The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-11-18

we've got a call TO pc any different
now" He swung around TO his desk
emphatically on the last word. and Joe
turned away and went out quietly
But II was bright morning to which
he emerged from the outer doors or
the factory. and he made his WY
toward Main street at lively gait As
he turned the corner opposite the Ma
tional House he walked into Mr. EskeW
Arp. The old man drew back angrily
Lord "a mercy" cried Joe heart
lily. ITS Mr. Arp, I almost ran
you down.'' Then. as Mr. Arp made
no response. but stood stockstil In
the way. staring at him hercely, Don't
you know me, Mr.. Arp the young man
asked. I'm Joe Louden."
Eskew abruptly thrust his face close
to the others. NO free seatsH he
Missed. savagely; and swept across 10
the hotel to set his world ahre-
Joe looked after the irate. receding
figure. and watched it disappear into
the Main-street door of the National
House. As the door closed he became
aware OF a mighty shadow upon the
pavement. and turning. beheld a fat
young man. wearing upon his forehead
scar similar TO his own, waddling by
with eyes fixed upon him.
How are you. Norbert7' Joe began.
Don't you remember me7 T." He
came TO full stop as the fat one,
token of recognition. passed baleful-
" on
Joe proceeded slowly until he came
to the Tocsin building. At the foot OF
the stairway leading up to the offices
he hesitated for few moments: then
he turned away and walked toward the
quieter part OF Main street Most OF
the people he met took no notice Of
him. only two or three giving him sec
ond chances of half-cogntzance. as
though he reminded them of some one
they could not place. and 1T was not
until he had come near the Pike man
sion that he saw a full recognition in
the eyes OF one OF the many whom he
knew and who had known him in his
boyhood In the town. lady. turning
a corner. looked UP carelessly. and
then half-stopped within few feet or
him, as II startled. Joe's cheeks went
a sudden crimson; for IT was the lady
of his old dreams
Seven years had made Mamie Pike
only prettier. She had grown into her
young womanhood with an ampleneSS
that had nothing OF Oversuf1ciency IN
IT, nor anywhere a threat that some
day there might be too much or her.
Not quite seventeen when he had last
seen her. now. at twenty-four. her am
Der hair deliberately becoming plump
and regular face, all of her old charm
came over him once more, and II I'M
mediateIy seemed to him that he saw
clearly his real reason for coming back
to Canaan. She had been the Rich
Littls-Girl OF his child days. the golden
princess playing In the palace grounds.
and in his early boyho0d (untn he had
grown wicked and shabby he had been
sometimes Invited TO the Pike mansion
for the games and icecream or the
daughter of the house. before her dane
ing DAYS began. He had gone timtdly.
not daring ever TO cali her in Quaker
Meeting" or ssPostofice." but watching
her reverentiy and surreptltiously and
continually. She had always seemed 70
him the one thing OF all the world most
rare most mysterious. most unap-
proachable. She had not offered an
apparition less 50 In those days when
he began to come under the suspicion
Of Canaan. when the old people began
to look upon him holly. the young peo-
pie coldly- His very exclusion wove
for him a glamor about her, and she
was more than ever his moon, rars
lovely. unattainable and brilliant, never
10 be reached by his lifted arms. but
only by his lifted eyes. Nor had his
long absence obliterated that light:
somewhere in his dreams 1t always had
place, shining. perhaps. with fainter
luster as the years grew 70 seven, but
never gone altogether. Now, at last,
that he stood IN her very presence
again. 1t sprang to the full flood Of its
old brilliance-and more.
Az she came to her half-stop OF sur
prise, startled. he took his courage IN
two hands and. lifting his hat, stepped
TO her side.
"You-you remember me?" he STAN
mered.
yes" she answered. little breath
Iessly.
~Ah, that's kind OF your he cried.
and began to walk on with her uncon-
sciousIy. At feel like a returned ghost
wandering about-invisible and unrec-
ognlzed. So few people seem to re-
member me-"
IT think you are wrong. I think
you'll ind everybody remembers you
she responded uneasily.
mo. I'm -fraid not" he began T."
Tn afraid they do.
Joe laughed a little. My father was
saying something like that TO me a
whi1e ago. He meant that they used
to think me great scapegrace here.
Do you mean that?'
I'D scarcely like to say she an
swered. her face growing more trou-
bled, for they were close on the impe-
rial domain.
didn't do anything so outrageous, 40
seems to me-" He laughed again. IT
know your father was angry with me
once or twice. especially the night
hid on your porch to watch you-to
watch you dance. I mean But, you
see. I've come back to rehabilitats my
self. to-
She interrupted him. They were not
far from her gate. and she saw her
father standing in the yard. directing a
painter who was at work on one OF
the cast-iron deer. The Judge was ap-
parently In good spirits. laughing with
the workman over some Jest between
them. but that did not lessen Mamis's
nervousness.
Mr.. Louden." she said, in as kindly
a tone as she could. Il shall have to
ask you not TO walk with me. Ny
father would not like it,"
Joe stopped with a Jerk.
why. III thought I'd 20 IN and
shake hands with him--and tell
him T."
Astonishment that partook OF terror
and OF awe spread itself instantly upon
her face.
Good gracious she cried NO.
Very well" said Joe, humblH
Good by"