The San Francisco call., 1906-04-01
CHAPTER XVII.

small room where only the freight
broke the shadows. and the stiffness OF
the wee small hours was disturbed only
by the softly modu1ated voices OF two
daintily robed creatures for whom rest
and sleep possessed no allurements. Only
less important than the affair itself are
these acknowledgement or pain-all
must be carefully gone over and weighed
in the balance before. sleep can be wooed.
And do you know, Cathy, whom l
think was the most interesting of the
men? asked one prettily robed person
OF the other, at whose feet she was COM
.fortably nestled.
Jack! replied the other, diverting her
gaze from the flames, and smiling indul-
gently on the speaker. WHO else, to be
sure?'
Nonsense. Cathy, Jack is my Jack. of
course; but he Is only a boy Wasn't he
superb in evening dress? And how well
he carried himself. And how big and
strong ne looked beside the other meni
And what a really handsome man he Isl"
Who. dear?''
Why, Mister Bill. to be sure! He was
far and away the most interesting of all
the men,. Now don't tell me you don't
think so. Cathy, because l shall be very,
very angry-indeed 1 SHALL she declared.
with pretty insistence. And how all the
people noticed rim as he passed through
the rooms with Edith-indeed. how could
they do otherwise, when such an inter-
esting stranger suddenly appeared in
their midst. she prattled on, no reply
being offered. Have you noticed how he
shows Edith the same attention, the
same quiet difference that he pays to an
older person. The little mink enjoys 1t
hugely. Yet there is that about it, she
says. which makes her feel that he looks
- hf~l~ "a
does not entirely approve And when he
talks to you, you just seem to have any
number of things to say. and before you
are aware, you are simply rushing along
at mad rate, and-well, you are just
glad when he comes. and sorry when ne
goes-don't you feel that way. Cathy?'
Il don't know dear, what feel, ex-
cept that II feel too much
"Cathyr' impulsively cried the younger
woman, starting up and staring at her
companion in mild amazement, DO you
do you love Mister Biz"
''Ah, yes. yes, Why deny it? Why
deny that I am simply helpless2 Why
deny that I have been fighting against
myself for days, and all the while know
ing the struggle was useless? | do not
seem to possess any strength, any will OF
my own. where that man is concerned.
IL, who fancied myself so strong. am
simply carried along, even while l am
struggling against it.
And when did it all begin, Cathy2
Please tell me-
"Ah, dear. don't ask me. 1 don't know
think he interested me before | knew
him-that terrible night out in the noun
tains He was so brave and good and
tender to those poor people. a woman's
heart Is not proof against such strength
and goodness, my dear. | think he won
my respect and admiration that night.
and my heart, and all else quickly fol-
lowed when 1 came to know him. As |
look back / can see that was going,
going, all the while yet failed TO realize
that / had been caught in treacherous
current"
.soh. it is perfectly lovely. CathyF'
Don't say that, my dear, unless you
wish me misery
.sWhy Cathy. what do you mean? You
don't mean-you cannot mean-that Mis-
ter Bill does not love you? she cried,
incredulously.
..Yes, DEAR that is just what l mean
Is it so difficult to believe-does 1t really
seem so stranger" she asked. with sweet
and loving gentleness, smiling into the
upturned face of her serious little COM
panion.(
"oh. Cathy. cannot believe it, You
are tired and upset
Yes, dear, I am tired and unstrung,
| fear-I am weak tonight shall be
stronger and braver tomorrow, and for
all time. l must always be. strong or
shall be miserable
''Oh, no, no, Cathy! 1t cannot be!
Surely Mister Bill must care for you in
return for all the love you have given
him. 1t cannot be that of all the men
who would give everything they possess
for your love-it simply cannot be that
the only one you love has none to give
No. no. I am sure it cannot--it must not
be. You are mistaken. Cathy-you don't
understand
There. there, dear" she gently inter-
posed. smiling indulgently at the earn
estness of her loyal little companion.
there are things you don't understand
1t is all quite hopeless. He does not
think me such a bad lot--as friend.
perhaps-but a deeper feeling has never
entered his breast He Is far more likely
to become interested In Edith. if he has
not already. Her sweet. innocent and
fresh young life would appeal to man
of his character who is much too sensi-
BILE to tolerate the forced and artificial
life we lead Her life Is just beginning.
and may. be nodded into sweet and
lovely womanhood The parts are all
there for his building. and man may
make of her what he villa companion
of whom he may we'll be proud. and the
Joy and comfort of his life, or-like thou
sands of others. Besides, I have much.
and he has little-as the world reckons-
and he is far too proud to accept more
than he has to offer. But there, dear, all
this Is beside the question -
.And just to think. Ca,.ly. it was only
yesterday that you said you were quite
sure you never could care enough for any
man.
YES, dear, l know, / have said many
foolish things. but I knew all the while
that was only deceiving myself-or try
ing to- When a woman is compelled to
whistle to keep up her courage she is
grasping at straw-a poor acknowledge
ment of weakness and defeat, did she but
know
"Oh. dear, Cathy, Girls are such ter
ribly contradictory creatures. We say
such heaps of things. and make no end
of resolutions knowing all the wlllle we
don't even intend to keep them
"Ah, deari the tongue is but foolish
jester. and merely wags at will But the
heart-ah, the heart,-is subject to a
higher power beyond the will of man
much less a woman. We protest and re-
bel. but the fact remains. we love without
volition of our own, and even against our
better Judgment. Weak? Unwomanly?
ct,on