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

afternoon in easy posseSsOA
~ a coiru OF vantage commanding the
front gate. The heavy Sunday dinner
was finished in silence Con the part OF
Judge Pike, 6eafening) about 8 O'CLOCK
and soon after, Mamie tossed number
OF cushions out upon the stoop between
the castiron dogs-Sam warden having
previously covered the steps with rug
and placed several garden chairs near
bv on the grass These simple prepara-
lions concluded, Eugene sprawled COM
1ortabiy upon the rug, and Mamie
seated herself near him, while Ariel
wandered with apparent aimlessness
about the lawn, followed by the gaze OF
Mr.. Bantry, until Miss Pike begged ner'
a little petuiantly. 70 join them.
She came, docking about her dreamiiy'
and touching to her lips now and then
with absent air a clover blossom she
had found in the longer grass against
The fence. She stopped to pat the neck
~ one OF the csstiron deer, and with
grave ewes proaered the clover top first
1or inspection. then for food. There
were those in the world who, seeing
her. might have wondered that the
deer did not play Galates and come
70 life.
.eSo?7 she said aloud to the stesdfast
head. you won't? What mistake 10
ha made Of castiron." She smiled and
nodded 10 a ciunp Of lilac bushes near
q cedar tree and TO nothing else-so
far as Eugene and Mamie could see
then walked thoughtfully 10 the steps.
who in the world were you speaking
to-" asked Mamie, curiously.
That deer"
.T9ut YOU bowed to some one"
4,Oh. that" Ariel lifted her eyebrows
that was your father. Didn't you see
him?'
No"
Il believe you can't from here, after
ell" said Ariel. slowly. He is sitting
,rpon a rustic bench between the bushes
and the cedar tree. quite near the gate
no. you couldn't see him from mere
you'd have to- go as far as the oeef,
At least. and even then you might not
notice him. unless you looked Tor MIN.
He has q booi--a Bible, thtnk-put
/ don't think he is reading"
He usually takes nap on sunday
afternoon" said Mamie
Il don't think he viii today" Ariel
looked at Eugene, who avoided her
clear gaze He has the air of having
settled
perhaps until evening
She had put on her hat after dinner,
and Mamie now inquired II she would
not prefer 20 remove II. ohering TO
carry IL indoors for her. TO ArieIs room
10 insure its safety You look so
sort Of temporary. wearing IT, she
urged "as IL you were only mere TOT
q little while It's the loveliest hat l
ever saw, and so fragile, too, but III
take care"
Ariel laughed leaned over. and
touched the others hand lightly 1t
isn't that. dear"
What is II, them Mamie beameu
ont into a Joyful smile. She had felt
sure that she could not understand
Ariel: was. indeed. afraid of her; and
found herself astonishingly pleased
to be called dear" and delighted
with the little familiarity of the hand
tar. Her feeling toward the visitor
1v-ho was so her father he'd announced.
70 become a permanent member OF the
household had been, until now, un-
defined. She had been on her guard,
watching for some sign OF conscious
.'superiority" in this lady who had been
SO long overseas. not knowing what
70 make of her; though thrown. by the
contents of her trunks. into q wistful-
ness which would have had something
az RAPTURE in il had she been sure that
she Yves going to like Ariel She mad
gone 70 the latter's room before church,
and had perceived uneasily that il
had become. even by the process OF un-
packing, the prettiest room she had
ever seen. Mrs. Warden, wife Of SAM
and handmaiden of the mansion, was
assisting, alternately faint and vocif-
erous with marveling. Mamie feared
that Ariel might be a little overpow-
ering.
With the word dear Chat is. of
course, with the way it was spoken).
and with the touch upon the hand it
was sll suddenly settled: she would not
understand Ariel always--that was
clear-but they would like each other.
Il am wearing my hat answered
Ariel. because at any moment L may
decide to 90 for a long walk.
s'Oh, I hope not" said Mamie. There
are sure to be people; a few still come.
even though I'm an engaged girl. /
expect that's just 10 console me,
though" she added, smiling over this
worn ouip OF the betrothed and shak-
ing her head ~ Eugene. who grew red
and coughed. "Therell be plenty to-
day, but they won't be here to see me.
It's you. Ariel. and they'd be terribly
disappointed if you weren't here. ]
shouldn't wonder Il the whole town
came; it's curious enough about you.
Canaan cat least that part Of 1t
which Mamie meant when she said "the
whole town. already offered testi-
rnony to her truthfulness. Two gentle
men. aged and j. and clad in white
sailor suits" were at that moment
growing their checks between the
round pickets of tho gate. They had
come from the house across the street,
evidently stimulated By the converse
ton at their own recent dinner table
lthey wore ? few deposits such as are
left by chocolate cake), and the motive
OF their conduct became obvious when
upon being joined By person from
next door IA starched and frilled per-
son Of the opposite sex but sympa-
thetic age). one Of them waggled q
forefnger through the gate at Ariel
and voice was heard in explanation;
That's her"
There was rustic in the lilac bushes
near the cedar tree: the three small
heads turned simultaneously in that
direction; something terrific was evil
IDENTIFY seen, and with a Mortified
"Ooohr' the trio skedaddled headlong
They were but the gay vanguard OF
The life which the street quite dead
through the Sunday dinner hour. pres
entity took on. Young couples with their
proseny began TO appear returning