The San Francisco call., 1906-12-16
The San Francisco Sunday Call.
>@Y
BOOTHE
TARkINGTCN

ONCA ACTUALLY udppcu- IL Just a light
coming into dark room and out again
One day, long ago-I never forgot it.
some apple-blossoms blew by me as ]
passed an orchard and it's like that,
too. But, oh. my dear, when you go
you'll leave a fragrance In my heart
that will lasty'
She turned toward him. her face suf-
have died than have said that to me
once. she cried. I'm glad you're weak
enough now to confess itv'
He sank down again into his chair
and his arms fell heavily on the desk.
Confess itT' he cried. despairingly.
And you don't deny that you're going
away again-so It's truei I wish I
hadn't realized it 50 soon. I think I'd
rather have tried to fool myself about
1t little longer~
"Joe." she cried. in voice OF great
pain. you mustn't feel like that, How
do you know I'm going away again.
Why should I want the old house nut
In order unless / mean to stay? And
IL 1 went, you know that could never
change: you know how I've always
cared for you"
Yes" he said. II do know how. tt
was always the same and it always
will be, won't it?''
Tive shown that" she returned,
quickly.
'sYes. You say I know how you've
cared for me-and do. I know how.
It's just in one certain way-Jonathan
and David"
isn't that a pretty good way. Joe~'
Never fear that I don't understand
He got TO his feet again and looked at
her steadily.
Thank you. joe" She wiped sudden
tears from her eyes.
Don't you be sorry for me-" he said.
do you think that passing the love
Of women isn't enough for me?"
NO" she answered. humbly.
house tomorrow" he began. "And for
the
tive kept you so long.'' she inter
rupted. helped to a meek sort OF gay
ETY. by his matter r-of-fact tone Good
night. Joe" She gave him her hand.
II don't want you to come with me. 1t
isn't very late and this is Canaan
II want TO come with you, however"
he said. picking up his hat. you can't
go alone"
But you are so tired. you
she was interrupted There were
r1ufned. flying footsteps on the stairs,
and q shabby little man ran furtiveIy
into the room. shut the door behind
him. and set his back against 1t. His
face was mottled like . colcred map.
thick lines Of perspiration shining
across the spiotches
Joe he painted. I've got Nashville
good. and he's got me good. tool got
to clear out. He's fixsd me good. d-n
him! but he won't trouble nobody
Joe was across the room like a
flying shadow.
"QuietT His voice rang like shot.
and on the instant his hand fell sharply
across the speakers mouth. In there,
Happy
He threw an arm across the little
mans shoulders and swung him toward
the door OF the other room
Happy Fear looked up from beneath
the down-bent brim of his black slouch
hat: his eyes followed an imperious
gesture toward Ariel. gave her a brief.
ghastly stare, and stumbled into the
inner chamber.
''Wait% Joe said. cavalierIy, to Ariel
He went in quickly after Mr.. Fear and
This was Joseph Louden. attorney at
law; and to Ariel II was like a new
face seen In Q 7ashlight--not at all the
face Of joe The sense of hts strange
ness, bis unfamifiarity In this electrical
aspect overcame her. She was pos
sessed by astonishment- Did she know
him 30 well. after ails The strange
client had burst IN. shaken beyond be-
lief with some passion unknown to her.
but Joe, alert, and niasterfuf beyond
denial, had controlled him instantly;
had swept him into the other room
with broom. Could % be that Joe
sometimes did other things in the same
sweeping fashion?
She heard q match struck in the next
room, and the voices OF the two men
Joes, then the others. the latter at
first broken and protestive. but soon
rising shrilly. She could hear only
cry. almost scream: BY God. Joe, I
thought Ciaudine had chased him
around there TO do mew And, instantly,
followed Louden's voice:
Steady. Happy. steady
The name "Ciaudine" startled her:
and although she had had no compre-
hension of the arsot of Happy Fear,
the sense of a mysterious catastrophe
oppressed her: she was sure that some
thing horrible had happened. She went
TO the window; touched the shade.
which disappeared upward immedi-
ately. and lifted the sash. The front Of
square building in the Courthouse
square was bright with lights; and
figures were passing In and out OF the
Main street doors. She remembered
that this was the Jail.
"Claudiner' The voice OF the hus-
band Of Ciaudine was like the voice OF
one lsmenting over Jerusalem
Steady, Happy. steady
But. Joe. IL they git me. whatli she
do? She cpr't hold her job no longer
not diter tniS.
The door opened. and the two men
cape out. Joe with his hand on the
others shoulder. The splotches had
gone from Happy's face. leaving il an
even. deathly white He did not glance
toward Ariel: he gazed far beyond all
that was about him: and suddenly she
was aware of great tragedy The
little mans chin trembled and he swaI-
lowed painfully: nevertheless he bore
himself upright and dauntlessly as the
two walked slowly TO the door. like
men taking part in some fateful cere-
mony. Joe stopped upon the landing
at the head OF the stairs. but Happy
Fear went on. dumping heavily down
the steps
Its all right. Happy" said Joe. TITS
better for you to so alone Don't you
worry III see you through IL will be
all right"
Just a. you say. Joe.' breaking
voice came back from the foot OF the
steps,-"just as you say
The lawyer turned from the landing
and went rapidly to the window beside
Ariel. Together they watched the