The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-12-30

away, and he turned from the Dco too
late to conceal what had happened.
Eskew. 1T might have happened any
time-in the night, may beat my
house--and all a1oae-but here's Airse
Tabor brought me to her own honae and
takin' care OF me. / couldn't ask any
better way to so. could I?'
= don't know what we'll do" STAN
n,ered the Colonel. IL you--you talk
about goin' away from W. Esksw. We
1--WE couldn't get along -
Well. sir, I'm almost kind o. glad to
think" Mr.. Arp murmured between
short struggles for Breath, that it'll
be-quieter-on the-'Nationsl House
cornery
moment later he called the doctor
family and asked for restorative.
There" he said. in . stronger voice,
and with a CLEAN of satisfaction In thu
vindication OF his belief that he was
dying. II was almost gone then
know" He lay painting for q moment,
then spoke the name OF joe Iseuden-
Joe came quickly to the bedside.
II want you to shake hands with
tho Colonel and Peter and Buckalew,
I'VE did," answered the Colonel. In
fnitely surprised and troubled. We
shook hands odtside before We came
In"
do It again." said Esksw. II want
to see YOU
And Joe. making shift to smile. was
suddenly blinded. 50 that he could not
see the wrinkled hands extended to
him. and was fain to grops for them.
God knows why we didn't all take
his hand long ago." said Esksw Arp.
Il didn't because ! was stubborn. I
hated to admit that the argument was
against me. / ackncwledge IL now be-
fore him and before you-and 1 want
the word of IL carried
It's all right. Mr.. Arp" began Joe,
TREMENDOUSLY You mustn't--
;Aark to me'-the old mans voice
lifted higher: III you'd ever whimp-
ereds or give back talk. or broke out
the wrong way II would Of been diff
ferent. But you never did. I've watched
you and l know and you've just zone
your own way alone. with the town
against you because you got q bad
you that everything you did OF didn't
40, we had to give yeu a biackar one
Now it's time some one stood by you'll
Airie Tabor'll do that with all her soul
and body. She told me once thought
good deal OF you. She knew. But
i want these three ola friends of nina
TO do 1t, too. ] was boys with them.
They've even stood up fer you
against me. sometimes. bat mostly
Ter the sake of the argument reckon;
but now they must do IL when there's
more to stand against than just nv
talk. They saw IL all today-the mean
est thing I ever knew I could Of stood
II all except that" Before they could
prevent him he had struggled half up
right In bed, lifting a ciinched hst at
the town beyond the windows. but.
oy God! when they got so low down
they tried to kill your dog
He fell back. choking. in Joe's arms.
and the physician bent over him, but
Eskew was not gone, and Ariel. upon
the other side of the room. could hear
him whispering again for the restora-
tive. She brought IL, and when he had
taken 1t, went quickly out-of-doors to
the side yard.
She sat upon workman's bench I'M
der the big trees. hidden from the
street shruhbery, and breathing deeply
OF the shaded air. began to cry quietly.
Through the windows came the duaver-
ing voice of the old man, lifted again.
insistent little querulous. but deter
mined. Responses sounded fntermft-
tently. from the Colonel. from Peter.
and from Buckalew, and now and then
a sorrowful. yet almost numerous. pro-
test from Joe; and 80 she made out
that the veteran swore his three COM
rades to friendship with Joseph Lou
den, to lend him their counteranee Ia
all matters, to stand by him in veal
and woe, to speak only good OF him
and defend him In the town of Canaan
Thus did Eskew Arp on the verge OF
parting this life render justice.
The gate clicked, and Ariel saw Eu-
gene approaching through the shrub
berry. One of his hands was bandazed.
thin strip of court-piaster crossed
n 80
his hair. and his thin and agitated face
showed several light scratches.
II saw you come out" he said. I've
been waiting to speak TO you
The doctor told us to let him have
his way In whatever he might ask"
Ariel wiped her eyes. I'm afraid that
-'I didn't come to talk about Esksw
Arp" interrupted Eugene. I'm not la
boring under anxiety about him. You
needn't DO afraid; he's too sour to ac-
cept his congo 80 readily"
Please lower your voice." she said,
rising quickly and moving away from
him toward the house; but. a. he fol-
lowed, insisting sharply that he must
speak with her, she walked out OF ear
shot OF the windows. and stopping.
turned toward him. Very WELL" she
said. rs II message from Mamieg'
At this he faltered and hung are.
Have you been to- see herr" she con-
tinued. II am anxious to know 10 her
goodness and bravery caused her any
any discomfort at home"
you may set your mind at rest
about that" returned Eugene. II was
there when the Judge came home to
dinner. I suppose you fear he may
have been rough with her for takinr
my stspbrother into the carriage. Ho
was not. On the contrary. he spoke
very quietly to her and went on out
toward the stables. But haven't come
to you to talk of Judge Pike. either!s
NO." said Ariel, Il don't care par
ticularly to hear Of him. but Of Ma
ME-
Nor OF her. eitherp he broke out.
II want to talk Of you.'
There was no mistaking him; no
possibility of Misunderstanding the
real passion that shook him. and her
startled eyes betrayed her comprehen-
sion.
Yes. see you understand" he cried
bitterly. That's because you've seen
others tho same way. God help me-"
he went on. striking his forehead with
his open hand. that young fool Of q
Bradbury told mo you refused him only
yesterday! He was hroud OF even re-
lection from you! And there's Nor