The San Francisco call., 1909-08-22
CHAPTER xIv-Continued

the nigh bed, with the tins OF her
little shoes hardly touching the
hoor looked at Ella fascinated
her lips little apart Ella had 50 ex-
actly pronounced her own score.
thought Of Clara. She was brea+hlo..
% kn0" what had been Clara's per-
iormanee at the Bullers'.
ot course I've always known she
was Ike that" said Ella. leaning hack
IN her chair with an air Of resignation
shes always getting something 1t,s
awful. It was the same even when nc
were at boarding school I suppose
she never did have enough money
though her people were awfuIlv n,ce.
but she worked us all for Invitations
and rides in our carriages. and re-
member she got lots through lana
Lewis elder brother and he tbouebt
she was going to marry him. but she
didn't. She married Lulu Rrittor,.
rather, and I guess she worked b,-,
until he went under and they found
there really was no money So She.
been living on people ever since" Ella
rocked gloomily.
But she does II so nicely" Flora
suggested. She stiu had the feeling
that Il was not decent to own mn -
thess most secret facts OF peoples fall
ings
on, yes. she's a perfect wond.r +"
Ella admitted grudgingIy; look AZ
what she's done for your Elias ze.-
uouiation was eloquent OF how much
mat had been. but don't you imax-
Inc she cares about you any more thar
Sne cares about mel" Ella began 70
cry sgain You were an awfuny good
thing for her, Flora, and now that
you're going to be married she's got 70
have something else. But I do tbinl,
she might have taken somebody b.-
sides papa"
Flora gasped ~rskenr Ella. wha.
20 you meanr'
mean married" said Ella
Married." For the time Flora
had become a helpless echo.
"oh. not yet" Ella dehantIy nodded.
Not while there's anything left Of
me-
Flora stammered. "oh. Ella, no. Oh.
Ella, are you sure?" She felt a hys-
terical impulse to giggle.
''Sure7" Miss Butler cried. 'T should
think sol Why. she's simply making
9 dead set for him"
This denouement, this climax to her
somber expectations. struck Flora as
something wildly and indecently ride
ulous. why, but it's impossibIe!" she
protested, and began helplessly to
laugh.
Well, I'd like TO know why7' Ella
snapped. I'm sure papa is twice as
rich as old Britton was and twice as
easy" She went of into sobs behind
her handkerchief.
oh don't. Ella, don't crym Flora
begged, patting the large expanse Of
heaVing shoulders. Il didn't mean
anything. I was Just silly. of course
ii may be that she wants to marry him.
But she never has before-at least. I
mean, don't believe she wants to now.
What makes you think she does? What
has she done2"
Wen Ella burst out. why is she
coming here all the time, when she
never used 10, and petting papa? Why
does she bother to be so agreeable to
me- when she never was before? Why
does she make me ask her to dinner
when I don't want to?"
Each question knocked on Flora's
brain to the accompaniment Of Elias
furious rocking. She could not answer
them. and Elias explanation, absurd as
II was. coming on top of her high eX-
pectations, wasn't impossible. 1t was
ike Clara TO have more than one iron
in the fire; but when Flora remembered
the passionate intentness with which
room, she couldn't believe that Clara
would pause in the midst Of such pur-
suit to pounce on Judge Butler.
"Oh, Ella" Flora sympathetically
urged. I don't believe there's really
any danger. And surely, even II she
meant it, Judge Butler wouldn't be-
oh yes, he would" Ella cut her
short. why, when she came yester-
day he was just going out. and she
went for him and made him stop
70 tea Think OF it-papa stop
ping to tea, And he was as pleased
as Punch 20 have her make up to
him. He hasn't the least idea of
what she's after. Papa isn't used 10
ladies. He's always just lived with me-"
This astonishing statement looking at
Flora through Elias unsuspecting eyes
had nevertheless a pathos Of fits own
II conjured UP a long vista OF har-
monious existence which the two, the
daughter and the 1ather, mad made out
OF their mutual simplicity and their
mutual gusto for the material comforts
which came comfortably.
But I'll tell you one thing" Ella
ended, still rocking vigorously; "if she
comes here tonight to dinner when she
knows ] don't want her shall tell her
what think OF her, before she leaves
this house, See If I don't"
Don't do that, Ella" Flora entreated
that would be awful" She was certain
that such an interview would only end
IN Clara's making Ella more ridiculous
than she was ALREADY. Let me speak
20 her. I don't mind at ALL" she de-
clared bravely, and in a manner truly,
though she was fully aware that speak
ing to Clara would be anything but a
treat
~Oh, would you7" said Ella eagerly.
aT really would be awfully obliged. I
hated TO ask you. Flora, but I thought
perhaps you might be able TOTO, well,
perhaps be able to do something" she
ended vaguely. DO you think you
could2"
"Iu speak to Clara tonight" said
Flora heroicaIly. "or tomorrow she