The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1921-07-30
When Ella Needed
a Man
By r. RAY BAKER

BY II. MA i 0AEAHAN
E~~~~~~N~~>~~~>~>>>
%. 1921. by Mcclure Newspaper syndicate''
Walter Creston accepted one OF MI.
Clare's cigars, bit off the mouth enc,
lighted the other and settled himself
In q chair.
"You wished to see mel" he In
ouired rather listlessly. There was
dreamy, discouraged look in his pale
gray eyes. Mr.. Clare's mouth was
curved In a beneficent smile.
eyes," returned Mr.. Clare as
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 moment ne
seemed fred with a new interest IN
life. and he opened his mouth as II
to speak only to sink back again IN
the grasp Of lethargy. the blaze burned
out.
Eyes, it's about Ella" said Mr.. Clare.
"You wish to marry her, l under
stand"
81 do" Walter affirmed, "but what's
the use? Last night asked her Tor
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 well, 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 I was ineligible, because l had no
fIxed purpose in life, and lacked thor
oughness in everything I undertook. l
guess it's because I've led q rather
easy life, not being obliged to dig TOT
a living, and as consequence I've nad
a fling at several different businesses
and professions end never got any,
where with any Of them. I've got to
90 to work now, though, for the money
left by my father is about played out
I'd be thorough and make success
Of myself, too, If only had Ella fol
an incentive"
"Did she turn you down coldT
asked Mr.. Clare. "You know. Pv'
!, rather favored you for a son-in-law
!. and frankly I'd like to see you vii
!. out. That's why asked you up her'
this afternoon-to give you some az
vice."
y mo: she didn't turn me down colo
She said, in fact, that she'd probaDl
i' marry me when the time came, PROVE
ed I didn't find some one else IN tn
= meantime, but just now she didn
10 want to be bothered with a husband.
"Ella's a queer girl" remarked ne
father. knocking a knob Of ashes int
:. tray. "She's what you might ca
. whimsical. The stage has to be 81
lust right before she makes up ne
70 mind to anything, then she makes
~ up quickly, does the thing under col
- temptation and remains satisfied WI
: her decision. "Now here's point'
- for YOU. I'm taking Ella with me on
!. trip to my mines In Montana. WEI
" leaving next Monday by automobil
:, Now there are plenty Of chances f
= psychological moments In the foothil
:" of the Rockies. You need trip L
q YOUR health, Walter. and you have
- nice big touring car and several frien
who would make jolly companion
One in particular I think of-th
y Young minister who was recently
70 dained. l would suggest him for su
~ a trip. Please don't think I'm me
ding and that 1 am trying to mar
NC off nv daughter, but like you, w
~ ter. and I'd like to see you win O
~ This is merely suggestion, OF cour
'u You will not hurt my feelings
refusing"
With Mr.. Clare and his daugh
went two men. They carried CO
lle plete camping paraphernalia. includi
siy a tent, but when opportunity Offer
as they made use If deserted shat
~ along the route of travel.
nc As soon as the party entered
'A0 foothills of the mountains some 10
hidden chord in Elias nature bet
to respond to some strange call
''o ont by the peaks Of the Rockies t
doomed against the sky. The const
.ns talk of business by her father and
l"' companions bored her almost to
traction, and she communed with
WI self and nature whenever cha
arose. This constant discourse on m
> ey matters seemed to her to be prof
70 ing the sanctity Of the wilds.
mo One night Ella left the shack
|, =, which the party was quartered
" +, made her way down the rather 70
mountain road, stopping now and
mo to gaze pensively at a multitude
81, stars that shone from a clear
% Down the road she remembered p
. .e - ing that day a quaint little tum
49, down church, and she made this ed
~ the goal of her night ramble.
- father had cautioned her to rem
49, close to camp and she had intende'
obey; but the church was farther I
a.. she had thought, and, besides, she
nad in a pensive mood which took
rou count Of time or distance.
, he Finally a tiny cross on deca'
va,s steeple met her eyes, silhoue
mo against the sky, and she made TO