The San Francisco call., 1906-05-27

herself to be perched on hisz knee.
You went so fast ] had TO run" she
faltered as if that was the only reason
her breath came and went so quickly. I
But you see didn't know you were
there" he pleaded 81 should certainly
have waited for you"
She smiled. and examined him covertly !
under her eyelashes Yes, he was just as
delightful as she thought he was.
Are you C. w" she asked.
Il suppose so,p he answered chose are |
ny initials"
claimed triumphantly and they thought /
they were fooling me- She frowned.
But who is the sagebrush Parson7'
81 suppose I'm that, too" He had
heard of Haverford's name for him
Now she was silent, troubled. looking
the other way.
Why. isn't the Sage Brush Parson' as
good as C. V'?" he inquired
No" she said, sorrowfully And /
don't see how you can be both. You're /
not" she declared suddenly; you said |
that TO tease me-
Her curious eyes roved about the room |
DO you live here?" was the next oues-
ton. Then the catechism went on without
break Where did he sleep? Where did /
he eat, and what7 Did he like this and !
that2 At last she yawned prodigiously I
for such a delicate creature and let her 1
head sink to his shoulder. long sigh /
trembled through her parted lips Her I
eyes closed
This is nice she whispered relaxing
her hold on the black kitten which never |
Uheless made no effort to escape but /
tucked its forepaws in and purred Justify. |
Very nice" said Clement. laying one |
hand on the kitten and the other on the
child's soft hair. Soon both were asleep. /
= Meanwhile, there was great hue-and- /
cry on Richmond Fiji. Nora had come /
home with the empty tricycle., confessine
That she had no idea of its owners where
abouts. The various members Of the fam
ly departed in as many different drec- |
tons 20 search for the runaway. Kath- /
arine, for reasons best known to herself. |
went straight 70 the church. The after
noon shadows, which come so early to /
the canyon, we're already lengthenng. but |
the small brick ed,fce. because of its /
position on the hill, was still in the light |
The door stood open. She looked in. |
caught the glow of the red carpet noted |
the informal arrangement of the chairs. /
1t was certainly a homelike little place. /
but very unchurchly. Her Ep.scopalian
soul revolted as Elsie's had at the /
whstling
There was not sound. yet she felt
quite sure the child was there Wi1yz- /
she asked herself Katharine had a way
Of asking herself questions: usually she
compelled herself TO answer them
She advanced slowly down the aisle, /
which was in ire with the inner room.
Yes. there they were. the man, the child |
end-actgaily. the kitten,
She was conscious Of a strange little
sensation. disquieting, yet not altogether
unpleasant. as she spied the long brown /
hand resting on Elsie's curls.
HIS head dropped OF what was he
thinking?
He did not gee her until she stood in the
n h.
have been wood-nymph, he told himself,
emerging from the oaken frame about her, I
in her cool. 7awny silks and wide flower
trimmed hat, with her pallor and her star
tied eyes.
He did not speak for an instant. But
Elsie had felt his sudden move. She sat
upright, flushed and embarrassed, and be-
gan to talk very fast She had been so
tired. she walked so far
But you ran away interrupted Katha-
rine with asperity. why did you do
that?'
Il wanted to ask C. W something" re-
piled Elsie with toss of her small head.
'What?" cried her mother. It was her
turn to become embarrassed. Redder than
her roses she grew
Elsie saw her advantage and pressed IT,
He is C V.'-he says So" she contin-
ued. and he says-oh, there goes the
kitty / borrowed of Mary Flynn
over the red carpet she darted like a
pun OF thistledown in high wind Kath-
arine and Clement followed in hot pursuit.
They caught her, as she caught the kit
ten, halfway down the steps.
Both her hands were occupied. Let me
take the cat" said Katharine, but Elsie
tucked the animal resolutely under her
chin again, saying She doesn't know you,
mamma, and" this by way of warding
off interference, 'kitties have fits, some
times"
Katharine glanced helplessly at
Vaughan. He laughed. "TIl get my hat
and walk up with you if you will permit I
me- he said sympatheticalIy.
II you viii be so kind she responded.
So the three went through the dingy
streets together. the man in his long coat.
which suited him. she decided, like the
habit of an order the woman in her
golden draperies, ripping and shining as
she walked like sunlit water over the
statue OF fountain, and the fairy child
now here, now there, before. behind them.
Like the shuttle in a web she wove them
together and gave them an excuse for be-
ing in each others company.
The rest OF the searching party had re-
turned and were gathered in a group in
front Of the house when they reached it.
It's the parson TO the rescue again.
said Winslow, his lip twitching
so il seems" replied Arthur.
'Of all things murmured Mabel who
seemed to read unutterable meanings in
the approach Of the three.
Where do you think the child has
been?" demanded Miss Emnleine of every
one in general. and no one IL particular !.
answered her.
Come up and meet my friends" urged
Katharine. "Dine with US, do. Ny brother
wishes TO meet you; he said so. And the
rest are all friends; you would like them.
Please do"
Why should he not accept? The super
intendent had limited TO him, not too sub
tly, that these were the people whom it
was especially desirable that the new
preacher should meet and attract What /
better opportunity could be offered?
He yielded, not altogether against his
will, and Katharine led him triumphantly
up TO the group. They received him DO
liteiy, kindly, as become the well-bred. but
with covert spirit of inquiry which at
once put him on his mettle He would
show them of what STUFF he was madei He
talked in their language, told stories,
from their point of view, put on their |.
armor, fought their battle, touched Haver-j
ford where he was most sensitive, showed
how dull Winsiow could be- fattered Ma
.-t,o n lFre-- Il