The San Francisco call., 1905-01-15
OF LORIS
By Martha McCull0ch Williams.

games of chess required to put the
elder lady in proper state for sleep.
She also, as in duty bound, exclaimed
over the Helstone diamonds when Miss
Marcia exhibited them. But it took
her aback to have Miss Marcia say
abruptly after month of all this: "If
John mnrries to please me his wife
will be fortunate. If he does not,
everything goes to charity. If it should
go wonder would you be sorry for
him."
1t would depend" Loris said, flush
ing family. Very sorry-unless he
got something he cared more about"
"H-m! 1 fancy you think he cares
more for-you," Miss Marcia said
pointedly He thinks so. too-that is
why you are here. / brought you to
let you see that you don't fit in.
You would only make him miserable
even more miserable than you
would make me. / hope you are SEN
sible enough to see what is best.
will give you $4,000 the day you
marry-some other man than my
nephew, DR.. Hickson, say-I'm sure
he is wild about you. Marry him be-
fore John comes home"
THANK you for nothing. I don't
want either your money or your
nephew" Loris said haughtily, her
face scarlet. She turned to 60, with q
gesture or farewell.
Miss Marcia stopped her by saying
fretfully: You must not think OF
leaving-see how II storms outside
the worst March sleet 1 ever saw. And
if you really don't want John there is
no reason why we should not be good
friends. Stay with me. VIII make It
worth your while"
You cannot" Loris said, running
up to her own room. there to rage and
chafe until she went punctiliously
down to dinner. There was no get
ing home until the weather changed.
The walks were glare ice; the paths
drifted. She was prisoner until morn
ing at least; as prisoner Il behooved
her to show herself brave. Therefore,
instead of sulking through dinner shc
was gayer than she had ever been, and
after it sang of her own notion the old.
old ballads Miss Marcia loved. The
bravery appealed to Miss Marcia wcn-
derfully.
But after her clear Good night"
Loris did not sleep. Instead she lay
with her head locked in her hands.
quivering in every fiber.
Had she liberty to come between
John Helstone and this fine inheri-
tancs? She knew the old story-the
feud begun in troth plight and troth-
breaking. She loved John-oh, how
dearly-but could she really make up
to him for what he would lose? Miss
Marcia's case, too, appealed to her
strangely-she was old and lonely.
Then under this soft mood there crept
a fiery one. John was her lover-hers
Miss Marcia had shamed and insult
ed her. 1t would be q darling ven-
geance to smile at her and say: Let
the money so in charity, Aunt Marcia;
we can take care of ourselves"
LOris began suddenly to stife. She
sprang UP and started to window,
but could not open it, Gasping, she
flew to the door. opened 1t and saw
flame and smoke below. All the big
hall was like a furnace, with the SER
wants asleep in the south wing, and
Miss Marcia snoring and unconscious
across the corridor
In minute Loris had her door
open and shut, and was dragging her
from bed toward the east window.
1t gave on a piazza roof, whence
escape might be possible. Loris saw
instantly it was easily possible to her
with strength, yet Miss Marcia moaned
and prayed and hid her eyes. Like
lightning Loris thought of what the
elder woman meant to her own fu-
ture. If she were out of the way?
With sudden hatred of self and super
human strength she clutched and
tugged and strained, and at last got
Miss Marcia on the roof. Then Loris
dropped down and called to men run
ming wildly about: "a ladder! A lad
der! Save Miss Helstone." And then
she sat down, suddenly faint. while
strong and willing arms completed the
work of rescue.
Miss Marcia never did things half
way. AS soon as she could sit up she
caught Loris' hand, saying through
tears: Forgive me! Oh. do forgive
mel I had insulted you, but you didn't
leave me to burn alive! You-you are
the wife for John"
Il have thought so all the time
said Loris. hiding her happy face in
Miss Marcia's- breast.
Copyright, 1904, by Martha McCulloch
Wilhams.)