The San Francisco call., 1910-12-25

he loved me and I dragged him down.
Hammys trying to explain.
Trust Hammy-trust Hammy,"
murmured the little old woman, rub
bling her thin hands. "Oh, it's bad, bur
he'll do what he can"
Miss Chatom looked from her to the
girl: then at the parrot in the window,
whisking crumbs down on the ragged
little hyacinth bulb which struggled
through the damp earth in its pot by
the window opening on the air shaft,
and at the yellow haired child with its
red engine, spot of color in the mean
obscurity.
Grace Wayne. 1t seemed that she.
with the other perfectly gowned
woman in the doorway, were held
aloof from some tragedy at Gran
berry's. Did you sleep?'
Pretty bad" Nella caught the
child's hand and dragged it into the
hall II don't want to talk? she re-
torted Babe, let's go see Unc' Pop"
The two women watched her defiant
f7irt through the hall. By the stairs
she met the captain. The old man
Strengthened up, grasping his cane.
peering cautiously through the gloom,
twisting his stained imperial When
he saw he had encountered a woman
he bowed grandly and stepped back
for her precedence
aGood morning, madam-good morn
ingn' he said but he waited until she
and the child had gone out. The
captain distrusted women. their chat
ter, their Iightness-they couldn't un-
derstand; but then one could have for
them the manner OF the old south.
Hush" said Miss Cranberry. t,don't
ever let him know Of things-he's
been a soldier, and it's all fine. Mr..
n r-xyfI III inc Tho
captain since Larry went away"
"Paid?" echoed Miss Cratom-"Oh,
l see-for his lodging.
The old lady screwed her mouth to
discretion. And you should see how
grand they salute each other when
they meet! It's Just play! But it's
wearing on the captain-he's waited so
long for the troops to come back. He
pretends to us, he doesn't care!"
.I'il leave this note for Mr.. Ar
noId," said Miss Wayne Il wish to
see him. But we must CO." She
glanced at Edith Chatom.
The old woman saw them courteusly
to the door When they had gone she
few to Nella, consumed with curl
osity about these elegant women.
The departing visitors saw the
girl, the child, Miss Cranberry with
her apron over her head to keep off
the sun, and the red engine patch OF
color on the balcony against the gray
wall of the Family Liquor Store
And that's where he's livedw MUIR
INJURED Miss Chatom. TITS queer"
81 think they all rather depend on
him." answered Grace Wayne. The
girls nothing to him." she added, but
the old woman couldn't keep her house
if he didn't lodge here. And the old
soIdier-well, Mr.. Arnold is strange
blunderer, isn't hep
They looked at each other with more
friendliness. Miss Chatom held forth
her hand as they parted. You showed
me curious light on myself-and on
him. : He was my childhood's friend.
VIII you let me know how things come
out? I shall call on you"
perhaps we can do something" said
the other.
The day seemed rather empty to
Grace Wayne after the return from
Granberry's. She had been accustomed
to read and walk in the afternoons, but
now she thought Of this house OF haz-
ards, OF the captain bowling with old
fashioned chivalry. the little old woman
wringing her hands from the suds to
fetch a chair, Nella Free kneeling to
clean the mouth of the waif. From the
tawdry run of the days life, lacking
hope, uplift, light from bright and
finely ordained world they never knew,
they yet found for one another the in
effable human radiation of whatever
courage, gaiety or good each had. Spir-
itual transcendencies might be, but
here in the surge of denying and COM
Z mon life the prieStesS of a mystic mod
ernity wondered at this charity-her
hands had been unsoiled with it all;
she had been concerned with the In
finite that needs no concern.
TO Be Continued Next Sunday