lls.

Mrs. Washington waved her hand at the large region known as South San
Francisco.

"I suppose," she said thoughtfully, "that there are a lot of people in
San Francisco whose names we have never heard."

"I suppose so!" he exclaimed.

"I wonder what they are like? How many people are there in San
Francisco, anyhow?"

"About three hundred thousand."

"Really? really?" and Mrs. Washington shrugged her pretty shoulders and
dismissed the subject from her mind.

Would these new beauties compare with that galaxy of long ago? was the
thought that danced between Ben Sansome's faded eyes and his mirror.
Three to burst forth in a night! That was unwonted measure. Of late
years one in three seasons had inspired fervent gratitude. Nelly
Washington had been unchallenged for ten years; Caro Folsom was
second-rate beside her; and Rose Geary, the favourite of last winter,
although piquant and pretty, had not a pretension to beauty. Like the
other old beaux, he went only to the balls and dinners of the
old-timers, never to the dances and musicales of the youngsters, but he
kept a sharp look-out, nevertheless. To-night assumed the proportions of
an event in his life.

Several of the young men had met two of these beauties during the
summer, but Helena was still to be experienced. The young hands did not
tremble, but their eyes were very bright as they wondered if they were
"in for it," if they would "get it in the neck," if she were really "a
little tin goddess on wheels." Even Rollins, who was madly enamoured of
Tiny, and Fort, who had carefully calculated his chances with Rose, were
big with curiosity. The former, who had known Helena from childhood, had
been refused admittance to the Belmont mansion: Helena had a very
distinct intention of making a sensation upon her first appearance in
San Francisco; and as all were fish that came to her net, even Rollins
must be dazzled with the rest.

Magdalena's engagement was a closely guarded secret, and more than one
hardy youth had made up his mind to storm straight through her intellect
to her millions; but even these thought only of Helena as they dressed
for the ball.

Meanwhile the girls were thinking more of their toilettes than of the
men who would admire them. All were to wear white, but each gown had
been made at a different Paris house, that there should be no monotony
of touch and cut, and each was of different shade and material:
Magdalena's of ivory gauze, Tiny's