The San Francisco call., 1906-03-25

solitary f1gure muf1ed almost out or
sight in furs. How can one put one
self into such close confinement this
lovely day? That poor creature Is
afflicted with what I am pleased 10
term the sensitive habit"
Several times he had surprised
look of curious inquiry directed upon
him by his companion which he was
at loss to interpret. I'll confess.
she laughed. when again caught in the
act. Il have simply been trying 70 dis
cover whether you are interested In
these sidelights have been throwing
upon your fellow creatures Or
IF 1 am satiated with civilization?"
"YesAcertain phases OF it-since you
are pleased to place IL IN that way
do not think you much in sympathy
with the ldiosyncrasies OF our much
lauded society"
Il confess my inability to take them
altogether seriously" he was compelled
to admit.
st thought sor she laughingly ex-
claimed. I am well aware that yours
is quite a different standard. confess
1 am rather curious to know more of
that peculiar standard by which you
gauge yourself and your fellows-and
/ shall not be quite satisfied until
do"
II fear you will find my regeneration
rather d QlIuCulI TASK. u u4N0 -D0SA
too long removed from the influence OF
civilization to be at once made over"
II shall find Il very interesting-of that
/ am quite convinced. have strong
suspicious that latent possibilities
perhaps very interesting possibilities
may lie concealed beneath that coolly
Indifferent exterior" she declared. with
interesting frankness.
Now there Is a man whom consider
49, =
assumption OF seriousness, as sorrel
charger loped past bearing the indi
vidual in question. The poor man Is
really anxious to take unto himself
wife, but to date his quest for the par
ticular woman upon whom he can be-
stow his hearts affections has met
with dire failure. No. he seems not
unduly fastidious-even admits that he
does not expect perfection. He IS at
loss to understand why we. as a sex.
do not find It to our advantage to be
less artificial. Plainly. why we per-
sist IN climbing TO heights beyond our
power to maintain. only to deliberately
cast ourselves down. He frankly pro-
pounded the query TO me. and I sug-
gested that he try the effect upon his
sensibilities of less ecstatic creatures
the more common hber-the supposi-
ton, Of course. that the mean fall
would be less and the resultant dis
parity materially modified The sug-
gestion met with even heartier ap-
proval than I could have properly an
ticipated and I fancied that I de-
tected a certain something which I
promptly nipped in its incipiency, by
declaring my own responsibility and
general unworthiness OF the trust. I
could not possibly appreciate such a
very literal Interpretation OF my sug-
gestion.s One need not necessarily suf-
fer crucifxion to prove ones theory
need one?'
Mans vagaries and woman's theo-
ries afford a broad field for specula-
tion." was the non-committal reply.
''At lastY' she exultantly exclaimed
when, after persistent probing and cir
cumvention she had succeeded In ex-
tracing a. desired bit OF information
Now I have the key to the situation
and I shall proceed to put the parts to-
gether and draw my own conclusions" :.
'T refuse to be responsible for con-
clusions drawn from such a source"
he protested, good naturedly.
"Of course you do! But what Is one
to do when you are approachabie only
on the instaIlment plan-when one Is
more curious than polite?"
"Still. it is palpably unfair to thrust
conclusions upon one: misconception,
not to say injustice. may result
free confession when I wish to know
things. otherwise I shall simply be
compelled to draw my own conclusions.
and I may-I dare say I shall-think
very badly OF you. So, sir. bewarel-
your reputation Is at stake"
"Or rather. hangs upon q woman's
fancy-rather slender thread. fear"
Indeed, yes" she laughed. II poss
itively would not dare tell you all the
zFIm
recklessly declared. and the sudden
consciousness OF the literal truth Of the
assertion caused her to blush furiously
and to quickly change the subject.
There nowT she laughed, with fem
mime exultation. There Is the other
side of matrimonial felicity verita-
BILE triumph Of the weaker sex by force
of will and avoirdupois." as a carriage
drawn by a dashing pair of bays
whirled past, the woman in this in
stance being the dominant power.
THAT couple will certainly bring me
to grief some day. I have not the least
control over myself whenever they ap-
pear upon the scene. One Is never pre-
pared for their coming, which perhaps
is WELL They put IN an appearance
at odd and uncertain intervals. and be-
fore one is aware they have said good
by and gone or tipped past IN their
mad race with something or other
which seems forever keeping them at
their best PAGES. You must know that
you have looked upon Mrs. and Mr..
Hannum-please note the precedence
rs IT possible7 You quite surprise
me! Well. then. she bears the more or
less enviable distinction OF being one
of our foremost clubwomen-goes IN
for reforms, advanced ideas, and don't
know what all. What particular move
ment has she inaugurated? Sir. you are
most unkind to develop this sudden curl
osity. AS you insist, I believe that she
has not yet achieved greatness outside
her own particular coterie OF followers,
but she possesses marvellous ideas which
in time are hound to be accorded due
recognition At least that is the Oft
repeated assertion-in the meantime we
are all very patient She Is very busy
woman, but very considerably devotes
Saturday afternoons to her husband. The
implicit faith Of the little man In her
whom he loves, honors and obeys. and
regards, as I am inclined 20 think. a.
mightier than his Maker, Is beautiful to
behold
From one subject to another she gayly
fitted, rivaling even the birds In the air
In her strange and sudden fights OF
thought and speech COnstraint sha had