The San Francisco call., 1910-09-25
CHAPTER Ix-Continued

was fond Of the Fergusons' house
itself 1t had a charming garden,
planted with roses. with big. blue
Chinese Jars at the elbows Of the paths
and on the porch. and dear little
upper babony-just such a one as
Leonore walks out upon in III Trova-
tore"-which overlooked the convent
and its gardens. Sitting here with
Halle one late afternoon. while sun
light was still among the housetops,
but with the convent garden in shadow
so deep it looked like reflection in
water. Z saw the procession Of nuns,
slim. black figures and bending heads,
winding slowly through II. The sight
touched me with a very melancholy
yet not quite unhappy feeling.
What would you think. Halle"
asked, ''if should become a num-"
"A num-" Halle almost shrieked.
Ellie Fenwick. what are you thinking
OF? Why. you would have to cut off
all your lovely hair"
Yes. I said, zone Of the sisters
there told me that she had hair as
long as mine when she was a girl,
and yet she doesn't look unhappy now.
And then everything is so peaceful
over there, the garden is so quiet. and
they are so calm, think I should
love TO; and oh. dear, Halle. you don't
know! I am very unhappy
Halle put her arm around me and
said firmly, You VIII do no such thing,
You viii come TO Estrella's party
tonight and forget all about converts
and such hateful things, OF course. I
know what the matter is. and it's very
lovely and awfully romantic. but really
Pm afraid that he is quite gone, dear.
Don't you think you could think Of
some one else?"
I said ] couldn't bear to. that / didn't
want to 80 TO Estrella's party. that 1
hated the thought Of the people I would
have to meet. But Halle can be very
persuading, and when I left her my
resolution had weakened considerably.
why not go?" 1 argued with myself
on my way home. 4 viii have to be-
gin this sort Of thing again some time
that is, supposing don't go into the
convent, and I am afraid father wouldn't
like me TO DO that. At least while I
am making up my mind about it any
thing win be better than brooding over
this thing, which can't help"
When I reached home I felt restless
and the house seemed very small.
Rather difidentIy I broached the sub
ject Of Estrella's ball to father; but he
was quite delighted.
Excellent" he said. hurried off a boy
to the Mendez house with word that
was coming. sent out for flowers and
made lovely little fuss about me-
tried to make myself look as pretty as
possible in a pale tulle. with little rosy
wreaths upon it. and the high old tor
toiseshell comb. that had been my
mothers, in my hair, The excitement
gave me more color than I had had for
weeks 1 thought, Even II I am not
happy. at least can be excited"
Father looked so tired that when he
left me at the Mendez house 1 asked
why need he come back for me, why not
just send the carriage? He wouldn't
hear Of that, and then Sonora Mendez
said why shouldn't stay at their house
all night? So it was agreed. and Is
trella, looking like a little dancer. in a
yellow gown sewn with twinkling
spangles came running and hurried me
upstairs to take off my cloak
The ball was a large one-one of
those affairs that is so big IT makes
You feel lost. I danced, danced madly;
but a forlorn conviction kept growing
on me that 1 did not have that same
joyful feeling that ] could dance on
air which other parties had brought
me. Every young man who looked at
ne was not a possible sweetheart. vet
more looked al me than ever did before
] had little crowd around me- and
lots Of pretty things were said to me-.
and I was not SO afraid to reply as