The San Francisco call., 1904-10-09
CHAPTER III.
The Bostonians.

round, delivered David Kent's asking
at the house in the Back Bay sub-dts-
trict Elinor was busy packing for the
migration, but she left Penelope and
the maid to cope with the problem of
compressing two trunkfuls into one
while she read the letter. and she was
reading 1t a second time when Mr..
Brookes Ormsby's card came up.
You go, Penelope" she begged.
There Is so much to do"
Not l." said the younger sister.
cavalierly; "he didn't come to see me.
WhereupOn Elmer smOothed the two
small wrinkles of impatience out Of her
brow, tucked her letter into her bosom.
and went down. to meet the early morn
ing caller.
Mr.. Brookes Ormsby. clubman. gen
tleman OF athletic leisure and inheritor
OF the Ormsby millions, was pacing
back and forth before the handful OF
fire in the drawing room crate when
she entered.
You don't deserve to have collie
sheep dog friend" he protested re-
proachfully. How was 10 know that
you were going away?"
Another time ElinOr might have felt
that she owed him an explanation, but
just now she was careful, and troubled
about the packing
How was 1 10 know you didn't
know?" she retorted. 1T was In the
Transcript"
Well" said Ormsby. Things have
come to a pretty pass when i have to
keep track of you through the sOceity
column. 1 didn't see the paper. Dyck-
man brought me word last night at
Vineyard Haven and we broke a pro-
peller blade on the Amphitrite trying
to get here in time"
II am so sorry-for the Amphitrite."
she said. But you are here and in
good season Shall call mother and
Nell7'
mo. ran out to see If I'm in time
to do your errands for you-take your
tickets, and so on"
"Oh. we shouldn't think OF troubling
you. James can do all those things
And falling James. there is very de-
pendable young woman at the head OF
this household. Haven't I personally
conducted the family all over
Europe?"
James is a base hireling." said the
caller, blandly. And as for the cap
able young woman: do I or do I not
recollect dark night on the German
frontier when she was glad enough TO
call on a sleepy fellow pilgrim 10 help
her wrestle with particularly thick
headed customs Officer?"
IF you do. il is not especially kind
OF you to remind her of it,"
He looked up quickly. and the mas
teTful soul of the man, for which the
clean-cut, square-set jaw and the ath-
letic figure were the outward present
ments, put on a mask Of Difference and
humility.
You are hard with me. Elinor-al-
ways fiinty and adamantine. and that
sort. Have You no soft side at ALP
She laughed.
"The sentimental young woman went
out some time ago. didn't she? One
can't be an auachronism."
IT suppose not. Yet I'm always try
ing TO make myself believe other things
about you: Don't you like to be cared
for like other wCmen?"
II don't know; sometimes I think I
should. But / have had to be the man
of the house since father died"
'I know" he said. and IL Is the
petty anxieties that have made you
put the woman to the wall I'm here
this morning TO save you some OF
them: to take the mans part in your
outsetting, or as much Of II as I can.
When are you going to give me the
right to come between you and all the
| little worries, EhnOr."
She turned from him with a faint
gesture of cold impatience.
You are forgetting your promise"
she said quite dispassiOnately. I'VE
were 10 be friends; as good friends as
we were before that evening at. Bar
HarbOr. i told you 1t would be i'm
possible, and you said you were strong
enough to make it possible"
He looked at her with narrowing
eyes.
TT is possible in a way. But I'd
it is that ] haven't been able to open"
She ignored the pleading and took
refuge in a womans expedient.
IF you insist on going back to the
beginnings, I shall go back. also-tO
Abigail and the trunk-packing"
He planted himself squarely before
her, the mask lifted and the masterful
soul asserting itself boldly.
1T wouldn't do any good, you know.
1 am going with YOU"
'HTo Abigai1 and the tr11ntxroonn 80
'Oh. no; to the jumping-off place
out West-wherever il Is you are going
to hibernate"
mo" she said decisively; you must
not"
; ''Why?'
: My saying so ought to be sufficient
reason"
; 1T isn't" he contended. frowning
: down on her goodnaturedly. Shall I
tell you why you don't want me to go?
l 1t is because you are afraid"
'I am not" she denied.
Eyes, you are. You know in your
own heart there is no reason why you
} should continue to make me unhappy.
and you are afraid I might over-per-
suade you"
Her eyes-they were the serene eyes
of cool gray that take on slate-b blue
: tints in stressful moments-met his
! dehantly.
/ 'Tf you think that. withdraw nv
objection" she said coldly. Mother
and Penelope will be delighted, 1 am
: sure"
And you will be bored, world with
out end" he laughed. Never mind:
) I'll be decent about II and keep out Of
your way as much as you like"
Again she made the little gesture Of
petulant imDatience
You are continually placing ne in
a false position Can't you leave me
; cut of il entirely?"
It is one OF the prime reauisites OF
successful mastershiD TO know wnen
TO press the point home. and whcr 10
recede gracefully. Ormsby abruptly
shut the door upon sentiment and
came down 20 things practical
1T is your everyday comfort that
concerns me chiefly. I am going 20
take All three of you in charge giving
the dependable young person a we'll