The San Francisco call., 1904-03-27
CHAPTER XVII.
FRIEND AND BROTHER.

FRIEND AND BROTHER.
Wisdom is good with an inheritance. and
by it there Is profit to them that see the SUM-"
-Ecclesisstes.
Mariposa's SIS a month had been aug
mented to $2S by the accession of three
new pupils. These had been acquired
through Isaac Pierpont, who was glad
to find a cheap teacher for his poten-
tiaI prina donnas, who were frequently
lacking in the simplest knowledge of
instrumental music.
Mariposa was impressed and hattered
by her extended clientele, and at first
felt some embarrassment in finding
that one Of the pupils was a woman ten
years older than herself The worry
she had felt on the score Of her living
was now at rest, for Pierpont had
promised her his continued aid, and her
new scholars professed themselves
much pleased with her efforts.
Her monthly earnings were sufficient
to cover her exceedingly modest living
expenses. The remnants of her fortune
the few dollars left after her moth
er's funeral and the money realized by
the sale Of the jewelry and furniture
that were the last relics of their beaux
jours-made up the amount of $500.
This was In the bank. In the little desk
that stood on table in her room was
the $500 in gold Shackleton had sent
her. She had not touched 1t and never
intended to, seeming to repudiate its
possession by keeping it thus secret
and apart from her other store.
The time was wearing on toward mid
December. Christmas was beginning to
figure in the conversation Of Miguel
and Benito, and with an eye to its ap-
proach they had both Joined Sunday
school, to which they piously repaired
every Sabbath morn. They had intro
duced the question of presents in their
conversations with Mariposa with such
smiling persistence that she had finally
promised them that, on her first free
afternoon, she would go down town and
price certain articles they coveted. The
afternoon came within few days af-
ter her promise. one of her pupils send
ing her word that she was invited out
of town for the holidays, and her les
sons would cease till after New Years
The pricing had evidently been sat
isfactory, for. late in the afternoon,
Mariposa turned her face homeward,
her hands full of small packages. 1t
was one of the clear, hazeless days of
thin atmosphere, with an edge of cold
that are -cattered through the San
Francisco winter There is no frost in
the air, but the chill has a searching
quality which suggests winter, as does
the wild radiance of the sunset spread
over the west in a transparent wash of
red. The invigorating breath Of cold
made the young girls blood glow, and
she walked rapidly along Kearny
street, the exercise in the sharp air
causing a faint, unusual pink to tint
her cheeks. Her intention was to walk
to Clay street and then take the cable
car. which in those days slid slowly up
the long hills, past the Plaza and
through Chinatown.
She was near the Plaza, when a hail
behind her fell on her ears, and turning
she saw Barron close on her heels, his
hands also full of small packages. He
had been at the mines for two weeks,
and she could but notice the unaffected
giadness of his greeting. She felt glad,
too, a circumstance of which, for some
occult reason, she was ashamed, and
the shame and the gladness combined
lent reserved and yet conscious quail
ity to her smile and kindled a charm
ing embarrassment in her eye. They
stood by the curb, he looking at her
with g1ances of naive admiration, while
she looked down at her parcels. Pass
ers by noticed them, setting them down,
she in her humble dress, he in his un
metropolitan roughness Of aspect. as
couple from the country, rancher or
miner and his handsome sweetheart.
He took her parcels away from her,
and they started forward toward the
Plaza
do you hear me panting?" he said.
laying his free hand on his chest.
NO why should you pant?'
Because I've been running all down
Kearny street for blocks after you. 1
never knew any one to walk as fast in
my life 1 thought even If 1 didn't
catch you you'd hear me painting be-
hind you and think it was some new
kind Of fire engine and turn round and
look But you never wavered-simply
went on like a racer headed for the
goal. Did you walk so fast because you
knew / was behind you?"
She looked at him quickly with a side
glance of protest and met his eyes full
of quizzical humor and yet with
gleam Of something eager and earnest
in them.
IT like to walk fast in the cold air. 1t
makes me feel so alive For long
time I've felt as though 1 were half
dead, and you don't know how exhila-
rating 1t is to feel life come creeping
back. It's like being able to breathe
freely after you've been almost suffo-
Gated. But where did you see me on
Kearny street,"
the boys. 1 ws looking at a drum for
Benito, and just happened to glance
up, and there you were passing. l
, dropped the drum and ran"
"A drum for Benito! Oh, Mr.. Barron,
don't get Renito a drTrnio