The San Francisco call., 1906-04-08

and then we shall all be here together" "
THAT will be lovely, / shall be glad
to get away from the tumult of the city
and enjoy little rest and quiet am
content to share your life as you make
it. Without you, life would be but i
passive existence. You have spoiled me
for anything of which you are not part
the greater part
Excuse me for livingy exclaimed
Jack, turning abruptly to quit the room
into which he had rushed with his
usual impetuosity.
Come back. Jack" said Waldron-
You may as we'll be made aware of
the complications for which you are
in no small measure responsible"
BEG pardon, sir.' offering a mock
salute. II forgot to ring my bell. and
my light was out. L came in TO tell
Cathy that Mr.. Lowe is here and wishes
to see her on very important business.
"And her troubles still pursue her!
she sighed. II fancied 1 had evaded
them for a time-I believe l had quite
forgotten them. Tell the gentleman
that 1 am engaged-doubly engaged"
she laughed, glancing shyly UP at the
man by her side. Say that l will see
but the present. 1 have lost all my
money, Jack, but misfortune has
brought me a fairly commendable sub
stitute. 1t is very i'll wind that blows
no good-even If 1t be only man. We
are going to live down here. and per-
haps have a cottage beside you and
Maude. We shall be very modest as
becomes sensible people"
Her confidence was rudely Inter
rupted by an outburst of merriment on
the part of the young man who was
quick to grasp tho true state OF AFFAIRS
What do you mean. Jack Winston?
she Indignantly demanded. What do
you mean by such"
"All right, Cathy, I'll tell the gentle
man that this is your busy day. Love
in a cottage-Oh, me! That's too
good.' he laughed. discreetly taking
himself away from the displeasure he
had incurred.
What does he mean?" she demanded
of the man of her choice.
You are certainly entitled to an ex-
planation," he gravely assured her.
THAT young man evidently looks
on something as a huge joke l am
sure / don't see anything SO remark
ably strange, so excrucfatlngly
funny as to occasion such unseemly
mirth, do your?
.'I see no cause for undue hilarity.
Because if there is. L am missing
something, and 1 object to things being
passed over my head.
Perhaps he was overcome by tho
prospective happiness of your sugges-
tion," said the same unscrupulous man.
HE Impressed me as only a little
less than hysterical. 1 hope he is not
contemplating another attack. because
everything seems to point to me as the
one NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. II is am
responsible for.
Pardon me again" said Jack, re-
turning to the room. with diff1culty
composing his features. The gentle
man insists that his business is far too
important to be deferred, and bids me
make another and more urgent appeal
to your ladyship to grant him but
momeAt of your precious time l trust
1 am happy in my efforts But his e1-
forts were suddenly directed along en-
tirely different lines as feminine mana
laid hold of a convenient book, ana ne
sought refuge behind the nearest OBJ
stacfe, which Glanced to be the other
man "Ples Sc note the tender object
in front before hurting anything care
lessly In this direction he admon-
ished, with exasperating coolness.
VERY well, will see the gentleman
and l will see you later, young man! ne
was very positively informed as she
passed out of the room.
Jack congratulated Waldron with char
acteristic frankness upon what he was
pleased to term his good fortune. and IN
sisted that he had hoped for this same
result from the first. There is only one
Cathy and one Maude," he declared. with
great satisfaction "and we have cornered
them BOTH All we require now are the
cottages-side by side" which he seemed
to regard as a huge Joke.
.sWell. I am only a little more con-
fused then before, as the result of my
interview with the gentleman, Cathalee
announced upon her return few minutes
later. Everybody seems to radiate
mysteries and so far as l am able to
discover 1 am the bright and particular
luminary around which they revolve. L
am really at loss to understand whether
L am an object of pity. joke or Just
what part 1 am supposed to be playing
what light did this particular gentle
man throw upon the situation?" Waldron
inquired.
ITO begin and end with. sir, he said
that you are a scoundref-a particular bad
kind His expression seemed to me a
trife informal-rather more expressive
than polite. oh, he said it,'' she In
sisted "He said, furthermore, that you
were the cause of all the trouble; that you
have practically all my money. consid-
erable of his. and lot of Mr.. Burrows
and. Mr. Morrisons- All in all, you have
behaved very badly. | am led to INFER.
He said, too-and if you please bear wit
ness, this to me is the touching part
that / had better look out for you; that
no good could come from harboring such
a raScal.'
Cheerful Intelligence concerning the
man to whom one has but just linked her
destiny" he told her, with commendable
commiseratiOn-
However, in justice to you because you
were not there, and to myself because /
was, / informed the gentleman that he
was speaking of my affianced husband
The poor man nearly collapsed: but
whether from embarrassment or SYM
pathv for me / was not able to deter
mine.
..He was in duty bound to warn you
your worldly interests had been commit
ted to his keeping he felt compelled TO
remind her.
IT also informed the gentleman that
you were even then in the house. she
continued. ignoring a very questionable
remark, .'and suggested that he would
do well to express his sentiments to you.
personally. as I was sure that you could
appreciate their particular. application far
better than I could possibly manage He
said that he had had one interview with
you today. and | fancied he seemed
rather fearful that another might be