The San Francisco call., 1905-02-21
The RuDdWdy:.
BY lZOLA FORESTER.

Shall I tell him you are here?"
mo. I want to surprise him. You
stay right here. Billy. I'll answer
that
Inc man In the private room did not
turn at the opening of the door,
Call up Judd and Holmes, Caxton.
Iel Judd I'm not in town. You don't
know anything about the M. K. stock
If he asks you.'
Eleanor walked quickly over to the
desk and folded her arms around his
neck and laid her cheek to his.
Hello, papa she said softly.
Macdonald jumped from his chair,
She felt her first shock of shyness as
he faced her. He certainly was not
glad to see her. In fact, he looked be-
yond her at the door, with anything
but pleasurable expectancy.
Where's your mother?''
In London, with old Lady Deigh-
ton"
His brow cleared, and he looked at
his daughter with more attention. 1t
was three years since he had seen
either her or her mother. He had
never denied to himself that their de-
parture had been a relief. While there
had been no trouble, as the world
views domestic trouble, there had GER
tainly been incompatibility of temper
in large doses, and Mrs. MacDonalds 8
sudden decision that Eleanor needed
Continental finish had been most
welcome peg on which to hang the
argument. The one great shock of
Eleanor's temperance had been the
fear of the arguments immediate dis
lodgment from it's peaceful peg of
neutrality.
Eleanor gripped her gloves tightly.
If only he would look a little pleasant.
She plunged ahead recklessly.
Il didn't come over alone, papa.
brought Fanny with me. Mamma
doesn't know that I'm here. Oh,
please don't. Not Just yet" as her
father looked UP to speak please
wait till 1 tell you. / know 1T was a
terrible thing, but it was all I could
do. Mamma had even set the day of
the wedding, and I hadn't accepted
him yet
Accepted who?,'
'Why, you know, Deighton.
Mammals little Lord Deighton."
Macdonald shook his head in dis
sent.
Your mother has not seen fit to
keep me posted on current events in
Europe" he said.
I'VE met him last winter in Lon
don,'' Eleanor went on. Mamma
simply grabbed at him. He was
brand new, and had only just come
into the title. And mamma told him
all about us, or at least she told old
Lady Leighton, his mother, and how
you were good for a couple Of million
anyway, and they fixed it up. So you
see there wasn't anything for me to
do but run away.
Macdonald did not speak for an in
slant. He wanted to laugh. If = had
been possible, he would have enjoyed
parting with small portion of that
couple of million he was good for to
have seen Mrs. MacDonald's express
sive face when she found her plans
had gone astray. AS for the girl. he
regarded her with new sense of
helplessness. He had never been an
expert at dealing with the intricacies
and eccentricities of the feminine
character.
Papa. 1 saw Billy Caxton out in
the office. What is he doing here ?"
"Caxton went under. Bills earning
a living at present. | wouldn't rattle
him if I were you. He needs a level
head for few years.
"And you are helping him?" Her
voice was eager.
"He doesn't need much help; only
a chance. The boy will land on his
feet. Caxton died.
"Oh!" Eleanor drew in her breath
sharply. They had been in trouble,
and she had not known it. Billy
might have written. He had never
written to her at all. Suddenly the
remembrance of the look in his eyes
returned to her. He thought it would
make a difference to her. She gath
cred her courage to the point of ac-
ton.
Papa, think you ought to know
I don't know whether you do or not.
Perhaps you do, and that's why you're
good to Billy She came over to his
chair and perched herself on it's arm
as she used to Go three years before.
II like Billy and l know he cares for
me. He told me so three years ago.
I promised him then there would
never be any one else. That's why I