The San Francisco call., 1906-09-23

else should he have talked a million
out Of that curmudseon, old Haslerig?
I'll lay odds it nearly gave him heart
failure to find he couldnt talk Billerica
into giving him her fortune in fee.
She was willing enough he should take
the income. but insisted upon -femem-
bering that she had only a life es-
tate, with power to choose by Will
among several possible residuary leg
atees. Hammill thought she depended
upon him so much she couldn't do
without him. He gave her the choice
of giving up TO him or getting a di-
vorce. She answered by starting for
South Dakota next day
TO come back with number four.
Have you any notion how she acquired
him%' Wade asked, putting up his glass
TO scan the Brett-Demars. Grydon
shook his head. saying. %'No. only &.
theory. They don1 favor in the least;
yet somehow have both the same look
that of having lost out in the game
He's English fancy a stranded
younger son who had had pretty hard
lines out in the wild West
Clearly a man of coura ge-what-
ever may be thought of his taste
Wade interrupted.s putting down his
glass with a low laugh. Grydon
frownedS at him again, but also smiled
asking, How do you know but the
cookies of his heart? Some Eng
lishwomen know how to dress. but
heap more dont-not any more
than poor Billeriea, who has
genius amounting almost to inspirn-
tion for making herself a fright. Look
at her,-with everything about her
either taggy fine or severely tailor
made. each swearing at the other-and
all at1east two years out Of date, Yet
she's a good sort. in spite OF her clothes
Come along j want you to know them.
They're not in the least horsy il they
do own the largest stable here
Why, how is that? L thought Gore
was the king pin this year" Wade ssid.
as they went Down tke steps. They
had been talking over the fag end OF
long luncheon set out in sheltered
angle OF the clubhouse piazza The day.
though as soft as MAY. had the full
why tang OF October and ali October's
color riot of bloom aud leaf and soft
blue swafhing mist was echoed a thou
Sand-folG in the costumes of the
women clustered in knots and punches
all about Even where the color riot
was most audacious its harmonies be-
spoke London. Paris, the Fifth avenue
The very cream of the racing set had
gathered, or WAS gathering, to see the
Good Bye Cup won and lost--incidcntal-
ly. also itself to be seen and TO wind OF
lose thousands on the event Every
where il cNhaled subtle aroma of
restless hope. or joyous discomfort. of
reckless faith in Its own wisdom or
knowledge. that all unconsciously stole
-intol and possessed the sanest and made
him. for the nonce. ready for any
hazard
a woman who stood about half was
down the lawn stretch seemed TO rad.
sate and pcrsonify the spirit Of tie
hour. She WAS taiiish. slight and 1.-the
her face vivid. peach tinted mobile.
crowned with dusky hair and shaded
with bird of Paradise plumes. lneecd.
she looked throughout a veritable bird
OF Paradise. all in tawny bronze. with
reiiefs of bronze green and deep royal
crimson Her skin was lineless her
eyes fun of liquid light She laughed
as softly as a child, and spoke In a low
traineant voice that yet carried wond-
erfully-to the outer verge OF the wor-
shippers clustered about her Wade
and Crydon lifted their hats in passing
Wade made as though to pause. but
Grydon hurried him resolatelv forward,
saying between his teeth, That won't
do-not here and now-Billerica might
be looking, though She hardly ever
looks at anything but the track
Why, what harm m'---Wade began
but stopped at Grydbn's lock- For two
PAGES Grydon was silent. then he stop
ped short pulled out q dope sheet"
and under pretence of consulting it said
hurTiedly. ~Doht you really under
stand? There" nodding backward. lis
the other woman.s God, But Time am
bles withal-for her. She's fresher and
more bewitching than even when she
played hob with the Cores. It's simply
marvellous how that affair has lasted
1t must be, think, because the two of
them have given each other all the
rope in the world. That is to say, Cote
hasn't done more than raise sarcastic
eyebrows and smile bit when he saw
her foolfng other men-and she has
gone TO the lengths Of. patroniZing at
least two of his stage divinities'-
People who are blase from having
everything do much to earn new
sensation" Wade commented. Grydon
growled. Yes. But to get back TO the
begnningZthe only part of BiIIerica
that is really alive is her hate for Mrs
Quinton''-
Naturally. She thinks the Quinton
was the serpent in her early paradise
Women do make such mistakes about
themselves-and each other" wade in
terrupted You think she would have
nothing 10 say to Us IL she saw us
stop TO make part of the Quinton
bunch2 What lot OF it there is Just
now Does il, take all that to make
Up for Cores absence? Wonder ff he's
coming? / hear he has first mortgage
on the Good Bye--in fact. that he's go
ing to run one. two, three with all the
rest nowhere"
Keep ali that strictly to yourself
where We're going" Grydon said. warn
ingly striding on toward the paddock
gate. 1t was so carly there were few
about il. so few the Brett Deinars
seemed set apart from the crowd They
had Stunned the clubhouse equally
with the clubhouse contingent which
had begun TO scatter itself over the
turf. the women either sitting in big
chairs or standing at ease. each with
little court that rarely Included a
husband AS Wade noted the fact he
said in Grydons ear: After little we
shall see husband defined as a neces-
sary evil. who by being divorced some
times gives his wife the cachet OF high
fashions =
"Sometimes-and only sometimes"
Grydon said. But stow epigram for
ten minutes or so--Billerica wouldn't
Enthusiastically jlsst enough TO be
hurt wish she would never come
here--the stand would be much better
she needs the isolation and subnaersiun
Of the crowd. Indeed. l can't under
stand why she does it,
L think / can.t' Wade said very low
by this they were within a yard of
DMlarfpa aor, hoe ..-hofo -