The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1910-09-30


pened and the lure of life had been so
exquisite.
And yet she didn't wish herself
back, but only forward. Now she had
no leisure to imagine, to pretend, to
enjoy, only the breathless sense that
she must get forward. The chatter
ing clock on her mantel warned her
of the passing time and set her hur
rying into her walking gown, her hat,
her gloves, as If the object of her err
rand would only wait for her a mo-
ment longer. When for the second
time, she opened the house door, she
didn't hesitate. She descended into
the white fog that covered all the city
Above her the stone facade of her
house doomed huge and pinkish in the
mist. Her spirits rose with the feel
ing that she was going adventuring
again, leaving that house where for
the last two days she had awaited
events with such vivid apprehensions
She hurried fast down the damp, glis-
tening pavement, seeing long, dim
gray faces of houses glimmer by, see
ing figures come toward her through
the fog, grow vivid, pass, and hearing
at intervals the hoarse, lonely voice
of the fog-horn at THE Heads" reach
ing her from over many intervening
hills. She did not feel sure what she
should do at the end of her journey or
what awaited her there. She knew
herself a most Impractical hunter,
she, who all her life had been the
most artful of quarries.
She turned in at the low gate of imi-
tation grill in front of an enormous
wooden mansion, with towers and Gu
polas painted all a chill slate gray,
with fuchsias, purple and red, clam
bering up the front. She rang, and
was admitted into a hall, ornate and
very high, with wide staircase
sweeping down into the middle of it.
The maid looked obviously at Flora
and thought Miss Butler was not at
home, but would see. Flora turned
into the room on her left and sat down
among the Louis Quinze sofas and
potted palms with feeling that Miss
Butler was at home, and, for one rea-
son or another, preferred not to be
seen. She waited apprehensively
wondering whether Ella was not see
ing the world-in-general, or had really
specified against herself. Could it be
that Ella was one of those women
whom Harry had alluded to as run
ming after Kerr? In the short "a hours
every individual help she had counted
upon had seemed to draw away from
her-Kerr, whose understanding she
had been so sure of; Clara, whose pro-
priety had never failed; Harry whose
comfortable good nature she had so
taken for granted! 1t seemed as If
the sapphire, whose presence she was
never unconscious of, for all she wore
it out of sight, had power like the
evil eye over these people. But If it
could turn such as Ella against her,
why, the Brussels carpet beneath her
might well open and let her down to
deeper abysses than Judge Buffers
Wine-cellar.
She started nervously at the step of
the maid returning. The message
brought was unexpected. Miss Bull
Ter says will you please walk up
stairs?"
Flora was amazed That invitation
would have been odd enough at any
time, for she and Ella were hardly on
such intimate footing. But now she
was ushered up the majestic stir,
and from the majestic upper hail
abruptly into wild little cluttered
sewing-room, and thence into wilder
but more spacious bedroom, large cur
tains at the windows, large roses on
the carpet, and over all objects in the
room clutter Of miscellaneous ar
ticles, as if Elias band-boxes, bureaus
and work-baskets habitually refused
to contain themselves.
From the midst of this Ella con-
fronted her, still in her wrapper"
and with the large puff of her hair
little awry Under 1t her face was
curiously pink, color deepening to
the tip of her nose and putting out I'M
der her eyes.
well, Flora" she greeted her
guest. You were just the person l
wanted to see. Sit down. No, not
there-that's my bird of paradise
feather! Oh, no, not there-that's the
breakfast. Well, l guess you'll have
90 c;t IN Tho bod
Flora swept aside the clothes that
streamed across it and throned her.
self on the edge of the high, white
plateau of Elias four-poster. Ella,
for all her eager greeting, looked upon
her friend doubtfully, and Flora recog-
nized in herself a similar hesitation,
as if each were trying to make out,
without asking, what thoughts the 9th
er harbored.
81 was afraid l shouldn't see you at
ALL" Flora began at last.
well, you wouldn't if 1t hadn't hap
pened to be you," said Ella paradox
cally. Look at me; did you ever see
such a sight?"
You don't look very WE'LL" Flora