Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-04-25

Ariel flushed little when she per-
ceived the extent of their conspicuous
ness, but 1t was not the blush that Joe
remembered had redeemed the tanned
skin of old, for her brownness had
gone long ago. though it had not left
her merely pink and white. This was
delicate roslness rising from her
cheeks to her temples, as the earliest
dawn rises. If there had been many
words left in Joe he would have called
1t divine blush. 1t fascinated him,
and IL anything could have deepened
the glamour about her It would have
been this blush. He did not under
stand 1t, but when he saw Il lac STUN
bled.
Those who gaped and stared were
for him only .blurs In the background.
Truly, he saw men as trees walk
ing" and when it became necessary to
step out to the curb in passing some
clunp of people IT was to him as il
Ariel and he, enchantedly alone, were
working their way through underbrush
in the woods.
He kept trying TO realize that this
lady Of wonder was Ariel Tabor. but
he could not. lie could not connect the
shabby Ariel, whom he had treated as
one boy treats another, with this young
woman Of the world. He had always
been embarrassed himself and asha N ed
OF her when anything she did made
him remember that, after all, she was a
girl, as on the day he ran away when
she kissed lock Of his hair escaping
from the bandsge. With that recollec-
tlon even his ears grew red. 1t did
not seem probable that 1t would ever
happen again. The next instant he
heard himself calling her Miss Ta-
Dor"
At this she seemed amused. you
ought to have called me that years
ago" she said, "for all you knew me-
II did know her-you, I mean he
answered. II used to know nearly
everythn you We're going TO say be-
fore you said it. 1t seems strange
now
yes" she interrupted at does seem
strange now"
Somehow" he went on, II doubt II
now I'd know"
Somehow" she echoed, with fine
gravity, 81 doubt it too"
Although he had so dim a perception
of the staring and whispering which
greeted and followed them. Ariel, OF
course. was thoroughly aware Of 1t,
though the only sign she gave was the
slight blush. which very soon disap-
peared That people turned to look at
her may have been not altogether
novelty. A girl who had learned to
aDpear unconscious OF the continental
stare, the following gaze OF the boule
wards. the frank glasses Of the costan
"a in Rome. was not Ill equipped to
face Main street. Canaan, even as il
was today.
Under the sycamcres before they
started they had not talked a great
deal. There had been long silences, al
most all her questions concerning the
period Of his runaway absence. She
appeared to know and to understand
everything which had happened since
his return to the town. He had not, IL
his turn, reached the point where ne
would begin to question her. He was
too breathless in his consciousness o.
the marvellous present hour. She hat
told him of the death of Roger TABOR
the wear before. Poor man. she sait
gently. He lived to see how the otn
err fellows did it at last and everybod!
liked him He was very happy owe
there"
After little while she had said tina
it was growing close upon lunch time
she must be going back.
"Then- goodby," he repi!e'
ruefully.
why"
"I'm afraid you don't understand
wouldn't do for you to be seen VIII
me. Perhaps, though, you do under
stand Wasn't that why you asked m
to meet you out here beyond tn
BRIDGE"
In answer she looked at him full an
straight for three seconds, then threN
, back her head and closed her eyes tlgh
with laughter. Without word sh
took the parasol from him, opened
; herself placed the smooth white cori
. handle of it in his hand and light
took his arm. There was no furtne
demur on the part of the young maj
He did not know where she was gein:
He did not ask.
q. Once Ariel smiled politely, not at NJ
Louden, and inclined her head twice
with the result that the latter, afte
thinking for time Of how GRACEFUL
, she did it and how pretty the top
=, her hat was, became gradually col
y scious Of a meaning in her action-ths
she had bowed to some one across Il
street He lifted his hat, about fol
minutes late, and discovered Nam
!, Pike and Eugene upon the opposi'
= pavement walking home from churc
= together. Joe changed color.
The sound of Arel's voice brougl
: him to himself.
!" "She is lovelier than ever, isn't she
D Eyes, indeed" he answered blankly
"Would you still risk she bega
II smiling, but, apparently thinking be
. ter of it, changed her question: "Wh'
. is the name Of your dog, Mr., Louder
y You haven't told me"
I ooh, he's Just yellow dog" he eva
- ed nSkllfully