The Inner Flame: A Novel

THE CALL
A Novel by Clara Louise Burnham
NEW YORK GROSSET & DUNLAP PUBLISHERS
COPYRIGHT, 1912, BY CLARA LOUISE BURNHAM ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
The Inner Flame

The Inner Flame
A NOVEMBER NIGHT
Soft snowflakes whirled around the lonely mountain cabin under a November sky. The wind that had rushed up the valley sighing and groaning between the wooded walls, now roared its wild delight in the freedom of the heights. The twilight was deepening fast. Two women were alone in the cabin. The one who was at home stooped and put another log on the blazing fire. The other could not have stooped, no matter how willing her spirit, so straitly and fashionably was her ample figure bound by artful bone and steel.
Mercy, Mary! she ejaculated, standing stock still in the middle of the room, fixed there by a triumphant shriek of the rioting wind. I never had the least desire to go up in an aeroplane. Are you well anchored here?
Like a lichen on a rock, returned Mary Sidney, smiling. Take off your hat, Isabel, and be comfy.
Do you think we must stay all night? demurred the visitor. You know I love you, Mary, and if that wind would just let us hear ourselves think, I wouldn't ask anything better than an evening's chat with you alone.