The San Francisco call., 1909-08-08

but she had heard that we were look
ing, and she did me the favor''-Clara
smiled little dryly-"of telling me
first"
Flora looked reflective "I've never
seen it. but they say it's beautiful"
1T is, in way" Clara grudgingly
admitted, ''but 1t isn't new; and the
ridiculous part is that she will let it
only ON condition that 1t shall not be
done over. 1t is in sufficiently good
shape, but it stands now just as Colo
mel Herrick furnished it 40 years
ago"
why, 1 should love that" Flora
frankly confessed, and gave wistful
glance at the walls around her, Won
dering how long before the soft, dark
bloom of time, Of use and wont, should
descend on their crude faces.
Well" Clara conceded, "at any rate
we know it's genuine. and that's
consolation. The number of limitations
going about and the way people pick
them up is appalling! While was
yesterday Ella Butler came In and
bought three imitation Bokharas with
the greatest enthusiasm. She buys
quantities, and she's always taken In
1t is enough to make one nervous
about the people one sits next to at
dinner there. One can not help sus-
pecting them of being some OF Elias
bargains. 1 wonder, now, where she
picked up that Kerr
This finale failed to take Flora on
her guard.
"At any rate, he is odd enough to be
genuine" she said with CLEAN OF
malice.
"oh, no doubt of that" Clara mildly
assented; but genuine what?"
why, gentleman at large, SAID
Flora, and quickly wanted to recall 1t,
double significance. Il mean, she add
ed "just one of those chronic travellers
who have nothing else to do and whose
way must be paved with letters OF In
PRODUCTION" she fioundered. AT least
that was the idea he gave of himself"
She broke off, doubly angry that she
had tried to explain Kerr. and tried to
explain herself. when the circumstances
required nothing OF the sort. She was
sure Clara had not missed her nervous
ness, though Clara made no sign Her
eyes only travelled a second time to
Flora's hands, as If among the flare of
red and white Jewels she was expecting
to see another color. To Flora's pal
pitating consciousness this look made
perfect connection with Clara's next
remark.
AT least his manners are odd enough
There was minute last night when
he was really quite startling
Flora felt a small warm spot Of color
increasing in the middle of each cheek.
She drew a long breath. as If to draw
in courage. Then Clara had really seen!
That smooth, blindish look of hers last
night had seen everything! And here
she was owning up to it and affably Of
fering herself as a conf1dante; and for
what reason under the suns unless to
find out what it was that had so startled
Kerr? Flora felt like crying out IF
you only knew what that thing may
be you would never want to come near
er to it,
'I am afraid he annoyed you, Flora"
The girl looked into the kindly solicit
tude of Clara's face with hard. almost
passionate credulity. Was that really
all Clara had supposed?
These continentals," she went on,
now lightly swaying to and fro In her
chair, "have singular notions of Ameri
can women. They take us for savages.
my DEAR"
"Then. isn't it for us to show them
them that we are more than usually
civilized? I can't run away from him
like frightened little native"
"Of course not; but that is where
come in; it's what I'm for-to get rid of
IL,
smile made Flora feel more than ever
the immature barbarian of her simile
Clara sat throwing the protection of
her superior knowledge and capability
around her like missionary garment; /;
but Flora could have laughed with re-
lief. Then Clara merely supposed Kerr
had been impertinent. Her little in
vasion had been really nothing but
pure kindness and protection; and
Last night she had thought herself so
absolutely alone; and here was friend
coming forward again, and stepping
between her and the thing above all
others she was helpless about-the real
world.
Clara had risen, and stood consider
ing moment with that same sweet.
impersonal eye which Flora found 1t
hardest to comprehend.
What mean,'' she explicitly stated
"is that If he should undertake to carry
out his preposterous suggestion and
call this afternoon. I am quite ready.
If you wish, to take him off your
hands"
This last took Flora's breath away
1t had not occurred to her that Clara
had overheard. 1t shocked her, fright
ened her; and yet Clara's way of stat
ing the fact as if it were the most
feel that she herself was in the wrong
to feel thus For, after all, Clara had
been most tactfu1, most considerate and
delicate in conveying her knowledge
not limiting that Flora could have been
in the slightest degree responsible for
Kerr's behavior; but sweetly taking 1t
for granted that they, of course, were
banded together to exclude this out
lander Under her sense of obliga-
tion, and what she felt ought to be
gratitude, Flora foundered for words
You're very kind" she managed to
get out; and that seemed to leave her
committed to hand Kerr over, tied hand
and foot, when she wasn't at all sure
she wanted to.
.Then shall tell Mrs. Herrick that
you will consider the house?" said
Clara, already in the act of departure
"She is to call today to go into it with
me more thoroughly. Thus far we've
only played about the edges"
Her eyes strayed toward the dress
ing table as she passed It, and as she