caught in some act of mischief
and asked an irrelevant question to relieve her embarrassment.

Mary could feel her single eye fixed on her now in a deep, brooding
look. It made her uncomfortable.

She turned slowly and spoke in gentle tones.

"You've been so sweet to me today, Ella--father and mother and best
friend. I'll never forget your kindness. You'd better rest awhile now
until we go to Dr. Craddock's. I want you to be there, too----"

"To see the marriage--ja?" she asked softly.

"Yes."

"Oh, no, my dear, no--I stay here and wait for you to come. I keep the
lights burning bright. I welcome the bride and groom to their little
home--ja."

A quick glance of suspicion shot from Mary's blue eyes. Could it be
possible that this forlorn scrubwoman would carry her hostility to her
lover to the same point of ungracious refusal to witness the ceremony?
It was nonsense, of course. Ella would feel out of place in the
minister's parlor, that was all. She wouldn't insist.

"All right, Ella; you can receive us here with ceremony. You'll be our
maid, butler, my father, my mother and my friends!"

There was a moment's silence and still no move on Ella's part to go. The
girl felt her single eye again fixed on her in mysterious, wistful
gaze. She would send her away if it were possible without hurting her
feelings.

Mary lifted her eyes suddenly, and Ella stirred awkwardly and smiled.

"I hope you are very happy, meine liebe--ja?"

"I couldn't be happier if I were in Heaven," was the quick answer.

"I'm so glad----"

Again an awkward pause.

"I was once young and pretty like you, meine liebe," she began dreamily,
"--slim and straight and jolly--always laughing."

Mary held her breath in eager expectancy. Ella was going to lift the
veil from the mystery of her life, stirred by memories which the coming
wedding had evoked.

"And you had a thrilling romance--Ella? I always felt it."

Again silence, and then in low tones the woman told her story.

"Ja--a romance, too. I was so young and foolish--just a baby myself--not
sixteen. But I was full of life and fun, and I had a way of doing what I
pleased.

"The man was older than me--Oh, a lot older--with gray hairs on the side
of his head. I was wild about him. I never took to kids. They didn't
seem to like me----"

She paused as if hesitating to give her full confidence, and quickly
went on:

"My folks were German. They couldn't speak English. I learned when I