Los Angeles herald., 1909-03-07

She resumed her seat in the window with her palm
leaf fan and promptly dismissed the subject of Mr..
Elton from her mind. She quite sincere in the
opinion she had expressed to her sister, and she
even amused at Mrs Hewletts speculations eff
was to tell Minnie that, wouldn't she be mad she
thought
Presently she heard Minnie and the old
in from the garden and soon after the three young
from the mill came in awkwardly and took their
places at the table, their hair damp from brush
ing and their faces shiny from conscientious ablutions.
They shot occasional awed glance at Minnie they
ate, but they addressed her. In fact, she
barrassed them terribly much in the way affable
angel might an humble family by suddenly appearing
at their board and by his very radiance confirming the
unreasonable distance between himself and them.
Minnie and her mother sat at the end of the table
with Mrs Hewlett. Besides Mrs Hewlett was Elton's
empty chair "He must be working late tonight.
It's funny what's keeping him." she complained to
Mrs Deming and Minnie. II never knew him to be
as late as this"
"Oh, guess he'll be along presently" said Mrs.
Deming.
Minnie offered neither consolation nor comment
She went on steadily with her supper, though she
aware of certain anxious bewilderment that
prised her. at does strange, and last night
here, too' she told herself in excuse of it
on the narrow porch at the front of the house The
old had had his supper at the kitchen table and
had out here with his pipe. The girl sat beside
him and he admired the touch of crimson her throat
"Guess the gardenl miss tomorrow, he ventured.
She smiled absenty at HMM truth she was occu-
pied in endeavoring to explain her own unwonted
emotions concerning Elton, and she annoyed with
herself to find it necessary.
She had no idea that she had become interested in
he 1l,ed kind;nese HE
strength his evident desire to please her. They had
become good comrades in the little while she had
known him, but nothing of sentimental nature had
ever occurred between them, of the slightest,
even though for the last week she had been subtly
aware of a vague intangible undercurrent in their
companionship that fascinated while it startled her.
When they had parted the night before, his hand
clasp the last look he had given her, seemed to con-
vey more than friendlness, and despite herself
her heart had leaped to answer it.
well | must have been mistaken" she told herself
mercilessly. "Mr. Elton was good to me and took
me around just he would have taken any other
girl that happened to be here. I've been fool to
think anything about him at all, to fatter myself
that he would rush home tonight because he wanted
to be with me. He probably don't know or care
whether we're going home tomorrow not, and it
serves me right shn't think of him again, ID live
to be a hundred"
One of the tabe-b who lodged in the next
his own steps with banjo and without warning
burst into melody Mrs Hewlett and Mrs. Deming
from behind the mosqutonettings in the little Parlor
stopped the swaying of their rocking chairs to listen
Presidenty Mrs. Hewlett appeared at the door
ed" she said to the young man, Jim Elton hasn't
come in yet-there's nothing wrong at the works, is
there?"
his interrupted melody.
sudden thought made the girl start to her feet
with the very hideousness of ii.
No there was nothing wrong at the works; Jim
Elton staying away purposely! No doubt she
had shown too plainly her Joy at his attentions and
had (horrble thoughtD pursued him. This prear-
ranged absence simply to give her vanity lesson.
For moment she WINGED with humiliation; then
she took hold of her fine courage with both hands,
though the idea with every moments passing seemed
to grow probable. I've had about enough OF
this nonsense" she told herself HE can come or
stay he likes-its nothing to me, one way or the
other"
She went into the paror in few minutes with her
head S h N I'M GO up sn go to P SsdS
have to start early for the eight-o clock tran you
know"
Mrs. Deming came painting up the stairs and sat
heavily on the side of the bed her daughter packed
In the lands name don't work so hard!" she said
finally. You're going at that trunk as though you
hated -real vicousW
The girl flushed holly; then she laughed Perhaps
"Well there'll be one person here that's going to
miss YOU if I know it," resumed her mother and
that's Father Hewlett It's tickled him to death to
have you fussng around those flowers of his though
you'd never one before. I'm don't seem to have
much sympathy with him"
Sympathy" her daughter repeated. "If you ask
me- mother, l think she's downright to him.
poor old mani l only wish he coming home with
us"
Suddenly her face worked and she burst into stormy
tears above the skirt she was folding. She's down
right mean to him !" she sobbed passionately.
"Why what on earth is the matter with you" said
Mrs Deming She drew Minnie close in her motherly
arms-half- anxious amused why the idea of
taking on so about Father Hewlett! En- looks after
him as though he baby. You needn't worry
that he isn't comfortable Why the idea!
Her daughter averted her face.
81 guess this heat has made you I'll be
glad when we're home,' said Mrs. Dening
For some time after she in bed Minnie heard
the young man with the banjo singing tuneessly to
himself Presently she heard him go in and shut the
door
Early it when her mother and herself came
down the next morning. the young from the mill
had eaten and gone their way