The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-12-09

talked with such az ced3d get near heri
There were many whe eeuld net, and
was surrounded by the overflow.
The difacuity Of reaching and main
tanning position hear Miss
Tabor was increased by the attitude and
behavior of Mr.. F'1itcroft. who that day
cooled the feeling OF friendship which
several of his fellow-townsmen had
entertained for him. He had
been the first to arrive, coming alone,
though that was not his custom. and he
established himself at ArieFs right,
upon the step Just below her, 30 dis
posing the great body and the ponder
ous arms and legs the gods had given
him that no one could mount above him
to cit beside her, or approach her from
that direction within conversational
distance. Once established. he was not
TO be disiodged. and the only satisfac-
ton for those in this manner debarred
from the society OF the beautiful
stranger was obtained when they We're
presented TO her and when they took
their departure. On these occasions IL
was necessary by custom for them to
shake her hand, a ceremony they ac-
complished by leaning across Mr. Fit
croft. which was a long way 20 lean,
and the fat back and shoulders were
sore that night because OF what had
revengeful elbows and knees.
Norbert, not ordinarily talkative, had
nothing TO say; he seemed to ind sum-
Client occupation in keeping the place
he had gained; and from this close van
tsge he fastened his small eyes i'm
movably upon Ariels PRONE Eugene
also apparently determined not to move,
sat throughout the afternoon at her
left. but as he was thin, others, who
came and went were able to approach
upon that side and hold speech with
her.
She was a stranger to these young
people, most OF WI ON had grown UP TO-
gether in a nickname intimacy. Few
OF them had more than very imperfect
recollection of her as she was before
Roger Tabor and she had departed out
Of Canaan. She had lived her girlhood
only upon their borderland, with no IN
Inmates save her grandfather ana joe
and she returned TO her native town
revelation and a dream" as young Mr.
Bradblry told his incredulous grand
mother that night
The conversation of the gallants con-
sisted for the greater part. OF witt
eisms at one another's expense, |hlcn,
though evoked for Ariels benefit (all
ewes furtively reverting TO her as each
shaft was loosedl, she found more or
less enigmatical. The young men. now
ever. laughed ct each other loudly, and
seemed content IL now and then she
srntIea You must be frightfully en-
nuied with all this" Eugene said 20 her:
You see how provincial we stiil are
She did not answer; she had not
heard him. The shadows were stretch
ing themselves over the grass
long and attenuated; the sun
light upon the trees and houses
was like a thin, rosy pigment black
other nome 10
beech and elm; and Ariel's eyes were
hxed upon the western distance or the
street where golddust was beginning
% o,1iver in the air. She did not near
Eugene. but she started moment ialef
when the name Joe Louden was
pronounced by a young man, the poetic
bradbury, on the step below eugene.
some one Immediately said sA. put
she leaned over and addressed Mr..
bradbury. who, shut out, not only
from the group about her, but from the
other centring upon Miss Pike. as well,
was holding a private conversation
with a friend in like misfortune.
what were you saying of Mr.. Lou
DEM" she asked, smiling down upon
the young man. ut was this smile
which inspired his description or her
as "a revelation and dream
ooh. nothing particular" was his en-
barrassed reply 81 only mentioned I'd
heard there was some talk among
the" He paused awkwardly. remem-
herring that Ariel had walked with
Joseph I<ouden in the face of Canaan
that very day That is. mean to say.
there's some talk OF his running for
Mayor"
'rWhat?"
There was a general exclamation, fol-
lowed by an uncomfortable moment or
- esf n Yo T1FaGanf
aware of that noon walk, though there
was prevalent a pleasing notion that 1T
would not happen again, founded on
the idea that Ariel. having only ar
rived the previous evening, had prob
ably met Joe on the street by acct
dent, and. remembering him as a play
mate of her childhood and uniformed
as to his reputation, had. naturally
enough. permitted him TO walk home
with her.
Mr. Flitcroft broke the silence, rush
ing into words with a derisive laugh:
yes. he's talked Of for Mayor-by the
saloon people and the niggers, I ex-
pect the Beaver Beach crowd would
be for him. and IL tramps could vote
he might"
what is Beaver Beach?" asked Ariel,
not turning.
What is Beaver Beach?7 he repeated,
and cast his eyes. to the sky, shaking
his head. awesomely. IT'S q place" he
said. with abysnlal solemnity-"a place
I shouldn't have mentioned in your
presence. Miss Tabor"
What has ii to do with Mr. Douden?'
The predestined Norbert conceived
the present to be a heaven sent oppor-
tunity to eniighten her concerning Joe's
character. since the Pixies appeared to
have been derelict in the performance
Of this kindness
HE goes there he proceeded, heav-
fly. ''He lived there for a while
when he first came back from run
ming away. and he's a friend OF Mike
Sheehans that runs it: he's a friend of
all the riff-raff that hang around
there"
How do you know he goes there?"
why. ii was in the paper the day
after he came back" He appealed for
confederation. Wasn't ii, Eugene?"
mo, no. she persisted. Newspapers
are sometimes mistaken, aren't they?"
Laughing little she swept across the
Dubious face beside her a swift regard
that was like a searchlight. How do
you know. Mr. .Flitcroft?" she went on
very rapidly. raising her voice: how
do you know that Mr.. Louden is ia
miliar with this place? The news
fol e.