The San Francisco call., 1906-11-04

when ! come away--if a good many
should ask me to dance. for once! OF
course | could come home alone. But
Joe Louden is going to sort of hang
around outside, and he'll meet me at
the gate and see me safe home"
OH he exclaimed blankly.
Isn't 1t all right?" she asked.
Il think I'd better come for you. he
answered. gently. THE truth is. IL
think you'd better not be with Joe
Ilouden a great deal"
'Why?'
We'll. he doesn't seem a vicious boy
to me, but I'm afraid he's getting
rather a bad name. my dear"
Hes not getting one" she said.
grayely He's already got one. He's
had bad name In Canaan for long
while. 1t grew in the first place out of
shabbiness and mischief. but 1t did
grow; and if people keep on giving
him a bad name the time will come
when he'll live up to II. He's not any
worse than ! am, and / guess my own
name isn't too good-for girl. And
yet, so far, there's nothing against him
except his bad name"
I'm afraid there is said Roger.
ut doesn't look very well for q young
man of his age to be doing no better
than delivering papers
she answered. quickly. IF he clerked
all day in store. he couldn't"
Il didn't know he was studying now.
/ thought I'd heard that he was in a
lawyers office for few weeks last
year. and was turned out for setting
fire to 1t with pipe
"It was an accident" she interposed.
But some pretty important papers
were burned, and after that none of
the lawyers would have him"
He's not in an Office she admitted.
II didn't mean that But he studies a
great deal He goes to the courts all
the time they're in session. and he's
bought some books of his own
"Well--perhaps,' he assented; "but
they say he CANDLES and drinks, and
that last week Judge Pike threatened
to have him arrested for throwing dice
with some negroes behind the Judges
stable"
what of it? I'm about the only
nice person in town that will have
anything to do with hin-and nobody
except you thinks I'm very nice."
Ariel. Ariel"
"I know all about his gambling with
darkies," she continued excitedly, her
voice rising, "and I know that he goes
to saloons, and that he's an intimate
friend of half the riffraff In town; ]
know the reason for 1t, too, because
he's told me. He wants to know them
to understand them, and he says some
day they'll make him a power. and
then he can help them!'
The old man laughed helplessly. "But
I can't let him bring you home, my
DEAR
She came to him slowly and laid her
hands upon his shoulders. Grandfather
and granddaughter were nearly of the
same height. and she looked squarely
into his eyes. Then you must say il
is because you want to come for me
not because / mustn't come with joe
But I think it is little because you
mustn't come with joe he answered
especially from the Pixies. Don't you
see that 1t mightnt be we'll for Joe
himself if the Judge should happen to
see him? l understand he warned the
boy to keep away from the neighbor-
hood entirely or he would have him
locked up for dice-throving The Judge
is a very influential man. you know
and as determined in matters like this
as he is irritable
"Oh. IL you put it on that ground
the girl replied. her eyes softening, Il
think you'd better come for me your
self
Very well. put it on that ground,
he returned. smiling upon her.
Then I'll send Joe word and get sup
per-" she said. kissing him.
II was the supper hour not only for
them. but everywhere in Canaan, and
the cold air of the streets bore up and
down and around corners the smell OF
things frying. The diniug-room win
dows OF all the houses threw bright
patches on the snow of the side yards
the windows OF other rooms. except
!, lfeSr af ff@ Kitchens were d. rt foY