The Southern herald., 1910-11-04
CHAPTER X.-contlnued.

Then isn't ii for us to show them
that we are more than usually civi-
lEedf can't run away from him like
\ frightened little native"
"0f course; but that is where
come In; it's what I'm for-to get rid
Of such things for you"
Clara had risen, and stood consid-
ering a moment with that same sweet
lmpersonal eye which Flora found it
hardest to comprehend
what l mean." she explicitly
stated. "is that II he should undertake
to carry out his preposterous sugges-
uon. and call this afternoon, l am
quite ready. If you wish, to take him
on your hands"
This last took F1ora's breath away.
II had not occurred to her that Clara
had overheard. 1t shocked her, fright.
ened her; and yet Clara's way of
stating the fact, as II 1t were the
most natural thing in the world, made
Flora feel that she herself was in the
wrong to feel this.
You're very kind" she managed to
set out; and that seemed to leave her
committed to hand Kerr over, tied
hand and foot, when she wasn't sure
at all she wanted to.
Then shall tell Mrs. Herrick that
you will consider the house?" said
Clara, already in the act Of departure.
"She is to call to-day to go into II
with me more thoroughly. Thus far
we've only played about the edges"
Her eyes strayed toward the dress,
ing table as she passed it, and as she
reached the door she glanced over the
chiffonier It was on the tip of Flora's
tongue to ask II she had mislaid some
thing. when Clara turned and smiled
her small. tight-curled smile. as If she
we're Offering II as symbol of mutual
understanding. Curiously enough, II
checked F1ora's query about the stray
Ing glances, and made her wonder
that this was the first time in their
relation that she had thought Clara
sweet.
But there was another quality in
Clara she did not lose sight of, and
she waited for the closing of a door
further down the hall before she drew
the sapphire from under her pillow.
With the knocking at the door her
first act had been to thrust it there
The feeling that 1t was going to be
hard to hide was still her strongest in
stinct about it; but the morning had
dissipated the element Of the super
natural and the horrid that 1t had
shown her the night before. It seemed
TO have clearer and a simpler beau
t.; and the hope revived in her that
its beauty, after all, was the only re
markable thing about It.
Her conviction Of the night before
had sunk to a shadowy hypothesis
She knew nothing-nothing that woult
justify her in taking any step; ant
her only chance of knowing more lay
in what she would get out Of Kerr
for that he knew more about her rint
than she, she was convinced She wa.
afraid Of him, yet, in spite of her fear
she had no intention of handing hin
over to Clara. For on reflection sht
knew that Clara's offer must have
deeper motive than mere kindness
and she had most unreasonable feel
ing that 1t would not be safe.
Yet Clara would do a kindness If 1
did not Inconvenience her, and surel!
this morning she had been kind. Still
Flora felt she didn't want to revea
anything until she was a little sure
OF her own position. When she knew
better where she stood she woul,
know what she could conflde to Clara
Meanwhile, If there was any one I,
whom she could turn row it woul,
surely be Harry.
Yet, If she did, what lot of awb
ward explanationsl She could not re
turn the sapphire without giving
reason, aud what thing to explain
that she nad not only worn 1t, but, 4
freak, shown it to the one Of al
people he most objected to.
Nevertheless the most sensible thin
clearly was to go through with 1t an
confess to Harry. Then she mus
communicate with him at once. No
she would wait until after breakfas
There was plenty Of time Kerr woul
cot come until the afternoon. Br
after breakfast, she wondered If
wouldn't be as well to ring him up 3
luncheon tiBs7 Then she would b
cure Of finding him at the club.
Meanwhile she dared not let Il