The San Francisco call., 1904-03-27

fire with ewes OF PiC<NANs-
What was the matter with the girl?
Mrs. wiIlers stated positively that as
far as she could ascertain, there was
no man that had the slightest influence
over Mariposa Moreau's affections. she
was acting entirely on her own volition
But what had made her change ner
mind, Mrs Willers did not know
Something had undoubtedly occurred
she thought, that had Influenced MARI
posa 10 a total reversal OF opinion.
Mrs. Willers said she could not imagine
what this was, but IL had changed the
girl. not only in ambition and point OF
view, but in character.
The letter frightened Bessie. 1t had
made her silent all through dinner. and
now brooding over the fire. she thought
Of what it might mean and felt q cold
apprehension seize her. Could Mari
posa. know? Her behavior and conduct
since Shackleton's death suggested
such a possibility. It was incredible TO
think Of. but Lucy might have told.
And also. might not the girl, In ar
ranging her mothers effects after her
death, have come on something, letters
or papers. which had revealed the past?
A memory rose up in Bessie's mind OF
the girl wife she had supplanted,
clinging TO the marriage certificate,
which was all that remained TO remind
her OF the days when she had been the
one lawful wife. Bessie knew that this
paper had been carefully tied In the
bundle which held Lucy's few posses
sions when they left Salt Lake. She
knew II was still in the bundle when
10 handa( n the de-
serted girl in front of Moreau's cabin.
Might not MaripOsa have found it,
She rose and walked about the room.
feeling sick at the thought. She was
no longer young. and her iron nerve had
been permanently shaken by the sud
denness Of her husbands death. Mari
posa. with her mothers marriage GER
tificate. might be plotting some desper-
ate coup. No wonder she refused to go
TO Parisi II she could establish her
claim as Shackleton's eldest and only
legitimate child, she would not only
sweep from Win and Maud the lions
share of their inheritance. but, equally
unbearable, she would drag TO the light
the ugly story-the terrible story that
Jake Shackleton and his second wife
had so successfully hidden.
Her thoughts were suddenly broken
in on by the bang of the front door. She
looked at the clock and saw ii was only
nine. If il was the Count who was
going he had stayed less than an hour.
What had happened? She moved to
the door and listened.
She heard a light step, slowly and
furtively mounting the stairs. 1t was
Maud, for, though she could attempt
TO deaden her football, she could not
hush the rustling OF her silken skirts.
AS the sweeping sound reached the
stair-head, Bessie opened her door.
Maud stopped short, her black dress
fading into the darkness about her
so that her white face seemed to be
floating unattached through the all
like an optical dslusion.
Why, mommer," she said, faltering-
Il ly, II thought you were in bed"
Has the Count gomez" queried heI
u mother. with an unusual sternness oi
4 tone.
Yes" said the girl, hes gone. He
he-went early tonight"
why did he go so early?"
He didn't want to stay any longer
Maud was terrified. Her hand clutch
ing the balustrade was trembling and
icy. In her fathers lifetime she had
known that she would never dare tc
tell of her engagement to Latimer. She
would have ended by eloping. Now
the fear Of her mother, who had alway:
been the gentler parent, freze hel
timid soul, and even the Joy Of her love
seemed swamped in this dreadful mo-
ment Of confession
Did the Codnt ask you to MARI,
him?" said Bessie.
Yes, and" with tremulous desper
alton, 1T said no, couldn't"
You said no. that's not possible
You couldn't be such a fool"
We'll, 1 was, and said It"
Come in here, Maud" said he
mother. standing back from the door
way; I'VE can't talk sensibly this way.
But Maud did not move.
NO, 1 don't want to so In there.
she said, like a naughty child; there
\ nothing to talk about. I don't want 4
marry him and ] told him so and he
gone, and that's the end Of IT,"
A The end Of it, That's nonsense.
want you to marry Count de Lamolle
a don't want to hear silly talk like this
I'll write TO him Tomorrow"
Well, it won't do you or him an,
goed," said Maud, to whom fear wa
giving courage, for 1 won't MARI
him. and neither you nor he can drai
s me 70 the altar If won't go. It's no
n the time of the Crusades."
If Maud's aliusion was not precisel
Illuminating, her mother understood II
1T may not be the time Of the Cru
sades," she said, grimly, but neither
IL the time when girls can be fools an
u no one hold out a hand to check them
II Do YOU realize what this marriag
\ means for you2 Position, title, an en-
trance into society that you never i
i any other way could put as much a
q the end OF your nose into"
IF / don't want to put even the en-
Of my nose into II, what good does
do me? You know 1 hate society.
y hate going TO dinners and sitting be
I side people who talk TO me about thing
| don't understand or care for. hat
1 going to balls and dancing round an
4 round like a teetotum with men don
4 like. And II it's bad here, what woul
il be over there where 1 don't spea
their language or know their way