The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-04-03
QUEEN OF
QUELPARTE"
Next Sunday Call

YER words infamed his rage. not
alone against her, but against
himself who had had her in this
plant mood in his very arms
and had lost her.
And was it only a desire for conso-
lation and sympathy that made you
behave toward me in what was hardly
"a" he paused as If hesitating for a
word that would in a seemly manner
express his thought, in reality raciNing
his brains for the one that would hurt
her most-"hardly a maidenly way con-
sideriug your lack of interest in me?"
The word he had chosen told. Her
color sank suddenly away. leaving her
very pale. Her face seemed to stiffen
and lose its youthful curves.
Il don't think" she said slowly,
that it's necessary to continue this
conversation. 1t doesn't seem to me to
be very profitable to anybody"
She looked at him, but he made no
movement.
You viii have to excuse me, Mr..
Essex" she said. moving toward the
door. but If you won't so must"
The expected had happened. He
sprang before her and locked the door.
Leaning his back against it. he stared
at her Both were now very pale.
No." he said, hearing his own voice
shaken by his rapid breathing, you're
not going. I've not said half 1 came to
say. I've not come to-day to plead and
sue like a beggar for the love that
you're ready to give one day and take
back the next. I've other things to
talk about"
open the DOOR" she commanded:
open the door and let me out. want
to hear nothing that you have to say"
Don't you want to hear who you
are?" he asked.
The words passed through Mariposa
like a current of electricity. Every
nerve in her body seemed to tighten.
She looked at him, staring and repeat
ing:
Hear who 1 amp"
Yes" he said, leaning toward her
while one hand still gripped the door
handle: hear what your real name is,
and who you are? Hear who your
father was and where you were born?"
Her face blanched under his eyes.
The sight pleased him, suggesting as
it did weakness and fear that would
give him back his old ascendency. Hor-
ror invaded her. He, of all people on
earth, to know, She could say nothing;
could hardly think; only seemed a
thing Of ears to hear.
Hear who my father wasi" she re-
peated. this time almost in a whisper.
Yes: 1 can tell you all that. and
more. too. I've got e wonderfully in
teresting story for you. You'll not
want to go when I begin. Sit down
What do you know? Tell me quick
ly."
Don't be impatient It's a long
story. II begins on the Nevada desert.
That's where you were born; not in the
cabin in Eldorado County, as / heard
you telling Jake Shackleton that day
at Mrs. Willers'."
He was watching her Xix, 4 tiger,
still standing with his back against the
door. Her eyes were on him, wild and
intent Each word fell like a drop of
vitriol on her brain. She saw that he
knew everything.
Your mother was Lucy Fraser, but
your father was not Dan Moreau. He
was very different man, and you were
his eldest child, his eldest and only le-
climate child. Do you know what his
name WASP"
Yes" said Mariposa, in low voice;
Jake Shackleton."
It was Essex's turn to be amazed.
He stared at her, speeches., COM
pletely staggered.
You know it," he cried, starting
forward toward her: you know it =
ssWae -ba opexrava5. ssT l-you- -
He stood glsring. trying to collect his
senses and grasp in one whirling mo-
ment what difference her knowledge
would make to him.
"How-how-did you know it?" he
stammered.
That's not Of any consequence. L
know that I am Jake ShackIeton's cid
est living child; that my mother was
married twice: that / was born in the
desert instead OF in Eldorado County.
1 know it ALL And what is there so odd
about that?" She threw her head up
and looked with battling coldness into
his eyes. why shouldn't 1 know my
own parentage and birthplace?"
"And-and-" he continued to speak
with eager steadiness-"you've done
nothing yet?"
Done nothing yet" she repeated;
what should ! do?"
That's all right" he said hastily, evil
IDENTIFY relieved: you couldn't do any
thing alone. There must be some one
TO help you"
Help me do what?"
Both had forgotten the quarrel, the
locked door, the fever pitch OF ten min
utes earlier. All other thoughts had
been crowded out Of Mariposa's mind
by the horrible discovery Of Essex's
knowledge, and by the apprehensions
that were cold in her heart. She
shrank from him more than ever, but
had no desire now to leave the room.
Instead. she persisted in her remark:
Help me do hat? don't know
what you mean"
Help you in establishing your claim.
And fate has put into my hands the
very person, the one person who can do
that. You know there was a man who
was in the cabin with Moreau-a part
ner. Did you ever hear Of him?"
She nodded, swallowing dryly. Her