The San Francisco call., 1904-03-27

WOmhn, dccOInp1lSneOs graceIul, OeduIl-
ful. a glorified figure in a haze OF
wealth and success.
She had no war-paint on to-day. but
was in her working clothes, dark and
serviceable, showing lapses between
skirt and waist-band. and tag ends OF
tape appearing in unexpected places.
She had dressed in such a hurry that
morning that only three buttons Of
each boot were fastened, though the
evening before Edna had seen to IL that
they were all on. She had come UP the
hill on what she would have called "a
dead rum" and was still fetching her
breath with gasps.
Sitting opposite Mariposa, in the
bright light of the window, she let her
eyes dwell fondly on the girls face.
We'll, young woman. do you know
I've come up here on the full jump TO
lecture you?''
Lecture rne?" said Mariposa, laugh
ing and bending forward to give Mrs
Willers' hand a friendly squeeze
What have 1 been doing now %
That's just what I've come TO find
out. Left a desk of work, and Miss
PEBBLES hopping round like chicken
with its head off, TO find out what
you've been doing. I'd have come up
before only couldn't get away Mari
posa, my dear, I've had a letter from
Mrs. ShackletOn."
Mariposa's color deepened. A line ap-
peared between her eyebrows, and she
looked out Of the window.
Well" she said: and did she say
anything about me?"
That's what she did-a lot. A lot
that scrter stumped me. And I've
come up here to-day to find out what's
the matter with you. What is it that's
Of fool all at once?'
What do you mean?" said Mariposa
weakly. trying TO gain time. What
did she tell you?"
My dear. you know as well as do
what she told me. And can't MAXI
head or tail Of it. What's come over
you?''
4 don't know" said the girl in a low
voice. Il suppose I've changed"
Stuff" observed Mrs. Willers brisk
ly Don't try to tell lies; you don't
know how. Ones got to have some
natural capacity for it. You've had an
offer that makes it possible for you to
go to Europe, educate your voice, study
French and German. and become a pri-
ma donna. Everything's to be paid
no limit set on time or money. Now,
what in heavens name made you re-
fuse that?"
Facing her in the bright light, the
questioner's eyes were like gimlets on
her face. Mrs. willers saw its dis
tressed uneasiness. but could read no
further. Three days before she had re-
ceived Mrs. Shackleton's letter. and had
been amazed by its contents. She could
neither assign to herself nor to Mrs.
Shackleton a reason for the girls un-
explainable conduct.
L can't explain it TO YOU" said Mar
iposa "I-I-didn't want 10 go. That
was ALL
But you wanted to go only month
or two before when Shackleton him
self made you the offer?'
Mariposa nodded without answering.
But why? That's the part that's so
extraordinary You'd take 1t from
him. but not from his wife"
a person might change her mind.
mightn't she?"
a fool might, but a reasonable
woman. without cent, with hardly a
friend, how could she?''
We'll. she has"
s'Mariposa, look me in the eye"
Mrs Willers met the amber-clear
eyes and saw, with an uneasy thrill,
that there was knowledge in them
there had not been before. 1t was not
the limpid glance of the candid, un-
spoiled youth it had once been. She
felt contraction Of pain at her heart.
as though she had read the same
change in Edna's eyes.
What made you change your mind?
that's what I want to know"
Mariposa lowered her lids.
7 can't tell. What makes anybody
change his mind? You think differ
entity. Things happen that make you
think differently
We'll, what's happened to make you
think differently"
The lines appeared again on the
smooth forehead. She shifted her
glance to the window and then back
to the hands On her lap.
Suppose I don't want to tell? I'm
not a little girl like Edna, to have to
tell every thought I have Mayn't 1
have a secret. Mrs. Willers?"
she looked at ner lnteTlOcuIOr Wlln an
attempt at a coaxing smile. Mrs. Will
ers saw that it was an effort, and re-
mained grave.
7 don't want you to have secrets
from me. dear. no more than 1 would
Edna. Mariposa," she said in a lowered
voice, leaning forward and putting her
hand on the girls knee, 'is it because
of some mani"
Mariposa looked up quickly. The
elder woman saw that, for a moment,
she was startled
Some mani" she exclaimed. What
mann"
You haven't changed your mind be-
cause Of Essex?'
Essex" She slowly crimsoned. and
Mrs. WiIlers kept her pitiless eyes on
the rising flood of color.
"Oh, my dear girl" she said almost
in an agony, don't say you've got fond
Of him"
II don't like Mr.. Essex. I-I-can't
bear him"
Mrs. WiIlers knew enough Of human