The San Francisco call., 1906-11-11

Then suddenly, without being able to
prevent 1t. she sobbed.
No he said gently, II see you don't.
And you let yourself be fool be-
cause there are lot of fools in there"
khe gave way all at once to q gust
of sorrow and bitterness. She bent far
over and caught his hand and laid
it against her wet cheek "Oh,
joe" she whispered, brokenly. II think
we have such hard lives, you and IL
1t don't seem right-while we're so
youngi Why don't we be like the
others? Why can't we have some of
the fun?"
He withdrew his hand with the en-
barrassment and shame he would have
felt had she been boy. Get OUT
he said feebly.
She did not seem to notice, but. still
STOPPING. rested her elbows on her
knees and her face in her hands. II
try SO hard to have fun, to be like the
rest-and It's always a mistake, al
ways, always, always!' She rocked
herself slightly from side to side. II
am a fool. it's the truth. or I wouldn't
have come tonight. I want to be at
tractive-I want to be in the things.
l want to laugh like they do
ITO laugh just to laugh. and not be-
cause there's something funny?'
Yes. | do, / do! And to know how
to dress and to wear my hair-there
must be some place where you can
learn those things. I've never had
any one to show me, All, Grand
father said something like that this
afternoon-poor mani We're in the
same case. If we only had some one
to show us, 1t all seems so blind, here
in Canaan, for him and me, | don't
say it's not my own fault as much as
ari no ~
feel as If I'd learned how to be a girl
yet, Joe It's only lately I've cared
but I'm Il, Joe, and-and today-today
II was sent homc-and tonight"
She faltered. came to a stop, and her
whole body was shaken with sobs IT
hate myself SO for crying-for every
thingr
III tell you something" he whis-
pered, chuckling desperately. "fGene
made me unpack his trunk, and I don't
belleve he's as great a man at college
as he is here. l opened one of his
books. and some one had written in
II, Prigamaloo Bantry, the Glass Try
To-Be. He'd never noticed. and you
ought to have heard him go on! You'd
have Just died. Ariel almost bust
wide openl 1t was a mean trick in
me, but | couldn't help showing it
to him"
Jee's object was obtained. She
stopped crying. and, wlping her ewes.
smiled family. Then she became grave.
You're jealous of Eugene she said.
He considered this for a moment.
fes, he answered thoughtsully. II
am But | wouldn't think about him
differently on that account Ana
wouldn't talk about him to any one
but YOU.
Not even to-" She left the ques-
tion unfinished.
No he said. quietly "of course
"No2 Because it wouldn't be any
to talk to her. anyway"
or course you don'tr' Her voice
had grown steady. You say / am a
fool. What arc you?'S
ou needn't worry about me-" he
began. Il can take care"
Sh!' she whispered. warningly. The
music had stopped. loud clatter OF
voices and laughter succeeding it.
What need to be careful" Joe as
sured her, with all that noise going
on?" 9e
You must go away" She said. anx
iously. oh. please. Joel"
Not vet; / want
she coughed loudly. Eugene and Ma
mic Pike had come TO the window with
the evident intention of occupying the
veranda, but perceiving Ariel aged
with threads in her sleeve they turned
away and disappeared. Other coupIes
looked out from time to time. and find
ing the solitary figure in possession re-
treated abruptly to seek stairways and
remote corners for the things they
were impelled to say
And so Ariel held the porch for three
dances and three intermissions. Occur
nVinR great M ~ of he
treaties that her obdurate and reckless
companion should go. When, for the
fourth time, the music sounded, her agi-
tation had so increased that she was
visibly trembling. II can't stand II.
joe" she said. bending over him. II
don't know what would happen If they
found you. You've got to CO."
NO, haven't" he chuckled "They
haven't even distributed the supper
YETI
And you take all the chances" she
said. slowly. Just to see her pass that
window few times.n
What chances?"
"of what the Judge will do IL any one
sees YOU"
Nothing; because II any one saw me
I'd leave"
Please CO."
"'Sht''
A celored waiter, smiling graciously,
came out upon the porch bearing a tray
of salad. hot oysters and coffee. Ariel
shook her head.
Il don't want any" she murmured.
The waiter turned away in pity and
was re-entering the window when a
passionate whisper fell upon his ear as
well as upon Ariels.
Take iti'
Ma'am?" said the waiter
I've changed my mind" she replied
quickly. The waiter. his elation re-
stored, gave of his viands with the SUI
perfiuous bounty loved by his race when.
distributing the product OF the wealthy.
When he had gone. Give me every
thing that's hot" said Joe You can
keep the salad"
Il couldn't eat 1t or anything else"
she answered, thrusting the plate be-
tween the palms.
For time there was silence. From
within the house came the continuous
babble of voices and laughter, the clink
of cutlery on china. The young peo-
pie spent long time over their supper.
BY and by the waiter returned to the
veranda, deposited a plate of colored