet seeking his face. She
came up to him and stood with her
hands hanging by her side. Then
slowly she raised tc his face the large,
trustful eyes which he had known and
loved SO well.
THE answer is Yes Jeremy" she
said. For all my life and with all my
heart, deari"
4 knew this was the right dayi"
cried Jeremy.
"Oh, any day was right" she whis-
pered, as she sought his arms.
A couple Of hours later he burst into
Grantley Imason's room, declaring
that he was the hanpiest man on earth.
This condition Of his, besides being by
no means rare in young men. was not
unexpected, and congratulations met
the obvious needs of the occasion. ST.
bylla, who was there. was not even
very emotional over the matter: the
remembrance of Dora Hutting inclined
her mind toward the humorous aspect
so hard is ii TO appreciate the change
full processes of other hearts. But Jer-
eny himself was excited enough for
everybody, and his excitement carried
him into forgetfulness of a solemn
pledge which he had once given He
wrung Grantleys hand with a vigor at
once embarrassing and painful. crying:
i owe it all to youl l should never
have dared 1t except for the partner
ship that's coming, and that was all
your doing. Without your money
Damn you, jeremy" said Grantley
in quiet whisper. rescuing his hand
and compassionately caressing ii with
its uninjured brother.
The imprecation seemed to be equally
distributed between Jeremy's two
causes of offense, but Jeremy allocated
ii to one only.
s.OI, 7