The San Francisco call., 1909-10-10

nation. That the man had dared TO attach
himself to me 50 frankly. 50 unequivoeally that be
had permitted tongues wag and runor TO busy itself
with names. appeared of conduct of
which only the stereotyped padded stage or best
seller" villain would BE guilty The entire affair
nothing short OF insult and determined that he
should suffer for Il He should be exposed, annihi
zted before the whole Of my world and then laughed
out OF it.
Il had never been habit Of mine to indulge in cosy
corner or hresde chats with my mother but the night
OF the countess tte surprise party could sezrcely
wait for an opportunity empty my cup Of indigna-
ton 10 the very dregs TIE first fat unadulterated
statement OF facts was made IN the directly
had dropped the baron at his apartment way
home Ny mother, however, has schooled herself
never to exhibit emotions other than mild surprise,
cool amusement or infinite contempt On this occz-
sion It mild surprise, with adrnixture of disbe
let But later IN her boudor had the slight salts
faction OF painting the barons dupicity with inpres
sionistc effect l can myself now, huddled in the
big armchair my mother used when ease of costume
permitted, slapping the color picture with prod
igal extravagance-
When the thing was completed in all its giaTing
zudacity flung myself out Of the chair. He ought
70 be behind prison bars" cried "a man like that
Is a menace to decent society"
CONCERNING DECENT SOCIETY"
Ny mother looked past me, and this time her
preston was q mingling OF cool amusement and in
ciety,' she observed slowly, accentng the words.
My butcher and my baker represent that" Then to
my sstonshrnent she back to with the ques-
tion Did any but you hear the countess ask for
his wife,"
Why no." 1 answered, IN somewhat bewildered
fashion we sitting In the corridor behind the
boxes and he was daring TO tell me he wanted To-
famed AZ the recollection OF the bzron's words.
SIT down" my mother interrupted, "and we'll talk
the thing calmly. I'm rather weary Of drsmatcs.
If but ourselves knows OF the wife in Europe
there's no necessity for this wild upheavsL"
But every one viii know tomorrow I'll see to it
that they do. I'm going TO shout It from the house
oops In going 10 let people know the sort OF
leyve taken up and welcomed in their homes I'll
and feather him that there will be
trickery and deceit
Don't be a little foolw And now my mothers
face exhibited fine showing of contempt minus
every vestge OF amusement surprise DO you
want 10 make us the goats? What do you suppose
the world would do7 It would laugh-of course it
woodland point the finger OF scorn-at you, and
al me. We accepted him. entertained hiul-with-
ont question. We made him one OF as and were glad
Of the chance-and the world knows that Did
he intimate BY word deed that he wanted TO
marry you? We merely took the fact for granted.
Books candies fowers?-other married men have
used the same means OF paying off social Obligation.
If We were dupes, It IS fault His sin
one Of omission. commission He never denied
having a wife-he merely omitted mentioning that
there was one"
For the moment was too shocked TO be amused,
though I have often since laughed over the memory
OF the scene Isn't that rather sad splitting of
hsirs2" I asked, Indignantly at seems me that
when 4 man hoodwinks people who have received
him in good faith its rather more sin OF commits
SION than anything else And when, added to that,
married man deliberately compromises a young
girI--
Compromise nothing my mother interrupted vul-
carly Il thought you had some mental balance, my
dear Don't you the only chance of compro-
mise for you # the world should discover that he is
married. And that all probable The count
told me herself that this be only flying visit
She leaves believe next week and expects to run
down to Long Island before she goes well be quite
nd OF her. And. besides, the very way she greeted
the baron proves that she thinks every one here is
acquainted with conditions. Did he seem at all en-
barrassed when she spoke to him."
MOTHER Is UNSYMPATHETIc
No. That final and conclusive proof of
his villainy- He back into the box with me and
there whispering hysterical nothings my ear
until I wanted to shrek Whewi" shuddered 1T
was the hour of my life"
I should say he carried It of beautifully remarked
my mother unsympathetically. "And it IS our duty
now 10 help him
Help himw had lost all control Of myself and
was commencing to sob fooshiy DO you mean to
say-you intend TO aid and abet him his deception?
Am expected 10 meeting him though-noth-
ing had happeneds The thing seemed too appalling
70 be conceivable
From what know OF the he has too much
savoir fsire make It uncomfortable for you evi-
IDENTIFY know less OF you than thought" she added,
disapprovingly, but if I'm not altogether mistaken
you have brains enough to drop him gradually until
the world will gain the impression that you have
changed your mind and given him his congo 1t IS
BY means difficult situation. Though, come to
think Of it-Hy mother looked at me with something
like real light N her eyes-~weve really been max
ing mountain out OF molehiIL Who knows but
that Baron de Berenzig may be entertaining an idea