The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1910-12-28

~ sHnOky dN Vi InOTuiHB.
She walked quickly. 1t was cross
town car bound for quite another To-
cality that she climbed aboard. 1t
was filed only with mechanics and
workmen with picks and shovels. She
sat crowded elbow to elbow among
odors of stale tobacco, stale garlic,
stale perspiration, and looking
straight before her through the car
window watched the aspect OF the
city, still gray, grow less cleaning
and formal and finally quite dirty, and
quite, quite dull.
This was all as she had intended.
very much In the direction Of her er-
rand, and safe. But In Market street
the car line ended, and she was
turned out again in this broad artery
OF commerce where she was In dan
ger of meeting at any moment people
she knew. She made straight across
the thoroughfare to Its south side,
turned down Eighteenth and in mo-
ment was hidden in Mission street.
1t was ten o'clock in the morning,
three hours since she had left her
house and a most reasonable time
OF daylight, when Flora turned out OF
the fatness of South OF Market
street" and began to mount slow-ris.
ing hill
As she neared the hilltop she
glanced at card from her chatelain,
consulting the address upon 1t. Then
anxiously she scanned the house
fronts. It was not this one, nor this;
but the square white mansion she
came To now stood so far retired at
the end of its lawn that she could not
make out the number AS she peered
young girl came down the steps be-
tween the dark wings OF the cypress
hedge, a SLIM fair, even-gaited crea-
ture dressed for the street and draw
ing on her gloves. AS she passed
Flora made sure she had seen her be-
fore. There was something familiar
in the carriage OF the girls head and
hands, something also like pale re-
Election of another presence. Pale as
1t was. it was enough to reassure her
that this was the house she wanted.
This appearance of the place began
to bring before Flora the full enormity
and impertinence of her errand. but
though her heart beat on her side as
loud as the brass knocker upon the
door, she had no mind for turning
back.
A high, cool, darkly cleaning inter
ior, mellow with that precious tint OF
time which her own house 80 lacked,
received her. And here, as we'll as
out of doors, all the while she sat
waiting she felt that protected peace
was still the deity of the place. To
Floras eager heart time was stream
ing by, but the tall clock facing her
measured it out slowly. Its longest
golden finger had pointed out five min.
utes before the sweeping of skirt
coming down the hall brought her to
her feet.
Mrs. Herrick came in hatless, a
honeysuckle leaf caught in her gray
crown of hair, geraniums in her hand.
Flora had never seen her so informal
and so gay.
Flora apologized 81 knew II came
|
but really there was no help for It."
She glanced down at her satchel. 81
had to go this morning and before /
went had to see you about the house.
I'm going down to look at it and-and
to- stop while"
Mrs. Herrick hesitated, deprecated.
But you know Mrs. Britton wasn't
satisfied with the price asked"
oh" said Flora promptly, but I
shall be perfectly satisfied with it, and
/ want to take possession at once"
The positive manner in which she
waved Clara out of her way brought
up in Mrs. Herrick's face a faint
flash of surprise; but it was gone in
an instant, supplanted by her ques-
tioning, puzzled consideration of the
main proposition.
"Oh, hope you haven't come to tell
me you want t. changed" she pro-
tested you know it's quite absurd
in places--quite terrible indeed. It's
1870 straight through, and French at
that; but even such whims acquire
dignity if they've been long cherished.
You couldn't put in or take out one
thing without spelling the whole char
acter."
"But I don't want to change 1t, I
want it just as it is," Flora explained.
ut isn't about the house itself I've
come, it's about going down there.
You see there are-some people, some
friends of mine. / haven't promised
them to showthe house, but have quite
promised myself to show 1t to them,
and they are only here for few days
more. They are going Immediately"
She was looking at Mrs. Herrick all
the while she was telling her wretch
ed lie, and now she even managed to
smile at her. 81 thought how lovely
it would be If you could go there with
me. l should like so very much to be
in it first with you, to have you go
over it with me and tell me how to
take care of it, as it's always been
done. ! should hate to do it any dis
respect"
Her hostess smiled with ready an
swer "Of course I will go down. l