The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-08-15

Why, Harry, never saw you jealous
before"
Its all very well to say that-and
you know I've never made arrow about
the other Johnnies. I knew you didn't
care for any Of them"
Her eyes narrowed and darkened-
And you take it for granted I care
for Mr.. Kerr
"Oh, no. no." He pushed his hand
through his hair with an frascfble ges-
ture. But it's plain enough you like
him-you women always like a fellow
that f1ourishes-but that's not the sort
of man l care to see hanging al ound my
girl"
Flora stood leaning on the table.
breathing little hurriedly, feeling
rather as If she had been shaken.
Harry. standing with his hands in his
pockets, looked not unlike the threat
ening image he had appeared in the
back of the goldsmiths shop.
"Of course, the fellow can talk" he
admitted, "and he has a manner. But
Lord knows where he comes from or
who he is. Why, even the Buffers
don't know"
Flora turned sharply on him. who
told you that?"
The judge. He picked him up at
the club.
Well" she kept it up, some one
had to Introduce him there"
Harry smiled you wouldn't care to
bow to some of those club members"
Harry, do you know how you sound
to me?" She was trembling at the
daring of what she was going to say.
You talk as If you knew something
against him."
Her statement seemed to bring him
up short. No, no. 1 don't" he said
hastily.
CO. ~51 tt44ro --4.. - s.s-
How was she to count on Harry If he
was going to behave like this? How
trust him when he was shutting SOP
She made one more bold stroke to
make him speak out.
Harry. you do know something
about him! know you have seen him
before"
But that's got nothing to do with IT."
He looked surprised that she should
seem to accuse him OF 1T, and she won
dered IL he could have forgotten how
he had denied 1T before.
And that isn't why you distrust
him?"
The devils tattoo that he beat on his
hat stopped.
Il don't distrust him."
We'll, dislike him. then. When was
1t that you saw him before?'a
isn't it enough for me TO tell you
that I don't want you to see him?"
"Ohp" She turned away from him.
Every nerve In her was in revolt Then
he really wasn't going to tell her any
thing. He was keeping her out OF it as
If she were child She had relied
on him to return the ring. She had
counted upon his Indifference and good
nature. And he was neither Indifferent
nor good natured. All desire OF even
mentioning the ring to him left her.
and as to giving him her confidence
these hints that he had thrown out
about Kerr they might be mere
jealousy-but he might have actual
knowledge, knowledge that, with her
own fitted to it, would make for him a
complete figure. She caught her breath
at the thought of how near she had
come to actually betraying Kerr. Until
that moment she had not realized that
through all her waverings her one fixed
intention had been not to betray him.
Harry had risen and was buttoning
his fovercoat. You know you're never
at home If you don't want to be-" he
said.
She stood misleadingIy dropping be-
fore him. But though her appearance
was passive enough FOR the most exact
ing lover her will had never been in
more vigorous revolt. She knew Harry
was taking her WEAKNESS for acquies-
cence, and she let him take it so. She
even followed him into the hall. and
with a vague idea of further propitia-
ton, nodded away Shima and opened
the door for him herself.
The fog was a chasm of white out
side. Harry turned on the brink OF it..
by the way, where's Clara?'
why, do you want to see her?
She'll be out all day. She's dining with
the Willie Herricks."
mo, don't want to see her, but, by
the way, she's not dining with the Will
lie Herricks; she's dining with the
Buffers. heard her make the engage
ment yesterday"
"Oh. no. Harry I'm sure you're mis-
taken"
well. it doesn't matter. All want
to know is, why did you show that ring
to Clara before 1t was set?"
She was genuinely aghast. II
didn't" she flashed. What made you
think had?"
He shrugged. We'll. she asked me
where we got it, 1 don't see why
women always talk those things over"
He was looking at her inquiringly.
We'll, / haven't" she said quickly.
Have you?"
He looked out upon the fog. Told
her where we got 1t, do you mean? No.
I just chaffed her. I'd look out II
were you. She strikes me as Id
curious" He stood a moment on the
threshold. looking from Flora to the
chasm OF fog outside, as If he were
choosing between two chances IT
think I'll take that ring this morning
he said slowly.
The deliberate words came to her
with a shock. But in the moment,
while she looked into Harry's moody
face she realized how impossible to
make scene over what must still be
maintained as trivial matter betwixt
them-the mere resetting OF a Jewel:
what should she do to put him of?
She looked up att him, and saw with
relief that his face was turned from her
to the fog. as IL he had forgotten her.
Then, still with averted head. as If he
addressed the whiteness, or himself
No he determined. 81 won't. I'll take
it when I come back" He pulled him.
self together with an effort, with a.
smile; THAT is" he turned to her. 'if
you're in no great hurry about the set
ting? Very well. then. In a day or
two"
He plunged away into the fog. A
few rods from the door he disappeared.
but she could still hear his footsteps
growing thinner, lighter, passing away
in the wilderness.