Los Angeles herald., 1910-05-15
MAY is, 1910.

smile-and smile broadly, too, Mrs.
Mansfield. There's a Minneapolis chap
here that's buyin' right an left; just
slashin' things! He's bought a lot O.
water front property, too; an let me
tell you right now that Jim Hills be-
hind him; and Jim Hills the biggest
railroad man in the United States to-
day, an the Great Northern's behind
him"
well, 1 hope So" Mrs. Mansfield
drew long breath of delight. Mr.. Les
ter smiled, shrugged his shoulders,
spread out his hands and sauntered out
with the air of a man who has the ear
of railroad kings.
Are you goin' to the canoe races
tonight, Mariella?" began her mother,
in a conciliatory tone.
II don't know. / might as well, 1
guess"
The girl was wiping the shelf bottles
now; her face was pale, but her back
was to her mother.
We'll, we will have an early supper,
so you can get Off Mercy, child! Did
you break one o. them glass labels?
How often " l told you not to press
on 'em so hard! What one is it? The
tincture cantharides. Well tie string
around it so we'll know what it is.
There amt no label on the aconite bot
tie, nor the Jamaica ginger, either-an'
them settin' side by side, too. l hate
guessin' at things in a drug store
specially when ones poison. Have
you secured up them spatulas?"
"Yes'm.'
well, I'll go in an do up the dishes,
an leave you to tend store. Don't for
get to make Mr.. Benson's pills."
But Mr.. Benson's pills were not made
right away. When her mother was
gone Mariella got down from the step
ladder and leaned one elbow on the
showcase and rested her chin in her
hand. Her throat swelled in and out
fitfully, and the blue veins showed,
large and full, on her temples. For a
long time she stood thus, twisting the
towel in her other hand and looking at
the fires on the hill without seing them.
Some of their dry burning seemed to
get into her own eyes.
Mr.. Grover, passing, glanced in.
'Mariella," he said, putting one foot
across the threshold, "are you goin' to
the canoe races?"
The girl had darted erect instantly,
and put on look of coquettish indif
ference.
"Yes, 1 am" Her eyes flashed at him
over her shoulder from the corners of
their lids as she started back to the
prescription case. I'm goin' with
Charlie Walton!"
When Mariella had gone to the races
that night, and customers were few and
far between, Mr.. Grover walked with
determined air through Mrs. Mans
fields store, and, pushing aside the
crimson canton flannel portieres, en-
tered her cheerful sitting room. On the
floor was a brussels carpet, large flow
cred and vivid. A sewing machine
stood in one corner and Mariella's or
gan in another. The two narrow win
dows overlooking the sound were gay
with blooming geraniums and white
curtains tied with red ribbons. There
was a trunk deceptively stuffed and
cretonned into the semblance of a set
tee; and there was wicker chair that
was full of rasping, aggravating noises
when you rocked in it.
Mr.. Grover sat down on the trunk.
Mrs. Mansfield" he said, looking
squarely at her. i've got something
to ask of you, an I'm goin' to do 1t
while Mariella's away"
THAT so?" said Mrs. Mansfield.
The color in her cheek deepened al
most to purple. She put one hand up
to her face, and with the other ner-
vously wrinkled the corners of her
novel.
'I guess you know what I've been
comm here so much for. l couldn't
help thinkin, too, that you liked the
idea an was sort of encouragin' me-"
Mrs. Mansfield threw one hand out
toward him in a gesture at once depre-
eating, coquettish and helpful.
'Oh, you!' she exclaimed, laughing
and coloring more deeply.
'Well, didn't you, now?" Mr.. Grover
leaned toward her.
She hesitated, lingering the leaves OF