The San Francisco call., 1909-09-19

doorway Kerr leaned forward MIS-.
Herrick did not move. She was facing
the last arrival and she was smiling
more fexibiy, more naturally. than
Harry; but it was Flora who found
the first word.
"Youi IL thought it was Clara.
She was struggling for nonchalance.
for poise. at this worst blow so un-
expected.
clara won't be down." Harry said.
advancing. How dye do. Mrs. Her
rick? How dye do. Kerr?" !.
How dye do?" said the Englishman.
without rising.
Flora gripped the arms of her chair
to keep from springing up in sheer
nervous terror. A possible purpose in
FArry's coming. that even Mrs. Herrick's
presence would not defer, shot through
her mind. Was he alone2 Or were
there others-men here for a fearful
purpose-waiting beyond in the hall?
But Harry had turned his back upon
..re door behind him with finality that
p declared whatever danger had come
presence.
"I've dined, thanks" he said, but,
stripping of his greatcoat. accepted
chair and the glass Of cordial Mrs.
Herrick offered him. The ruddy. hard
quality OF his face. We're it divested OF
its present smile, Flora thought, might
well have frightened the maid; but. for
all that II was not so implacable as
Kerr's face confronting 1t. The look
with which he met the intrusion had
g quality more bitter than the chal-
lenge of an antagonist. more jealous
than mere lovers; and that bitter
ness, that jealousy which was between
them came out stingingly through their
small pleasantness. It could not be,
Flora thought IN terror, that Mrs. Her
rick intended to leave these two enc
mics to each other, Mrs. Herrick had
risen; and Flora, following. saw both
men. also uprisen, hang hesitatingly,
as If unready to be deserted; yet with
well filled glasses and newly smoking
tobacco, both were caught.
Then Kerr, with a .quck dash of his
hand picked up his glass. Let us be
continental" he begged, and followed
close at Flora's side. without moving
hts lips Kerr was speaking. What
does this meanT'
She sensed the anger in his smoth-
cred voice, but she dared not look at
him.
4 have no idea; but will see you
-when?"
Her answer leaped to her mind and
her lips at the same moment.
In the rotunda when the house is
quiet"
Harry had followed leisurely in their
wake. The flush of haste had SUBJ
sided in his face, and when the four
regrouped themselves in the high,
darkly paneled room. among the
low lights. Flora remarked his extraor-
oinary composure. Bitter he might be;
but all the nervousness, suspicion, un-
sasiness. that he had shown OF late had
vanished. There was a tremendous
confidence about him, the confidence of
the player who holds cards that must
win the game. and sits back waiting
Ior his moment
But she was ready to laugh at him
IN his security. He had underesti-
mated his opponent In spite OF him
she was TO have her meeting with
Kerr Harry had waited too long to
prevent that, whatever he might do
afterward. In this inspired moment
she felt herself touching conquering
heights which before she had only
touched in Imagination. She felt
enough power in herself to move even
such a mountain of obstinacy as Kerr.
She stole look at him-a look of glad
intelligence. He understood as If she
had spoken. They were to meet, while
all the house slept fast, to meet for
his great renunciation. Then, in the
morning, when Harry was ready with
whatever move he was holding back,
NO Kerr-but she must not think of
tnati she glanced at him again in the
thick OF the talk, and caught his eye
upon her puzzled, and, she thought,
with a gammer of doubt.
She smiled; and smiled again at the
ease with which she reassured him,
merely by looking at him. He should
see. in the end, how true she could be!
He was talking tremendously, fling
ing OF fireworks OF words. but she was
curiously aware that Mrs. Herrick and
Harry were looking more at her than at
Kerr. She felt herself the dominant
spirit She saw them acknowledge 1T.
swept along by the high tide of her
mood that was rising to meet her great
decisive moment Yet on the surface
the strong pulse of 1t appeared as
ripples-words, smiles, gay gestures,
laughter-rising like the last bubble
on a waves crest She was not con-
sciously acting; she was inspired by the
power Of what she concealed and must
conceal And when she left them 1T
was like triumphant exit almost it
seemed TO her as II she might hear
their applause following her.
In the room where. some eight hours