The San Francisco call., 1906-11-04

tsins OF other windows afforded him
the chance to behold the dance, ne
might not have risked the dangers or
his present position. He had not the
slightest interest in the whispered CO.
quetries that he heard; he watched only
to catch now and then, over the shoul-
ders OF the dancers. a ftful glimpse OF
a pretty head that fitted across the
window-the amber hair OF Mamia
Pike. He shivered in the draughts;
and the floor of the porch was cement
painful to elbow and knee, the space
where he lay cramped and narrow; but
the golden bubbles of her hair. the
simmer of her dainty pink dress, and
the fluffy wave Of her lace scarf as
she crossed and recrossed in waltz.
left him. apparently, in no discontent
He watched with parted lips, his pale
cheeks reddeninS whenever those fair
glimpses were his At last she came
out to the veranda with Eugene and
sat upon a little divan, so close to Joe
that. daring wildly in the shadow, he
reached out a trembling hand and let
his fingers rest upon the end OF her
scarf. which had fallen from her shoul-
ders and touched the floor. She sat
with her back TO him, as did Eugene.
You have changed. I think. since
last summer" he heard her say, re-
f1ectively.
expression might have been worth see
ing when Eugene said ma cherte." for
IL was known in the Louden house
hold that Mr.. Bantry had failed to pass
his examination in the French Ian
guage.
No" she answered. But you have
seen so much and accomplished so
polished and so"- She paused.
and then continued. But perhaps I'd
better not say it; you might be Of
Tended"
NO. want you to say IT," he re-
turned. confidently, and his confidence
was fully justified. for she said:
We'll, then. / mean that you have
world. Now I've said it, You are Of
fended-aren't your
Not at all. not at ALL" replied Mr..
Bantry. preventing by masterful ef-
fort his pleasure from showing In his
face. Though 1 suppose you mean TO
imply that I'm rather wicked"
"Oh no." said Mamie. with profound
admiration. mot exactly wicked
University life is fast nowadays"
Eugene admitted It's difficult not to
be drawn into it"'
And I suppose you look down on
poor little Canaan now, and everybody
"oh no." he laughed. indulgsntly-
Not at all. not at all! I md it very
amusing"
"AIl OF IT."
"Net you." he answered. becoming
very grave.
"Honestly-don't your" Her young
voice trembled a little
tly-indeed-truly." Eugene
leaned very close to her and tha words
were barely audible You know
don't"
Then Tm-glad." she whispered, and
Joe saw his stepbrother touch her
hand, but she rose quickly. There's
the music" she cried. happily. It's
waltz. and it's yoursg'
Joe heard her little high heels tap
ping gayly towards the window, fol-
lowed by the heavier tread OF Eugene.
but he did not watch them 60.
He lay on his back. with the hand
that had touched Mamies scarf pressed
across his closed eyes.
The music of that waltz was OF the
old fashioned swingingly sorrowful
sort. and il would be hard to say how
long IL was after that before the boy
could hear the air played without a
recurrence OF the bitterness of that
viollns was In such accord with faint
sound of weeping which he heard near
him. presently. that for a little while
he believed this sound TO be part OF the
music and part OF himself. Then it
became more distinct. and he raised
himself one elbow to look about
Very close to him. sitting upon the
divan in the shadow was a girl wear
ing dress of beautiful silk. She wasl
crying softly. her face In her hands.
(To be eontinasdl