The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-07-05

"Wtlt UON 90 riding NTH me tomorrow
! afternoon
ton, but like great soul, ignoring
the accident of his position as well as
the presence of Mr. Arp. he lmmedl-
ately proceeded. "Will you go riding
with me tomorrow afternoon
AREN'T you very good natured, Mr..
Flitcroftr' she asked, with an odd in
donation.
"Tm imposed on often enough" he
replied. rubbing his leg, "by people
who tllnk | am. WhyT'
"It Is only that your sitting so
abruptly upon the ground reminded ne
of something that happened long ago.
before left Canaan, the last time
met you"
81 don't think knew you before you
went away. You haven't said II you'll
go riding with me tomorrow. Please',-
"Get up" interrupted Mr.. Arp acid
ly. "SomeboGy'll fall over you II you
stay there" FlitcrOft departed abrupt
ly.
Ariel laughed, leaning forward, rest
ing her elbows OH her knee and her
chin in her hand, so that the shadow OF
her hat shielded her eyes from the
light. Il thought you looked surprts-
ed when you saw me today"
II reckon did" he exclaimed.
"Who wouldn't Of beenT
"Whyg''
wasn't the whole town the same
way?" he demanded. did you meet
anybody that didn't look surprisedr
"But why should they"
"Good graclousr' he broke out.
"Ain't you got any lookin' glassesr'
81 think almost all have are still
In the customs warehouse"
"Then use Mamie Pixies" respond
ed the old man. "The town never
dreamed you were goin' to turn out
pretty at all, let alone the way you've
turned out pretty The TOcsin had a
good deal about your looks and SO
forth in it once in letter from Paris.
but the folks that remembered you
kind Of set that down to the way pa
pers talk about anybody with money.
and nobody was prepared for It when
they saw you. You don't need to drop
no cOurtesies to me-" He set his mouth
grimly In response to the bow she
made him. II think female beauty Ia
like all other human furbelows and
as hol.er as heaven will be If only the
good people are let in. But yet | did
stop to look at You when you went
past me today, and | kept on lookin'
long as you were In sight. I reckon
always will when git the chance. too
only shows what human nature Is. But
that wasn't all that folks were starln'
At today. 1t was your walkin' with
Joe Louden that really finished 'em.
and can say II upset me more than
anything I've seen for a good many
years"
Upset you. Mr.. Arp" she cried. III
don't quite see."
! The old man shook his head deplor-
ingly. AFTER what I'd written you
about that boy
"Ah," she said softly. touching bis
SLEEVE with her fingers II haven't
thanked you for that"
"You needn't" he returned sharply.
1T was pleasure. Do you remember
how eosy and quick promised your"
II remember that you were very
kind"
"Klndr He gave forth an acid aud
chilling laugh. at was about two
months after Louden ran away and he
fore you and Roger left Canaan, and
you asked me to promise to write to
you whenever word OF thar outcast
II didn't put II 80 NJ Arp"
mo, but you'd ought of! You asked
me to write you whatever news Of him
Should come, and If he came back to
tell you how and when and all about II.
And did II and kept You sharp on his
record ever since he landed here again.
Do you know why I've done It? Do
you know why promised so quick and
easy would do it2''
"Out OF kindness of your heart,
think"
The acid laugh was repeated. mo.
You couldn't of guessed cold
Or. promised, and kept my promise
because | knew there would never be
anything good to tell. And there never
vast
"Ncthing at all1" she insisted grave
y. tt
Never! | leave II to you II I've writ
ten ous good word OF him"