The San Francisco call., 1906-03-25
CHAPTER XXI.
Man's Regenerntion.

CHAPTER XXI.
Mans Regeneration.
DO not f1atter yourself, sir. that all
this marked attention is a tribute to
your good looks and magnificent ply
sique," said Cathalee, with a sly glance
at her companion after several car
riages had passed and the occupants,
nodding recognition to her, had turned
their attention to her escort.
"Listen You shall know how very
conceited I can be upon occaslon-even
to your detraction," she told him. with
great good humor. you must know
that I ride in the park with very few
gentlemen. My mother has very de-
cided ideas as to the proprieties in
volved and the sudden appearance Of
a handsome stranger" making him
pretty salute, las my escort, naturally
excites some interest-not, to say curl
osity. 1 hope you are fully conscious,
sir. of the very great favor you are
supposed to be enjoying at the present
moment. Now have I not fairly out
done myself?" she demanded, with en-
gaging frankness.
II fear that 1 have only succeeded
in confusing you,' she continued, more
seriously. You are trying to recon
cile my mothers permission to ride
with you with her general attitude, are
you not? Please do not try. / may
as well tell you in the beginning they
are quite irreconcilable."
Please to define my responsibility.
Incidentally. of what conspicuous mis-
demeanor have I been guilty?" he in
quired. but apparently not greatly dis
turbed.
II shall be perfectly frank. My
mother does not approve of you in the
least Noc because of anything you
have done-her seal of disapproval was
placed upon you IN advance-but my
acquaintance with you. You may trace
your ancestry back to Caesars time;
you possess wealth untold; you may
be a member of an ultra exclusive set
in some quarter of the globe; but as
you have not confessed TO any of these
possibilities or their kindred my mother
Immediately assumes the lack of them.
To me such things are intensely shall
low. To be sure, / do not object to q
well-deined position in society;s nor
do consider an ancient lineage a mis-
fortune; and one may suffer wealth
with complacency. My objection is to
the homage and adulation paid to these
deities-they are little less in the esti-
nation OF maryland to the desire to
cast into outer darkness those who
chance not to possess a heritage or
something or other for which they were
in no way responsible. I find interest
ing people in all stations, and the re-
verse Is no less true; but IL the innate
man or woman appeals to me all else
is secondary"
Life and vigor were in the very at
mosphere this golden autumn day and
these two young persons in the robust
ness Of their matured youth breathed
it and were made light of heart and
strong In mind and body.
THAT is Mr.. Burrows, the great
financier," she told him, as a victoria
of conspicuous elegance flashed past
containing, as was evident from the
merest glance, two opposing elements
of humanity. An exceedingly portly
gentleman was sitting rigidly erect and
well forward, his conspicuously large
hands resting on a massive gdld-head-
ed cane, his gaze of scowling Intensity
directed steadily before him. Reclining
far back behind her lord and master
was a frail and diminutive creature
upon whom the vicissitudes of life had
weighed too heavily, and the slight
form had slowly shrunk within itself
until it's f1ickering light seemed in
imminent danger Of being snuffed out
by the first fair wind. "I am told that
he makes thousands of dollars every
day. Is 1t really possible? I have
much sympathy for her, poor soull
She seems so utterly and helplessly op-
pressed by the sense of his overpower-
ing personality that sometimes think
she would be meekly grateful If a mer-
ciful Father might take her away, and
have done at once what man is accom-
plishing by degrees"
And thus the two men who were des-
tined before many days to make his
tory in the world of finance were met
for one brief instant. Unknown and
unheeded on the one side: barely
known and scanned with one quick i'm
perturbable glance on the other.
BERTHE Hollyl" she suddenly ex-
claimed. as they made an abrupt turn
in the road, and an effeminate youth
perched high on a jiggiy cart whisked
mast with flourish OF whip. doff of cap
and a reckless disregard for the dimin-
utive beast pegging away for dear life.
his short Gumpy legs making con-
tfnuous rat-tat-tat on the hard roadway.
"I could not imag gine what was COM
ing" she laughed. with a sigh of re-
lief. "and to think 1t was only BERTHE
BERTHE is really very useful in his own
peculiar way. He seems never so hap
by as when pouring tea for party Of
ladies' Whether because of his par
ticular fondness for our sex, or because
he fancies himself more the man. as
sole representative OF his own. I have
never been able to discover Berthe Is
a product of our effete civilization-he
would hardly thrive In your strenuous
country?"
He would hardly be considered In
digenous to the soil. Such rare exotics
seldom thrive In the transplanting.
at fancied as much" she said. laugh
ing softly IT was curious to know tho
particular form your expression would
take"
divergence from the divinely endowed
man to the individual evolved by con-
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