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

reluctant departure. one group after
another, leaving in the order of their
arrival.
The rosy pigment which had colored
the trees faded; the gold dust of the
western distance danced itself pale and
departed; dusk stalked into the town
from the east; and still the watcher
upon the steps and the warden of the
gate Che of the lilac bushes and the
Bible) held their places and waited
waited, alRst in vain. All.
Joe, is this the mettle OF your daring?
Did you not say you would "try?'
Was your courage SO fraii q vessel
that 1T could not carry you even to the
gate yonder? Surely you knew that IL
you had striven so far, there you would
have been meti Perhaps you foresaw
that not one, but two, would meet you
at the gate, both the warden and the
watcher. What OF that? What of
that, o faint heart? What was there
to fear? Listeni> The gate clicks. All,
have you come at last?
Ariel started to her feet, but the
bent figure coming up the walk In the
darkness was that OF Eskew Arp. He
bowed gloonily to Mamie, and in re-
Spouse to her inquiry if he wished to
see her father, answered no; he had
come to talk with the granddaughter
of his old friend Roger Tabor.
Mr.. Arp" called Ariel. Il am so
very glad" She ran down to him and
gave him her hand. Wen sit here on
the bench, shan't we?'
Mamie had risen, and skirting Nor
bert frostily, touched Eugene upon the
shoulder as she went up the steps He
understood that he was to follow her
indoors, and, after a deep look at the
bench where Ariel had seated herself
beside Mr.. Arp, he obeyed. Norbert
was left lonely ruin between the cold
twin dogs. He had wrought desolation
this afternoon, and that sweet verdure.
his good name. SO long in the planting,
so carefully tended, was now a dreary
waste; yet he contemplated this not so
much as his present aspect of splendid
isolation. Frozen by the daughter of
the house, forgotten by the visitor
whose conversation with Mr.. Arp was
carried on in tones so low that he could
not understand 1t. the fat one, though
heart breakingly 10th to take himself
away, began to comprehend that his
hour had struck. He rose. descended
the steps to the bench, and seated him
self unexpectedly upon the cement walk
at Ariel's feet.
Legs gone to sleep" he explained,
in response to her startled exciama-
ton; but like a great SOUL ignoring
the presence of Mr.. Arp, he Immediately
proceeded Twill you go riding with
me tomorrow afternoon"
Aren't you very good natured, Mr..
Flitcroft?' she asked With an odd in
tonation.
"I'n imposed on often enough" he re-
piled. rubbing his leg. "by people who
think I ami why?''
"It is only that your sitting so alb
ruptiy upon the ground reminded me of
something that happened long ago. be-
fore I left Canaan, the last time met
you"
II don't think knew you before you
went away. You haven't said IL you'll
go riding with me tomorrow. Please"
Get up" interrupted Mr.. Arp acidly.
Somebody II fall over you II you stay
there" Such a catastrophe in truth
doomed imminent. Judge Pike was rap
idly approaching on his way to the
house. Bible in hand--far better in
hand than was his temper. for &c is an
engaging thing to wait five hours In
ambush for man who does not come.
In the darkness a dissertation occurred,
and Norbert perfected to the last de.
tail whatever had been left incomplete
OF his own destruction. He began lum-
beringly to rise. talking at the
charms of the roadside: wild fow-
ers were in blossom. he said re-
counting the benefits she might derive
through acceptance OF his invitation;
and having. thus busily. risen to his
knees, became aware that some one was
passing near him. This some one MIR.
Flitcroft. absorbed In artful persua-
sions. may have been betrayed by the
darkness to mistake for Eugene.
Reaching out for assistance, he me-
chanically seized upon the skirts of
coat, which he put to the uses of
rope, coming up hand over hand with
such noble weight and energy that he
brought himself to his feet and the
owner of the coat to the ground stimuli
taneously. The latter, hideously aston
ished, went down with an objurgation
so outrageous in venom that Mr.. Arp
jumped with the shock. Judge Pike got
to his feet quickly. but not so quickly
as the piteous Flitcroft betoolk himself
into the deep shadows of the street.
Only a word, hoarse and horror