The San Francisco call., 1910-12-18

practicality came out in their rambling
talk, and presently his corroding ten
sion lessened-she could laugh, be
human, of the world. could she?
But this lashed his evil humor,
reckless whim seized him. Where are
you going?' he asked.
Il haven't an idea, l walk a deal
a night before I go to the hotel.
A thought came to him that she was
keenly enjoying the respite Well. he
would try out this spiritual sufficing of
hers this dilettante offering of soul to
his mocking world. 1t was matter of
indifference what she thought of him.
He had never been serious with women;
least of all with serious women. few
though they were in his life. suppose
we go somewhere and talk he said.
ITO the Belvedere.'
Very we'll"
The BeIvedere?s He stared at her.
The concert hall-Iet's go. I've
never seen it,
He thought at first she was having
fun at his expense. but beyond her
frank pleasantness she was intent
enough. He guessed slowly at her view
of the matter-she would be- as always,
superiority above il. beyond contami-
nation. or even discomfort. in her power
of detachment froR the worlds gross
ness. None of thisS mattered-the soul
moved untouched through all forms
and phases of consciousness, and
neither evil nor suffering could les
sen 1t.
Arnold glanced up the street in some
irresolution. But she was pleasantly
human. supremely sure of herself
Well he went on, won't you be
rather conspicuous in that ris?" He
looked at the classic robe, the mortar
board cap on her dark hair. You see,
the Belvedere-
Il don't mind-Im used to the null
titude. and it's stares."
well" The young man looked
again in some CONSERVATION up the
brilliant street Already a trio of his
eronies had noted them. You see"
You don't mind, do your" she began,
watching his face. He had a sense of
her amusement at his hesitation.
We'll, the vedere-it's pretty
swift-for a preacher,''
Why nothing can harm one. can it?''
But you're religious. Won't people
your friends-church-
Il haven't friend in San Francisco
hardly one in America. l am alone un-
trammeled-free to do exactly as 1 wish
on all occasions"
She had already led the way Arnold
went along in some amazed doubt OF
himself
Take her to the BeIvedere e?-in that
have won the streets eye in the gown
of f1shwife, cloak, a shawl-she
would have irradiated distinction from
anything. And she now turned in to
the Belvedere music hall at his side in
that black flmy silk. enveloping her
from chin to toe, relieved nowhere save
by tiny gold cross at her throat and
on her head that unusual cap shading
her face. classic face that stirred the
crowd in the halI-the clerks tOuts,
jockeys. dope f1ends bar habitues. street
politicians and riffraff with their
women-until a whispering comment
buzZed after her entry.
Arnold tried to LOOK expressionIess
as he followed her and the shifty footed
usher up the aisle. They all knew him
at the BsIvedere, the former prize
fighters who acted as stewards and
announcers, the bar keepers, the poll
tician proprietors and their followers
Arnold caught the amazed gasp of
some Of them-and they. for the greater
part knew her. Grace Wayne was a
figure too challenging in the downtown
life for any idler to leave un-
remarked, for any cigar store philoso-
pher to omit from his summing up
of the street Arnold felt like a captive
bound to the chariot wheels of some
priestess in a harbaric triumph
The spacious auditorium, gorgeous
with lights under delicateIy pink
dome starred as a armament was well
, filed. The curtain before the stage
, was a tumble of advertisements. among
which was that of a new march sons
: that the orchestra was just concluding
"a stirring twostep by W. Walters
which all the town was humming. A
brass rail down the hall divided the
place reserved for women and their
escorts from the section where the mer
drank and smoked at the little tables
. droning murmur of voices rose the
inimitable jargon of the track and
prize ring, the cigar stores and the
street.
The two proprietors who were pro-
moters of the great monthly prize ring
/, contests and controllers of the vote in
, the district went about joshing their
patrons with Impartial urbanity-ii
was "Jimnlie." or ''Billy." or the Kid. ?
or this guy'-ev the youth
J full. happy go lucky. alluringly cheer
, full, registering, cosmopolitan spirit OF
old San Francisco, which would gild
the blacklist sin with the charm oil
: humanness.
Every one was good natured: the
walters laughingly struggled through
groups with their trays: the women eli
the tables bantered them. the busy
: stewards circulated here and there
everywhere a hurnming cordiality ir
speech and manner, the most amicablt
forbearance and happy adjustment witt
careless tact and native grace. Wher
the curtain shot up. the orchestra broke
to a rollicking dance. Two girls IN
black jeweled velvet skirts. low GU
bodices and with immense pluned hats
bright eyed. smiling. humorously er
rapport with the audience. sang sons
= of the day, kicked their silken elat
! legs with merry adieu. and then wer,
hurried into an encore in the words o
which the spectators joined joyously
while the Hungarian orchestra leadei
turned with a bow and smile to bea
the time for the volunteers.
Arnold and his companion sat at ;
table near the wall. Save for their near
err neighbors. they were now unob
served. He watched the womans face
I it was radiant with interest, specula
ton, humor at the careless spirit abou
her. "Apollinaris, she nodded to he
host when the waiter approached.
"a bottle and two glasses" said Ar
mold. and then to her: May 1 smoke p
why. of course"
The young man watched her colorins
I under the gloss of her black hair anC
:. cap, the large nose. the shrewd mouth
the iniistinguishabl depths OF he
|, eyes: healthily big, firm of mold
e the shoulders square. the arms ant