Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1921-08-25
When Ella Needed
a Man
By R. RAY BAKER

| Clare's cigars, bit of the mouth END,
lighted the other and settled himself
In a 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 beneficent smile
"Yes," returned Mr.. Glare as a
wreath of smoke from his cigar merged
with one from Clares. 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.. Glare.
''You wish to marry her, l under
stand"
81 do" Walter affirmed, but what's
the use? Last night | 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 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 I'm the form of
me. Furthermore, she informed me
that was ineligible, because | had no
fixed purpose In life, and lacked thor
Oughness In everything / undertook. /
guess it's because I've led rather
easy life, not being obliged to dig for
a living, and as a consequence I've had
q 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 i had Ella for
an incentive"
did she turn you down cold?"
asked Mr.. Clare. 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."
mo; 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 husband"
"Ella's a queer girl" remarked her
father, knocking a knob of ashes into
q 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
trip to my mines In Montana. We're
leaving next Monday by automobile.
Now there are plenty of chances for
psychological 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.
One in particular 1 think of-that
dained. l would suggest him for such
trip. Please don't think I'm med
ding and that 1 am trying to marry
off my daughter, but 1 like you, Wal
ter and I'd like to see you win out.
This is merely a suggestion, of course.
hu
refusing"
With Mr.. Glare and his daughter
went two men. They carried COM
plete camping paraphernalia, including
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
doomed against the sky. The constant
talk of business by her father and his
companions bored her almost to dis
traction, and she communed with her
self and nature whenever a chance
arose. This constant discourse on mon
ey matters seemed to her to be profan-
ing 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
mountain road, stopping now and then
to gaze pensively at a multitude Of
stars that shone from a clear sky.
Down the road she remembered pass
ing that day quaint little tumble
down church, and she made this edifice
the goal of her night rambie. Her
father had cautioned her to remain
close to camp and she had intended to
obey; but the church was farther than
she had thought, and, besides, she was
in a pensive mood which took no
count of time or distance.
Finally a tiny cross on a decaying
steeple met her eyes, silhouetted
against the sky, and she made for 1t.
She wanted to enter, but the silence
H. fxxto,fo~ ~onoI1o1 Ior On "a