The San Francisco call., 1904-03-27

his fathers sin. In he- l:tzed dis
Tess she only half-gra aSpci Whit he
thought. The strongest feeling she
had was once again to escape the tolls
that these terrible peoble. who had so
wronged her mother. were spreading
for her. They wanted to pay her to
redeem the strain on their p;lst.
Money can't set right what was
square things betwean your family
and mine'
Money can't square anything
don't want it TO. I'm not trying to
square things; I've not thought about
It that way at all. l just wanted you
10 have it because it seemed all wrong
for you mot to. You had right, just
as had. and Maud had. 1 don't
think I've thought much about it,.
anyway 1t just came to me that you
ought TO have what was yours. l
wouldn't make you feel bad for the
world"
Then remember. once and forever,
that | take nothing from you Or your
people. I'd rather beg than take
money that came from your father"
But he has nothing to do with it.
It's mine now. I've done you no in
jury. and it's I that want you to take
it. Won't you take it from me?"
He spoke simply. almost wistfully.
like little boy. Mariposa answered.:
''No-Oh, Mr.. Shackleton, why
don't you and your people let me
alone? won't tell. I'll keep it all a
secret. But your mother torments me
tn On M
If l were starving, l Wouldn't
couldn't-take anything from any Of
you. l think you're kind. / think
you've just come to-day because you
were sorry. But don't talk about 1t
any more. Let me be. Let me go
along teaching here where l belong.
Forget me. Forget that you ever saw
me. Forget the miserable tie of
blood there is between us"
That's the thirfg 1 can't forget
That's the thing that worries me- It's
not the past. I've nothing to do with
that. It's the present that's my af-
fair. l can't have everything while
you have nothing. 1t don't seem to
me it's like a man TO act that way. 1t
goes against me, anyhow. 1 don't Of
fer you this because of anything in the
past; that's my fathers affair. don't
know anything about it. l offer 1t be-
cause I-I-P'- he stammered over
the unfamiliar words and finally
jerked out" because 1 want to give
back what belongs toSyou. That's all
there is to it. Please take it."
She looked directly into his eyes and
said. grayely:
mo. I'm sorry if it's disappoint-
ment, butsI can't
Then she suddenly looked down, her
face began to quiver, and she said in a
broken undertone:
Don't talk about it any more; it
hurts me So
Win turned quickly away from her
and picked up his hat. He was con-
fused and disappointed, and relieved,
too, for he had done the most difficult
piece of work OF his life. But, at the
moment, his most engrossing feeling
was sympathy for this girl, so bravely
drawing her pride together over the
bleeding of her heart.
She murmured response in a
steadier voice and he turfed toward
Ger. Had any of his society friends
been by they would hardly have
known him. The foolish manner be-
hind which he sheltered his shy and
sensitive nature was gone. He was
grave and looked very much of man.
We'll, of course. it's for you to say
what you want. But there's one thing
I'd like you to promise"
ITO promise? ?" she said uneasily.
Yes, and TO keep 1T, too. And that
is, if you ever want anything in
any way; if you get blue in your
spirits, or some ones not doing the
straight thing by you, or gone back on
you-to come to me. I'm not much In
some ways, but 1 guess 1 could be of
use. And, anyway, it's good for girl
to have some friend that she can
count on, who's a man. And"-he
paused with the door handle in his
hand-"and now you know me, any
way, and that's something. Will you
promise?'
Yes, I'll promise that, said Mari
posa, and moving toward him she
gave him her hand.
He pressed it, dropped its and
opened the door. "A moment later
Mariposa heard the hall door bang be-
hind him. she sat down in the chair
from which she had risen, her hands
lying idle in her lap. her eyes on a
rose in the carpet. trying to think, TO
understand what it meant.