The San Francisco call., 1908-05-31
@a6 ONt PARTING ~ 1zr CLOUDS

ing q spell OF bad weather l''o'
cradle in its duIlness. and while
it ondures appearing to be as
endless as your life or mine. there
comes suddenly and without warning
a break In the clouds. stream of Gods
best material. glory. an outcry of hope
to joy-and then-and then-the clouds
close calmly together again.
or course. clouds are associated
mainly with summer. but, metaphori-
callv speaking. they float above us in
all reconnaissance all skies.
Even bright. starlit skies on cold
winter nights. on nights like this,
when an automobile stands at the
street entrance. and its owner. card
case in hand. Just within the vcstibule
Of the house
The door opened presently and the
caller entered.
He gave the maid his card.
lie saw the change in her expression
as her eye fell upon the name engraved
thereon. Almost timidly She raised her
eyes 10 steal a glance as she took his
coat and hat and stick. The coat was
heavier than she expected. for it was
lined with priceless sable. As she car
riod it 10 a carved scat under the stair
winding he turned into the reception
room
It was 20 years since the last time
he had entered the ro9m--the last, the
first. the only time ;hat her home had
ever before opened its doors TO him.
And they had been kind enough to him
then. 20 years ago. TO have made him
make this call now-now. when she and
her parents had returned home TO live
now. when his position in regard to
them and to every one was so vastly
altered from what it had been a score
Of years agone.
The reception room was the same 1t
had made such an impression on the
boy Of is that memorable night that
the man of S5. could not fail but note
It's absolute lack of change. The white
chimney piece bearing gilt clock and
q cut glass vase, the marble group on a
pedestal in the corner, the five chairs
OF giIded wicker. each with a silken
cushion tied on at each corner SO that
the tassels hung about the legs the
polar bear skin on the floor and the
big pastel of Her aged ..
lie noted all those details and some
others that are to he observed when
any room goes unchanged for % years
and then he went to the window. drew
the lace curtain a bit aside and looked
out upon the avenue. It was not Curl
osity which led him there. for he saw
the avenue daily-when he was in the
city-but he had never seen il from her
standpoint before. The other time that
he had been in the house it was also
night. but it was tho night of the party
and all the shades We're drawn. Oh.
that time that other time. that one
and only other time % years ago
From where he stood he could see
the turning into the side street, the
side street which led to the hin. where
he had Grst seen her one memorable
day in his life
As he looked, that dsy and its events
rose up before him. The long, white
smooihness. the dozen or so of coast
ing children. the gay down, the joking
up. the fun and meri'iment in which he.
the freckle faced. red haired boy who
lived in the cottage way at the bot
TOM always had his full share all
winter long. Sliding is democratic
sport and he was democrat, as the
poor. freckIe faced and red haired gen
orally arc: and he had reveled in the
winters and the comrades that they
brought him and had hated the. spring
that thawed the masses into classes
even before she had appeared upon
that memorable day.
He did not need to close his eyes to
see her again as he had seen her the
first time. for the image had never
grown dim 10 his memory. \ little girl
with big eyes, long lashes. a bearning
smile and 10 yellow curis bushing out
from under her blue hockey cap. She
wore a rough little coat, buttoned leg
gins. heecy mittens and wristsrs; she
had dark red sled and lots Of pluck.
The fun was pretty fast and pretty fu-
rious. but she jerked her sled into place
and flung herself upon it with right
good courage. and then away she went,
and he, not stopping for anything, had
forthwith flung himself upon his sled
and made after her.
He reached the bottom first-as was
to be expected of heavier weight and
longer runners-snd ran to help her
up. and she gave him her very small
mittened hand and said Thank YOU
very family but also very sweetly.
-Tll pull you UP the hill now if you
ike he suggested. utterly charmed
by the cunning figure and the big blue
eyes.
"oh, no. 1 can walk, and ! can pull
my own sled. too" she answered stout
ly. He saw that she was an independ-
ent little thing and was afraid to urge
assistance upon her as they trudged
upward side by side. About half way
UP she began to puff most terribly and
said once: