Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1910-09-29

shoes hardly touching the floor, looked
Ella fascinated, her lips a little
apart. Ella had so exactly pronounced
her own secret thought of Clara. She
was breathless to know what had
been Clara's performance at the Bull
lers'.
"Of course I've always known she
was like that" said Ella, leaning back
in her chair with an air of, resigna-
ton. "She's always getting some
thing. It's awful. 1t was the same
even when we were at boarding
school. 1 suppose she never did have
enough money, though her people were
awfully nice; but she worked US all
for invitations and rides in our car
riages. and l remember she got lots
through Lille Lewis elder brother,
and he thought she was going to mar
ry him, but she didn't. She married
Lulu Britton's father; and l guess she
worked him until he went under n
they found there really was no mon
ey. So she's been living on people
ever since" Ella rocked gloomily.
But she does it so nicely" Flora
| suggested. She still had the feeling
that 1t was not decent to W up to
these most secret facts of peoples
failings.
ooh, yes, she's a perfect wonder"
Ella admitted g~rudgingly; look at
what she's done for you'll" Elias ges-
t~iculation was eloquent Of how much
that had been. "But don't you mag
inc she cares about you any more
than she cares about mel" Ella began
to cry again. "You were an awfully
good thing for her, Flora, and now
that you're going to be married she's
got to have somebody else. But DO
think she might have taken somebody
besides papa"
Flora gasped. "'Taken!' Ella, what
do you mean?"
~ mean married." said Ella.
"rMarried!'" For the time Flora
had become a helpless echo.
ooh, not yet" Ella defiantly nod
ded. mot while there's anything left
of me-"
Flora stammered. ooh, Ella, no.
Oh, Ella, are you sure?" She felt a
hysterical impulse to giggle.
well I'd like to know why?" Ella
snapped. I'm sure papa is twice as
rich as old Britton was, and twice as
easy" She went off into sobs be
hind her handkerchief.
ooh, don't, Ellaj don't cry!" Flora
begged, petting the large eXpanse o.
heaving shoulders. II didn't mean
anything. l was just silly. Of course
it may be that she wants to marry
him. But she never has before-at
! least, / mean, l don't believe she
; wants to now. What makes you thinl
T she does? What has she done?"
> WELL" Ella burst out, why is sht
> coming here all the time, when sht
r, never used to, and petting papa? VIII!
l does she bother to be SO agreeable tt
: me when she never was before? VIII!
does she make me ask her to dinner
when | don't want to-"
Each question knocked on Flora
brain to the accompaniment of Ella
furious rocking. She could not ar
u swer them. and Elias explanation, ak
g surd as it seemed, coming on top Q
, her high expectations, wasn't impos
Il sible. 1t was like Clara to have NOR
u than one iron in the fire; but whe.
Flora remembered the passionate il
tentness with which Clara had d.
IL molished the order of her room, sh
e couldn't believe that Clara woul
pause in the midst of such pursuit t
Is pounce on Judge Butler.
u "Oh, Ella" Flora sympatheticall
urged, 81 don't believe there's reall
a. any danger. And surely, even if sh
meant it, Judge Butler wouldn't be-
a ooh, yes, he would" Ella cut he
Us short. "Why when she came yeste
70 day he was just going out, and sh
went for him and made him stop
tea. Think of it-papa stopping
tea! And he was as pleased as Pune
to have her make up to him. He hi
ot not the least idea of what she's afte
Sc Papa isn't used to ladies, He's alwa!
ie just lived with me-"
- This astonishing statement lookir
at Flora through Elias u%nsuspectir
at eyes had nevertheless a pathos Of
~ own.
70 But I'll tell you one thing" Ell
o. ended, still rocking vigorously; :
~ she comes here tonight to dim
y when she knows l don't want h
W. | shall tell her what | think of her, /
~ fore she leaves this house! See if
= don't"
Don't do that, Ella" Flora entire;
ed, that would be awful" She W
certain that such an interview wou
'p- only end in Clara's making Ella mo
ridiculous than she was already. Il
ee ME speak to her. / don't mind at al
she declared bravely, and in a mann
truly, though she was fully aware ID
on speaking to Clara would be anythil
but a treat.
Ia, ooh, would you?" said Ella eager
Gu Il really would be awfully obliged.
= hated to ask you, Flora, but I thoug
ho perhaps you might be able to-
we'll, perhaps be able to do son
Il. thing" she ended vaguely. do y
think you could?"
hit 'TTl speak to Clara tonight" So
LA Flora heroically, "or tomorrow" s
added; "Im afraid | won't see her
ne night"
tie (To BE coNT1NuEDl