St. Johns review. (Saint Johns, Or.) 1904-current, 1910-08-26

overheated rooms. OF the cheerless lux
ury I'm which her aunt lived, stiiled
her She felt no temptation to make
any appeal there. She turned into a
side street that led to her fathers
house and walked slowly homeward.
without putting aside her wraps she
dropped n match into the klndllng In
the fireplace of the living-room, and
waited until the flames leaped into the
throat of the chimney. Polly was In
the dining room, showing n new assist
ant how TO lay the table for the even
ing meal, and she came to the folding
doors and viewed Zelda with the in
terest that the girl always had for her.
Polly was zelda's slave. and she went
about half the day muttering and
ohuokllng over what seemed TO her
Zelda's unaccountable whlms.
Polly" said Zelda. this Is Julius
Caesars birthday-or Napoleon Bona
parties or the Duke Of Argyle's-do you
understand"
The black woman showed all her
teeth In appreciation.
And we'll have out the candlestlcks
those very high ones; and you may
use that gold banded china and the
real cut glass"
Polly departed chucltilng and Zelda
went TO her room. Her father was
reading his newspaper by the fireplace
when she came In upon his startled
gaze an hour later. She had arrayed
herself In white silk evening gown.
lie had never before seen her dressed
80 at their family dlnner-table. The
long skirt added to her height. Her
hair WIS caught up from her forehead
in an exaggeration OF the prevailing
mode.
Good evening. fatherl thought I'd
dress up tonight just for fun. and TO
get the crinklcs out OF my things. Isn't
this gown n perfect lover It's real
Parislan"
She swept past. the rich silk brush
ing him. and then-Polly having ap-
pearcd at the door with her eyes star
ing from her head;
Now lot US feast while we may" she
said.
She passed before him into the din
inE room with an inclination OF her
head and 60 her place. The old man
had not spoken and he sat down with
painataking care, finding apparently
some difficulty In drawing In his chair,
lie bowed his head for the silent grace
ho always said. and raised his eyes
with look OF sweet resignation 10 the
E.rl. Nothing In the old house ever
escaped his sharp eyes. The old china
with It's gold band. and the cut glass
that had not known service for years
struck him at once.
Ezra Dameron did not understand
- ma NhAttaA I'LL
all cunning people he thought he dld.
II was beginning TO dawn upon him
that Zelda was deeper than he had i'm
agined. Perhaps. he said 10 himself,
sha was as shrewd and keen as him
self; or. he asked again. was sno not
playing some deep role-even laying u
trap for himg lie did no, know that
the moods OF girl are as many as the
moods OF the wind and sea. lie re-
membered that his wife had been eas.
ily deceived. lie had crushed the moth
er; but this girl would not so easily be
subdued. The candles made soft
light upon the table. lie lifted his
eyes fuFniyely 10 see whether the gas
In the chandelier overhead was light,
ed, and was relieved 10 note that ths
eNtravagance OF the candles was not
augmented there. lie drew his bony
fingers across the able-eloth. feeling
It's texture critically. He knew that u
had been taken from forbidden shelf
OF the linen closet Clearly his rule
over the ancient Polly was az an end
When they returned 10 the living
room he tended the fire; and when he
took up his paper neryously. from hab-
Il. he put Il down again. and began 20
talk. Almost for the first time since
Zelda's return. he showed an interest
In her foreign experiences. and led her
10 speak OF them. And she exerted
herself 10 be entertaining. He had
supposed that MTs Forrest would
prejudice Zelda against him during the
years In which she had kept the girl
away; but his daily scrutiny had dis
covered no trace OF disrespect or con-
tempt in her attitude toward him.
IL had been on her tongue several
times 10 ask him boldly about the debt
of olives mother. even II IL should be
necessary 20 confess that she had over
heard his conversation with Mrs. Mar
riam; but this might cause an un-
pleasant scene. No great haste was
necessary. she judged; and so she
waited. She could probably persuade
her aunt or uncle TO help her in the
matter when the time came. II no other
way should occur to her.
When she went at last 10 her room.
the old eedars outside her windows
were moaning softly, She found a
in boiling her door, and
then she drew from her writing-tab
the little book. tied with it's faded rib
bon. and opened IL TO the charge her
mother had written-thOse last pitiful
words-and read them over and over
again. until they seemed 10 be audible
whispers In the room;
Perhaps l was unjust TO him; II
may have been my fault; but II she
can respect or love him wish II to be
So"
She lay awake staring into the dark
for half the night with fearless eyes.
one hand clasping the little book under
her pillow.