The San Francisco call., 1909-07-25
CHAPTER III-continued

women being driven away, and then at
Flora Very good" he said. raising
her parasol; you are the deposed heir,
and ] am your faithful servant"
But indeed I do want TO walk" she
protested. a little shy at the way he
read her case
But you didn't th.nk Of tt until she
gave you the suggestion. eh2' he
Quizzed
she probably sad something to say
to Mrs. Pu-die that
MY dear child he caught her up
earnestly, cont think I'm criticising
your friends motive. am only saying
I saw something done that was not
pretty. though really. II you viii for
give me-it was very funny"
Flora smiled ruefully. 1T must have
been-absurd. I am afraid I often am.
But what else could I have doneY'N
He seemed 70 ponder a moment 'T
fancy you couldn't have Aone anything
different That's why came back for
you, ,''~ he volunteered gayly.-
The casual words seemed in her ears
fraught with deeper meaning. Her
cheeks were hot behind their thin veil.
They were strolnng slowly up the
board walk. and for g moment she
could not look at him. She could only
listen 10 the futter OF the fringes OF
the parasoI carried above her head.
She felt herself small and stupid. She
could not understand what he could
see IN her 10 come back TO. Then she
gave q side glance at him. She saw
an unsmiling profile. The lines in his
face were indeed extraordinary. but
none was hard. She liked that Won
derful mobility that had survived the
gatherings OF experience
AS II he were conscious Of her eyes.
he looked down and smiled: but
vaguely He did not speak; and
she was aware that il was at
her appearance he had smiled. as
Il that only reached him through
his preoccupauon and pleased him.
And since he seemed content with this
vague looking, she was content TO move
beside him silent, a mere image of
youth and-since he liked ft-of pretti-
ness with q heeting color and a gust
Of little curls blowing out under lut-
tering veil
But what was he thinking about so
seriously between those smiling
Elanoes2 Not her problem. she was
sure.
Yet he had stayed for her when he
had not meant to stay He had been
anxious TO get away since he had first
sighted them. Surely he must ike her
more than he disliked some other mem
ber OF her party Or had he simply
reached forth out Of his kindness to
rescue her. as he might have rescued
a blind kitten that he pitied? No" he
had said, you could not have done
anything different
They had almost reached the majors
gate. and IL was now or never to find
out what he thought Of her. She
looked UP at him suddenly with inquir
ing eyes.
DO you think am weak?" she de-
nanded.
The lines Of his face broke UP into
laughter. No he said. I think you
are misplaced"
She knitted her brows in perpleuty,
but his hand was on the white picket
gate. and she had TO walk through it
ahead Of him as he set il open for her.
OF their party only the two women
were in sight waiting on the diminu-
tive veranda- Clara had q mild domes-
tic appearance. rocking there behind
the potted geraniums All the windows
were open into the little shell OF q
house Trunks still stood in the hall,
though the Purdies had been quartered
at the Preside for nine months. From
the rear OF the house came the sound
OF bowl and chopper. where the Chinese
cook was preparing luncheon, and the
majors man appeared, walking around
the garden 10 the veranda, with a clus-
ter OF mint juleps on q copper tray.
In this easy atmosphere, how was it
that the thread OF restraint ran so
sharply defined? Clara and Mrs
Purdie were matching crewels; and.
sitting on the top step. Flora instructed
Kerr as TO the composition of the
tropical glacier they were drinking.
Ten girls had probably so instructed
him before. but 1t would do to I'LL up
the gap. II was 50. Flora thought
they were all feeling. Even the car
riage. driving slowly round and round
the rectangle OF officers row. added its
note Of restlessness.
Like a stone pumped into q pool
the major and Harry re-entered this
stagnation. They were brisk and
buoyant Harry. especially. had the
air OF man who sees stimulating
business before him. Immediately all
talked at once
Vow that we've got you here. you
must ali stay to luncheon" Mrs. Pur-
ole determined
It looked as If they were about to
accept her Invitation unanimously. but
Harry demurred. he had to be at
Montgomery street and Jackson by I