Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-03-04

\ ing through Main street be- hind two galloping bays, upon the back seat a ghostly white old man with closed eyes, supported by two pale la dies, his head upon the shoulder of the taller, while beside the driver young man whose coat and hands were bloody, worked over the hurts of an in- jured dog. Sam Warden's whip sang across the horses; lather gathered on their Hanks. and Arlel's voice steadily urged on the pace, Quicker, Sam If you can" For there was little breath left in the body of Eskew Arp.
 Mamie, almost as white as the old man, was silent. but she had not hesi- tated in her daring now that she had been taught to dare. She had not come to be Ariel's friend and honest follower for nothing, and it was Ma mic who had cried to Joe to lift Eskew into the carriage. You must come. too" she said. "We will need you" And so it came to pass that under the eyes of Canaan Joe Louden rode in Judge Pike's carriage at the bidding of Judge Pike's daughter.
 Townr. Ariel's own house they sped with the stricken octogenarian, for he was "alone in the world" and she would not take him to the cottage where he had lived for many years by himself, bleak little house, a derelict of the ''early days left stranded far down in the town between woolen mill and the water works. The work men were beginning their dinners un- der the big trees but as Sam Warden drew in the lathered horses at the gate they set down their tin buckets hastily and ran to help Joe lift the old man out. Carefully they bore him into the house and laid him upon bed in one of the finished rooms. He did not speak or move, and the workmen un- covered their heads as they went out. but Joe knew that they were mistaken. Its all right, MT. Arp" he said, as Ariel knelt by the bed with water and restoratives. "It's all right. Don't you worry" ,.
 Then the veterans lips twitched, and, though his eyes remained closed, Joe saw that Eskew understood, for he gasped feebly, "Pos-i-tive-ly-no-free -seatS!"
 To Mrs. Louden, sewing at an up- stairs window, the sight of her stepson descending from Judge Pike's carriage was sufficiently startling, but when she saw Mamie Pike take Responsibility from his masters arms and carry him tenderly indoors, while Joe and Ariel occupied themselves with MT. Arp, the good lady sprang to her feet as if she had been stung, regardlessly sending her workbasket and its contents scat tering over the floor and ran down the stairs three steps at time.
 At the front door she met her hus. band. entering for his dinner, and she leaped at him. Had he seen? What was it? What had happened?
 Mir. Louden rubbed his chin beard, in dulging himself in pause which was like to prove fatal to his companion, finally vouchsaflng the information that the doctors buggy was just turning the corner. Eskew Arp had suffered a ''stroke," it was said, and, in Louden's opinion, was mighty sick man. His spouse replied In no uncertain terms that she had seen quite that much for herself. urging him to continue, which he did with delberation that caused her to recall her wedding day with a gust of passionate self reproach. Pres entity he managed to interrupt, remind ing her that her dining room windows comma:--. -7 comprehensive a view of the next house as did the front steps. and after time her housewifely duty so far prevailed over her indignation at the mans unwholesome stolidity that she followed him down the hall to pre- side over tho meal, not, however, to partake largely of it herself.
 Mfr. Loudcn had no information of Eugene's mishap, nor had Mrs. Lou den any suspicion that all was not we'll with the young man. and. hearing him enter the front door, she called to him that his dinner was waiting. Flu gene. however, made no reply and went upstairs to his own apartment with. out coming into the dining room. 1 A small crowd. nelghboring children servants and negroes. had gathered about Ariel's gate. and Mrs. Louden watched the worklngmen disperse this assembly, gather up their tools and de. part. Then Mamie came out of the house and. lowing sadly to three old men who were entering the gate as she left ii. stepped into her carriage and ! drove away. The newcomers. Colonel FIitcroft. Squire Buckalew and Peter Bradbury. glanced at the doctors bug Gy. shook their heads at one another and slowly went up to the porch. where Joe met them. Mrs. Louden uttered a sharp exclamation. for the colonel shook hands with her stepsOn.
 ! Perhaps Flitcroft himself was sur. priscd. He had offered his hand all most unconsciously, and the greeting was embarrassed and perfunetory. but his two companions. each in turn gravely followed his lead. and Joe's set face flushed little. It was the first time in many years that men oi their kind in Canaan had offered him this saIutztion.
 He wouldn't let me sen1 for you ; he told them. He said he knew you'd be here soon without that" And hs lesi the way to Eskew's bedside.
 Joe and the doctor had undressed the ] oh man and had put him into nighs