The San Francisco call., 1910-09-25

had been. When Senior Mendez, Es-
trella's father, who is fat, but dances
like thistledown, took me for turn
around the room, You are having
quite a success, eh, my child?' he said.
The young men are beginning to wake
up. You are coming out"
That was all very pleasing, and my
wits were never any too sharp at
dance. being in dreamy and delicious
state Of obedience to the music and the
swimming atmosphere, $50 that | did
not keenly take note of why Laura
Burnet did not return my bow. Jack
Tracy took me in to supper and fused
until he found seats for US in the big
hall beyond the supper room. 1t ap
peared he was waiting to propose to
me again: and. as l was ready for
anything as far as only making pro-
posals went l did not try. to stop him.
Behind US a curtain hung, the only
thing between us and the ballroom,
but the orchestra was still playing
softly and there was hardly any one in
that room. so I thought no one could
overhear us.
In the midst of it Aleppo Mendez put
his hsad in the door and asked what
Jack had done with his partners pro-
gram? Jack not discovering it in his
pocket. very much veXed at being in
terrupted, went to look for it with
Aleppo in the supper room, and 1 was
left alone.
For few minutes l sat listening to
the music Then this ended with
soft chord, and on the other side of the
curtain I heard the quick rustling
OF girls frock. and girls voice:
Just wait. ] must put one more hair
pin in il or it never will stay up
recognized Estrella's tones. There
was a little pause and then, evidently
resuming the main thread of her dis
course. she went on, "Of course, as l
was saying, it was awfully brave of
her 10 Go it, hut how could shei Why.
if I had been in such position just
thinking what it would have meant to
him. ] know ! couldn't have made
sound"
Well. IL I could I wouldn't have"
II was Laura speaking with great Bit
terness 1T wasn't as if she had to tell.
She was the only one in the city who
saw IL. No one would have known any
thing if only she had held her tongue"
"Oh. but" Estrella broke in. in a dep
recating voice, 'it was an awful thing
he did"
"Oh, was it?" Laura retorted scorn-
fully. lots of men do the same thing
and aren't so very bad; and lots
more would do il II they dared.
Just because he Is handsomer and
braver and has a higher temper than
most, lOtS OF people nafe MIN. AnO
because Ellie Fenwick is little and
looks young, and avery one was saying
how pale and pathetic she looked and
how convincing It was. the way she
told her story; oh. 7 heard the talk
all around the ccurtroom,-she Just
worked on the syEpathies OF the jury,
It wasn't Justice that convicted him,
II was Ellie Fenwicki'
I sat perfectly still. grasping my cold
little ice cream plate in one hand, not,
hearing anything more. not even seem
ing to think, until heard Jack Tracy's
voice beside me.
Good heavens! What's the matter?"
And then, calling out in absurd alarm,
Don't faint. don't faint"
II am not going to faint" l said,
though I had very strange feeling of
floating. and his face looked a little
misty to me- Il want 10 go home.
Get me a carriage"
But you're III. Let me call Es-
trella"
] caught hold of his sleeve. Don't
say a word tee her, Don't dare. prom
ise me-" I shook his sleeve fiercely.
He looked quite scared. Get me a
carriage 1 said. land mind you don't
say anything to any one until have
gone. Then you can tell Estrella that
] was feeling III and decided TO go
home"