The Concordia sentinel. (Vidalia, Concordia Parish, La.) 1882-current, 1921-07-09
When Ella Needed
a Man
By R. RAY BAKER

%~~~~~~~~~~~~~
/ o. 1921. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate
Walter Creston accepted one Of Mr..
Clare's cigars, bit off the mouth end,
/ lighted the other and settled himself
! in Il chair.
You wished to see mel" he In
quired rather listlessly. There was a
dreamy, discouraged look in his pale
gray eyes. Mr.. Clare's mouth was
curved in a beneficent smile
Yes" returned Mr.. Clare as a
wreath of smoke from his cigar merged
with one from Clare's. He cleared his
throat. IT'S about Ella"
Walter appeared suddenly to lose
some Of his listlesSness, and his eyes
showed interest. For a moment he
seemed fired with a new interest in
life, and he opened his mouth as if
to speak only to sink back again in
the grasp of lethargy, the blaze burned
cut
Yes, it's about Ella" said Mr.. Clare
you wish to marry her, under
stand"
II do" Walter affirmed, but what's
the user Last night l asked her for
the fifth time this year and she turned
me down again. Said. as she has said
before, that she felt no need of man.
She was getting along very we'll she
told me, without any masculine person
to look after her, and she could see no
reason for accepting added response
bilities to her cares in the form Of
me. Furthermore, she informed me
that / was ineligible, because had no
fixed purpose in life, and lacked thor
OughnesS in everything l undertook. l
guess it's because I've led a rather
easy life, not being obliged to dig for
a living, and as a consequence I've had
fling at several different businesses
and professions and never got any
where with any of them. I've got to
go to work now, though, for the money
left by my father IS about played out.
I'd be thorough and make a success
of myself, too, if only l had Ella for
an incentive"
Did she turn you down cold?"
asked Mr.. Glare. "You know, I've
rather favored you for a son-in-law,
and frankly I'd like to see you win
out. That's why l asked you up here
this afternOOn-to give you some adj
vice"
No; she didn't turn me down cold.
She said. in fact, that she'd probably
marry me when the time came. provid-
ed didn't find some one else In the
meantime, but just now she didn't
want to be bothered with a husband"
ELIAS queer girl" remarked her
father, knocking a knob Of ashes into
tray. "She's what you might call
whimsical. The stage has to be set
just right before she makes up her
mind to anything, then she makes it
up quickly, does the thing under con-
temptation and remains satisfied with
her decision. "Now here's a pointer
for you. I'm taking Ella with me on a
trip to my mines in Montana. We're
leaving next Monday by automobile.
Now there are plenty of chances for
moments In the foothills
of the Rockies. You need a trip for
your health, Walter, and you have a
nice big touring car and several friends
who would make jolly companions. J
One in particular l think Of-that
young minister who was recently or
dained. l would suggest him for such
q trip. Please don't think I'm med |
ding and that l am trying to marry |
off my daughter, but like you. Wal
ter, and I'd like to see you win out.
This Is merely a suggestion, of course.
You will not hurt my feelings by
refusing"
With Mr.. Glare and his daughter
went two men. They carried a COM |
plete camping paraphernalia, including
a tent but when opportunity offered |
they made use of deserted shacks |
along the route of travel.
AS soon as the party entered the
foothills of the mountains some long
hidden chord In Elias nature began
TO respond to some strange call sent
out by the peaks Of the Rockies that
IoOmed against the sky. The constant
talk of business by her father and his
bored her almost to dis
traction, and she communed with her
self and nature whenever a chance
arose. This constant discourse on mon-
~ matters seemed to her to be profan-
ng the sanctity Of the wilds.
One night Ella left the shack in
which the party was quartered and
made her way down the rather rough
road. stopping now and then
% gaze pensively at a multitude of
stars that shone from a clear sky.
Down the road she remembered pass
ng that day a quaint little tumble
Town church, and she made this edifice
he goal of her night rambIe. Her
iather had cautioned her to remain
lose to camp and she had intended to
hey; but the church was farther than
he had thought, and, besides, she was
n a pensive mood which took no
cunt of time or distance.
Finally a tiny cross on a decaying