The San Francisco call., 1903-01-04

strong desire to find my dear father" re-
piled Zepherine.
AT any rate it seemed reasonable to the
girl, and she was to go away from the
convent and out into the world in any
event the Mother Superior decided to tako
the matter into her own hands So she
wrote to Father Martin at Malvern, max
ing such inquiries as the nature OF the
case and her strong interest In the girl
called for. Father Martin knew the Clop-
tons well. and he lost 10 time In placing
in the Mother Superior's hands such in
formation as was calculated to set her
mind at rest So at last, after consider
able correspondence, the matter was ar
ranged definitely, and the young girl
came south TO begin, as she thought, the
search for her father.
1t was the beginning Of summer when
Eepherine reached Shady Dale As for
Zepherine, she felt she was taking long
step in the direction of her father and
there was never moment when she re-
gretted II save during the last hour OF
her journey, when depression seized her.
and all sorts of doubts and fears and
grim forehodsnss took possession. Of her
mind But after all, matters fell out
very well Who could have dreamed that
Sarah Clopton would take the girl In her
arms al the first moment of their meet
ing?
The little French CanadIenne, shy as a
wood blossom, very quickly made place
for herself in the hearts of those who
came to know her we'll She was timid
and sensitive to a degree. and yet had a
certain form of pride that stood her in
good stead For one thing. this pride COM
PEELED her to learn English very rapidly;
and there was a certain daintiness in her
way of spe aking the difficult tongue that
tickled Billy Sanders immensely
BE jieged eff she don't know the die
tionary by heart" he declared on one
occasion She's like the gal in the can
dy-store that gueSses what you want by
the way your mouth dribbIes- This
French girl picks out the prettiest words
you ever heard in all your born days"
And there was a good deal of truth In
what Mr.. Sanders said. and he was partly
responsible for II. With no particular
knowledge OF literary English, Mr.. Sand
ers, nevertheless. had a very keen ear
for the vernacular, and a broad smile
used to spread over his benevolent count
enance when Zepherine tripped in her
English There were times when she
thought she hated Mr.. Sanders but his
smiles spurred her on until she came to
handle the vernacular much more correct
ly than any Of her acquaintances-but
always with a quaint accent which Nan
Dorrington thought the most beautiful
sound her ears had ever heard
Mr.. Sanders used to contend that he
had but three weaknesses-Nan. Zepher-
Inc and John Barleycorn- Nan, who was
only thirteen, spent more than tWo-thirds
of her waking thoughts in the land of
romance. To her Zepherine was a beau
uful girl who was the victim Of some
malicious fairy. She would find her
father. and then the spell would be
broken If she didn't become a princess.
she would at least marry some hand
some young man, and be happy forever
after, AS for Mr.. Sanders. Nan regarded
him as a man who could work magic If
he had turned into beautiful prince
right before her eyes, she would not have
been In the least surprised. She knew per-
fectly well that he could find Zepherine's
father. or tell her how to find him. when
ever he thought the proper time had
come. Such was her confidence in the
powers of Mr.. Sa: :.ders that she used to
say to him when they were alone to-
gether; Don't let's find Miss Johns
father too soon; she might go away
Mr.. Sanders always humored Mans
romances. When Ter mischievousness
became uncomfortable. Mr.. Sanders had a
way Of making a very demure young
woman Of the child. Don't he such
rowdy. Man." he would say. Frank
Bethune owes you a whippin', an I'll
make him pay you off eff you don't be-
have. The mention Of Bethune's name
always had SOLDERING effect on Nan. The
two were supposed to be sworn enemies,
After the advent of 3epherine, the old
Clopton homestead no longer had an emp
ty appearance. Nan came every day, and
in fact spent more than half Of her time
there
Mr.. Sanders took great fancy to the
stranger from the first Often the old
man would draw her gently toward him,
as she had seen him draw Nan. and say
''Ill be your pappy,- honey, till you find
better one" She knew from the kindly
light in the clear and honest blue eyes
that looked into hers that Mr.. Sanders
and his protection. But, after Sarah
Clopton. the dearest friend that Zepher-
Inc found in her new surroundings was
Nan Dorrington- Verging on to fourteen
Nan was still child. 1t could be coIdIy
said that she was no beauty: yet she was
lovely In her artlessness and simplicity.
and was graceful as some wild thing
fresh from the woods fields. Her face
glowed with health and high spirits, and
was full of intimations Of mischief. AS
tricksy as Ariel, her hoyden ways rhymed
true to mirth and innocence
Nan was not always hot-foot in pur-
suit Of fun and mischief. No. indeedi
There were long hours when she would
sit and watch Zepherine at her 'broidery
work And at such times IL would have
been wonder If Sarah Clopton and Mr.
Sanders were not also engaged in watch
Ing the deft fingers weaving the figures
On one occasion. when Mr.. Sanders was
watching the fairy-like work, Zepherine
raised her eyes and cried: "Oh, they have
changed my namei / think 1t is too bad"
Nan, who was also sitting near. smiled
family she caught the eye of Mr. San
ders. Yes she replied; your name is
Miss Johns. / think 1t very pretty-I
called YOU Miss Johns from the first"
But Johns is not Dion: think it is
cruel" protested Zepherine. How will
my dear father know me as Miss Johns?"
''Well. I'll tell you. honey" said Mr.
Sanders, 1.-THE way you pronounce the two
names makes 'em sound jest like they was
twins"
Zepherine hardly knew whether to
laugh or cry. and before she could make
up her mind to do either Sarah CIopton
who had heard part of the conversation.
remarked that Mr.. Sanders had a very
bad habit Of changing names and she re-