The San Francisco call., 1905-02-19

then, without any formal suggestion
on his part, she found herself seated,
and the stranger by her side.
i owe Lady Clanmore much" he
said. but am most grateful to her for
giving me this opportunity OF speaking
to Lady Bertram."
And Why should you be grateful for
that? murmured Claribel. with a
glance OF voluptuous penetration.
Because il has been the object of
my life that l might have the oppor-
tunity Of conversing with one OF the
most gifted of women
The most gifted woman. fear. car
do little"
she can do everything.
There is much to be DONE" replied
Claribel mysteriously. but as she really
had nothing to suggest she only looked
like high priestess bound TO betray no
secrets of the initiated.
Certainly there is much to be done,''
said the stranger. Society is resolving
itself into it's original elements. Its
superficial order is the result of habit.
not of conviction Everything is chang
ing. and changing rapidly. Creeds dis
appear in a night AS for political in
stitutions. they are all challenged, and
statesmen. conscious of what is at
hand, are changing nations into
armies"
What you say is true" said Lady
Bertram moOdily; and then she added
with a subtle, knowing look, and in a
cadenced whisper. but is it the whole
tru.h?"
Those who know the whole truth
are the lords of the world" said the
stranger; and it Is because feel that
l am perhaps speaking to one OF such
sovereigns that 1 hail this night. which
has given me the advantage of listen
ing 10 her counsels."
We must think" said Lady Bert
ram.
Pardon me, madam, but I am mis-
taken, if you have not exhausted
thought. There. are thinkers. 1 know
many, not unequal TO the times in
which we move, but they are all of
opinion that what We require now is
not so much further thought as trans
cendent type Of that thought alike to
guide and inspire u.s."
Claribel unfurled her fan and grace
fully waved 1t. There was a gentle
tumult in her frame which indicated an
increased action of the heart. her cheek
hear. and. as she could not refrain from
believing, from high authority. that
her mission was to guide and inspire.
She had been trying to do this all her
life, but, not knowing the way, she had
found it difficult to direct what path TO
follow, and instead OF inspiring others
she generally imbibed the last ideas
which were infused into her. Now it
ohS rfolx to
thing, and so she said in a tone OF
mystical decision. 1T is impossible To
resist ones destiny
'Impossible-and yours 10 a COM
manding one"
You were speaking OF your friends
and some peculiar views OF theirs?'
curiosity combining in an effort to dis
cover who were these unknown ad-
mirers of her consummate SELF
Their views are peculiar only be-
cause they are conscious, and have
long been conscious. that the pretended
principles upon which society Is formed
have ceased to exist, and that they are
merely conventional phrases which, for
the moment, are convenient to employ"
I'VE must resist cOnventionalism,"
observed Lady Bertram with much au-
thority.
These are good tiding from such
lips" said the stranger. 1T will give
courage to those who would extricate
US from the blunders OF. ages
AT this moment, smiling, yet with an
air of curiosity blended with her smiles.
Lady Clanmorne entered the tea-room
and approached Claribel. Her attend
ant, murmuring that he had now full
filed his mission. rose, and bowling to
both ladies. left the room.
II am most anxious to know who is
your friend. / saw you from dis
tance on his arm" said Lady Clan
morne. 'I thought he must have come
with one Of the Princes and vet 7
should have remembered him had he
been presented to me-"
He brought to me a message from
you" said Lady Bertram. amazed, "and
a rendezvous in the tea-room."
From mel Let us follow him."
The two great ladies returned to the
ballroom. but the stranger was not
there. They walked through the other
salons. He was not visible. Lady Clan
morne, describing her unknown guest,
made inquiries about him OF the at
tendants. They agreed that he had
just quilted the house. He was for
a moment in the cloakroom, but there
he had only figured as number
There was a scribe in the hall making
a catalogue OF the guests. 1t seemed
that the stranger had avoided giving
his name, and. as he was decorated
all must be right