The San Francisco call., 1907-03-31

shockingly indefinite. of course.
scarcely know whether | am to consider
myself an engaged person or not. Coio-
mel Ray offered to release me. but we
agreed to wait for a little time
Lady Angela!'
She looked at me with a soft flush
upon her cheeks. But my words were
never spoken. The Duke entered the
room. brilliant in sas-l and orders.
Good evening, Dueaine," he said,
looking at me with slightly lifted eye-
brows.
Good evening your Grace l an
swered in some embarrassment.
Il sent for Mr.. Ducaine." Lady An
gela remarked, STOPPING that her maid.
who had followed the Duke. might arr
range her cloak. Il wanted to hear all
about Braster, and / had a message for
him from Sir Michael Trogoldy."
The Duke made no remark.
Il shall require you, Ducaine, at 10
o'clock tomorrow morning in my
study he said "Afterward we go
over to the War Officc. You have
brought all the papers with you?--If
you are quite ready. Angela.
The Duke, without saying a word,
had managed to make me feel that he
considered my presence in the draw
ingroom with Lady Angela superfiu-
Gus. but her smile and farewell were
quite sufficient recompense for me. Still.
] knew that this living together under
the same roof was TO be no unmixed
blessing for me. shut myself in the
dainty little sitting-room which was
told was mine. and turned the key in
the door. / felt the need of solitude
Later in the evening ! became mum
dane again. ! remembered that had
sent dinner away. and though had
only to ring the bell and order some
thing. / felt the need of fresh air. So
/ took up my hat and stick and left
the house.
After a while I found my way into
Piccadilly / knew very little of Lon
don, but after my solitary evening
walks at Braster along the sandhills
and across the marshes. the contrast
was in itself Suggestive and almost
exciting. / watched the people. the
stream of carriages. | listened TO the
low ceaseless hum of this wonderful
life, and | found it fascinating. The
glow in the sky was marvellous TO me
the faces of the passersby, the laughter
and the whining, the tears and the
cursing, the pleasure-seekers and the
pleasure satiated how they all told
their story as they swept by in one un-
ceasing stream! For while / forgot
even my appetite. The sight OF res
taurant. however. at last reminded me
that I was desperately hungry.
| knew il by name--a huge cosmopol-
itan place of the lower middle class,
and entering / found quiet seat.
whore my country clothes were not
conspicuous. There were few people
about me, and those few uninteresting,
SO kept my attention divided between
my dinner and the evening paper. But
just as / was drawing towards the
close OF my meal, something happened
TO change all that.
woman, followed by a man. passed
my table, and the two seated them
selves diaGopally opposite TO me.
Something in the woinans light foot
steps. her free movements. and the
graceful carriage OF her head. struck
me instantly as being familiar. She
was dressed very plainly, and she was
closely yelled. Their entrance. too,
had been unebtrusive, almost furtive.
But when she raised her veil and took
the carte-lu-j jour In her hand. | knew
her at once 1t was Mrs. Snlith-Less-
ing.
She had not seen me, and my first
Impulse was to pay my bill and step
quietly out Then by chance giancec
at her companion, and my heart stood
still. lie was a. tall man. over six feet,
but he stopped badly. and his walk had
been almost the walk of an invalid.
He had the appearance OF man who
had once been stout and we'll built, but
who was now barely recovered from
q long illness The flesh hung in little
bags underneath his bloodshot eyes, his
mouth twitched continually. and the
hand which rested on the table tren-
bled. He wore scanty gray nous
tache. which failed to hide weak
thin mouth and very obvious wig
concealed his badness. His clothes had
seen plenty of service and his linen was
doubtful. He had evidently ordered some
brandy Immediately on his entrance. and
his eyes met mine just as he was In
tho act oe raising the glass TO his lips.
am convinced that he had no idea then
who was. but the earnestness OF my
gaze seemed to disturb him. He set
down his glass with shaking fingers
and directed his companion's attention
toward me.
They talked together earnestly Tor
several moments. | fancied that she
was reproving him for showing alarm
at my notice. Very soon. however she
herself, after giving an order TO