Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-05-15

know I understand that it's all just
your beautiful frlendliness, don't you?"
at isn't beautiful; it's just me, joe"
she said. ut couldn't be any other
way"
Its enough that you should be here
now," he went on bravely, his voice
steady, though his hand shook. Moth
ing SO wonderful US your staying could
ever actually happen. It's just light
coming into dark room and out again.
One day long ago, l never forgot 1t,
some apple blossoms blew by me as l
passed an orchard, and it's like that
too. But, oh, my dear, when you so
you'll leave fragrance in my heart
that will last!''
She turned toward him, her face suf-
fused with rosy light you'd rather
have died than have said that to me
once" she cried. I'm glad you're
weak enough now to confess it!'
He sank down again into his chair,
and his arms fell heavily on the desk.
Confess it,! he cried despairingly.
"And you don't deny that you're going
away again-so it's true! wish /
hadn't realized it SO soon. l 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 l want the old house put
in order unless mean to stay? And II
I went you know that could never
change. You know how I've always
cared for YOU
"Yes," he said, II do know how. 1t
was always the same, and it always
will be, won't tit"
1--WE shown that" she returned
quickly.
Eyes. You say l know how you've
cared for me, and l do. l know how.
It's just in one certain way-Jonathan
and DAVID
isn't that pretty good way, Joe?"
"Never fear that 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.
'Tll have people at work on the old
house tomorrow" he began. land for
| the
1--WE kept you SO long" she inter-
rupted, helped to mech sort of gay
ETY. by his matter 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"
Il 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
mutfled, flying footsteps on the staiys,
and shabby little man ran furtively
into the room, shut the door behind
him and set his back against it. His
face was notified like a colored map,
thick lines of persplration shining
across the splotches
"Joe," he painted, 1--WE got Nashville
good, and he's got me good too. got
to clear out. He's fixed me good, but
he won't trouble nobody
Joe was across the room like fly
ing shadow.
"Quiet" His voice rang like n shot.
and on the instant his hand fell sharp.
ly across the speakers mouth. ain
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 SLOUGH
hat His eyes followed an imperious
gesture toward Ariel, gave her brief,
CHASTITY stare and stumbled into the In.
ner chamber.
''Wait" Joe said cavalierly to Ariel
He went in quickly after Mr.. Fear and
closed the door.
This was Joseph Louden, attorney nj
law. And to Ariel it was like new
face seen in flashlight-not at all the
face Of Joe. The sense of his strange
ness. his unfamiliarity in this cleo
trical aspect, overcame her. She was
possessed by establishment Did she
know him so well after all? The
strange client had burst in, shaken be
yond belief with some passion IN
known to her, but Joe, alert and mas
terful beyond denial. had controlled
him instantly; had swept him into the
other room rs with Il broom. Could
it be that Joe sometimes did other
things in the same sweeping fashion?
She heard match struck in the next
room and the voices of the two men
Joe's, then the others, the latter at
first broken and protestive, but soon
rising shrilly. She could hear only
fragments. Once she heard the client
cry. almost scream, "Joe, l thought
Claudlne had chased him around there
to do me!' And instantly followed
Louden's voice:
STEADY, Happy. steady"
The name "Claudins" startled her
and. although she had had no com
prehension of the argot of Happy
Fear, the sense Of mysterious catas
trophe oppressed her. She was SURF
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