The San Francisco call., 1909-11-28

All through dinner found myself sending cursory
glances his direction, trying vany to readjust the
mental picture that had been with me for so long
Afterward, when we wandered by twos into the
drawing room coupled with Carley through force
of habit and the instinct of self-protection
The long French windows were flung open to the
golden moonlight with only shaded lamp here and
there to feebly combat its supremacy. From the ter
race below the soft melody of southern darky voices
oated up US, with the ripple of banjo and tapping
of guitars to keep them company. faint mist OF
smoke and the perfume of the womens cigarettes
made the room decately unreal All warmth,
rich and languorous and delicious.
Nea reclining in a low chair, with her head
dropping luxuriously against its back, futtered her
cigarette through space that its tip glowed like
FREELY Dolly" she sighed, dance for US and I'll
willingly relinquish all hopes of heaven
Dolly gded into the center of the glistening floor
and let the wave of light enguf her. She fairly
shone as her arms went swaying above her head and
her 1.-THE body poised itself for motion. Then of
sudden the signing downward, she
stopped her face turned TO Dick-dear impusive,
adorable Dick who had taken protesting step for
ward
81 don't think can dance tonight" She trembed
little "If tried should float out of that window
and never return"
There was buzz of disbelief Dolly not dancel I
was incongruous-too absurd She went back to
Dick and l saw M Geraud behind my chair stealthily
pocketing small sketching pad. at is fate, madem
oiselle he said in French seeing that had caught
him in the act II shall be able to get her
and there are so many others who have sue
ceeded"- and he held back the rest of his SEN
tence.
WHO is SHE?
did not miss the hestancy in his voice Monsieur
Geraud" leaned toward him suddenly "you said
once that Mrs Brooke haunted you-that you had
seen her somewhere. Have you guessed how-and
where?"
1t had come at last-the question that had been
surging and throbbing subconscious1y since I
felt Mrs Dolly coming into Dicks life. What had it
mattered in the beginning? She had been fascinat-
ing absorbing novelty But now--l thought of myself
CROPPING vainy to touch the chord of memory that
had been struck the first time her; thought of
Gerauds words and of baron de Berenzg's eyes that
might have been gazing at thing supernatural the
day they had come face face in the studio thought
of Robert Stead but, most of all, | my brother
Dick giving her all of his strong chvalrous manhood
And felt now should never be satisfied until the
web of Dollys mystery had been pierced
"Mademoiselle" the artist paused evasivey, tug
ging at his black pointed mustache there are paint
ings in the Luxembourg, at the salons each year. of
nymphs, of sprites, of goddesses-Mrs Brooke, you
will agree, might have been say one of these"
I sat upright "You have guessed" 1 whispered,
"and you will not tell me''
"Mademoiselle" the Frenchman bent over me,
when I discovered that sketch l had made of her
did guess, and" he looked at quzzicay through
an even blue ring of smoke, Il hav, told you," he
finished pointedly.
| caught his arm breathlessly. Il do not under
stand your subtleties You've told me nothing -
Geraud shrugged with touch OF mockery. "You