The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-12-02

to 60 1t would be delightful 20 galiep
overstlle hills. But there was not. She
would ride airnlessIy along, then ride
afn1lessly back again.
Why not go to Genes new homs7
She had an intense. desire 10 see 1t In
all probability he would he.in the field.
but Lee, the cook. would let her IN.
No need to tell Sing of her intention,
and there was no one else about
AS she rode she wondered why Gene
had never asked her. father and her.
self to visit him. and when she re-
viewed the subject she became con-
scious that he had avoided speaking Ia
detail OF his home
When she dismountsd Lee led her
pony away and she ran UP the steps
Z pausing at the door. Perhaps Gene
would resent her Intrusion. Perhaps
he-wislled to keep his home sacred to.
) the woman whom he loved. She vent
down half way. then wheeled about
and slowly assembled again. What pos
sible harm to look within? Was she
not his best friend Would she not
gladly. open her home TO him.
The. door swung back and shs en-
tered.
-. Even at-,first. before she had. fully
viewed the surroundings. she realized.
, that Ksee room was known to her. Then
slowly SIS each article OF furniture be-
came more distinct. as their position
was forced upon her notice, she recog-
nized miniature counterpart OF her
own sitting-room at home
In the center was the reading table,
with student lamp; near the window
was shelf OF books; at the farther
corner was the -draped couch stacked
with pillows. and on. the wall we're tbs
wo~paintings. one a mountain scene.
the other stream where cattle waded
and where the grass grew long on the
banks Even her clock was here, send
+ ing it's loud ticks against the silencs.
! ARd-sthere beside the table was her
favcrlte chair. She liked that big
3 deep rocker. with it's cushions and it's
was the low seat where Gene sat when
she read aloud. She glanced about
for the willow rocker that her father
occupied, but it was not here nor was
the stand where he kept his pipe
Why had he made his home like
hers? And how. when he had not a
great deal of money. had he purchased
these comforts?
Advancing into the room she looked
closer. An unfinished appearance OF
the table attracted her eye. She ran
her hand over the surface. then ex-
snlined the chair, the couch. the pic
ture frames. She knew then that he.
had made. them But whene Did he
not baFe to- work early and late in the
fields?
Intensely Interested in her surround
ings. she took a volume from its rest
ing place. 1t was The Scarlet Letter..
hsr favorite novel; next "Tennyson's
Poems. her fayorite poetry Running
over the titles, she found~her best
loved books At the last she saw a
row OF school books. and turned the
pases.s They We're worn with usage.
She understood, even II she had not
recognized his thumb marks and the
= turned down corners OF the pages.
Poor. dear Gene. How he worked
. andsstudied. But he would win Yes.
{ he would win. The woman would have
ia love aim ,whet Their she wanted to or
not s.s'F hat was where the romance lay.
!. Sfef- would have to love him. Gene never
failed. AShe would have----Selna gave
little. gasp and stared at the book she
What could II mean Why had ks<
selected the five letters Of her name
from the lines above and written them
oyer and sover2 Why had he made his
: home like ,hers?s.
She sprang to the door and threw it
open
Selma. you here 1t was Gene.
{ You know. Selma -
She thought to dissemble, but his
eyes on the open coDybook showed her
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Section.)