e the rest of the world, she loves Elinor) and
in the second place, she knows that I appreciate her conversation.
Assuredly I do value Katy's freehand sketches of life. She is a shrewd
observer. Often while she talks I recall Stevenson's description of
another: "She is not to be deceived nor think a mystery solved when it
is repeated."

Katy is an American by birth, but Celtic by race and by nature; a widow
to whom children never were granted, but who out of her savings has
helped educate and settle half a dozen of her nieces and nephews. Katy's
married life was brief and not happy. The late Biff was a handsome man
who never let other people's comforts or rights interfere with his own
pleasure. Nevertheless, when he was killed in a saloon brawl she did not
grudge him many carriages for his last journey (she who believes in
simple funerals. "When I give free rides, I'll give 'em while I'm alive
and can hear folks say 'Thank you!'" says she), and she has erected a
neat stone to his memory.

It was three years after his death that Mrs. Biff came to Elinor, with
whom she has lived since.

Elinor, one may say, bequeathed her to the Van Ardens. At least she
suggested them importunately to Katy. To me she explained, "Katy is a
maternal soul, and she can't help taking care of Mercy Van Arden, who is
a stray angel in a wicked world and _thinks_ she is a socialist."

We are conservative, peaceful, mid-Westerners in our town, and the only
socialists belong to a class that we do not meet nor recognize save by
their names in the papers published preliminary to fiery addresses
delivered at not very reputable tavern halls. Therefore, to have a
cultivated socialist, a young lady of wealth, who regarded her fortune
as a "trust," come to live among us was exciting. Her aunt, from whom
she had recently inherited her fortune, was well known to us, being a
large property owner in the town. She, the late aunt, was not in the
least a socialist; on the contrary, we esteemed her a particularly
shrewd and merciless adept at a bargain. She had a will of her own; and
considering that Miss Mercedes had borne the yoke for ten years, it was
generally considered that she had earned her legacy.

Under all these conditions of interest, I admit I was glad enough to see
Katy Biff's decent black hat approaching the side door the day after her
entrance into the Van Arden family circle.

* * * * *

"Well, Miss Patsy," s