Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1907-08-22
CHAPTER XIII.

} Ing the front gate. The heavy Sunday
Z dinner was finished in silence ION til,
, part of Judge Pike deafening) about {
o'clock, aud soon after Mamie tossed
a number of cushions out upon the
stoop between the cast iron dogs. Sam
Warden having previously covered the
steps with a rug and placed several
garden chairs near by on the grass
These simple preparations concluded
Eugent sprawled comfortably upon the
rug and Mamie seated herself near
him, while Ariel wandered with appar.
ent aimlessness about the lawn. fol.
lowed by the gaze of Mr.. Bantry until
Miss Pike begged her little petulant.
ly TO join them.
She came. looking about her dream
lily and touching to her lips now and
then. with an absent air, clover bios
som she had found In the longer grass
against the fence. She stopped TO pat
the neck of one OF the cast iron deer
and, with grave eyes, proffered the
clover top first for inspection, then as
food. There were those In the world
who seeing her. might have wondered
that the deer did not play Galatea and
| come TO life.
She had put on her hat after dinner.
and Mamie now inquired IL she would
not prefer to remove II, Offering TO car
ry IL indoors for her, TO Ariel's room.
to insure It's safety. "You look so
sort Of temporary, wearing IT," she
urged; "ns IL you were only here for
| NAa A.N n
ever saw, and so fragile, too. but I'll
take care''-
IL am wearing my hat" answered
Ariel, because at any moment I may
decide to go for long walk"
"0h. hope not" said Mamie.
''There are sure to be people. A few
still come. even though I'm an en-
gagged girl. expect that's Just to con-
sole me, though" she added. smiling
over this worn qulp OF the betrothed
and shaking her head at Eugene. who
grew red and coughed. "There'll be
plenty today. but they won't be here
to see me. It's you, Ariel. and they'll
be terribly disappointed II you weren't
here. shouldn't wonder II the whole
town came It's curious enough about
your
And now the young men Of. the town,
laboriously arranged as 20 apparel.
began TO appear on the street in small
squads. making their Sunday rounds.
the youngest working In phalanxes of
threes and fours. those somewhat old
er inclining 10 move In pairs, the
eldest such as were now beginning to
be considered middle aged beaus or
(by the extremely youthful "old bach.
elors," evidently considered Il advan-
tageous 10 travel alone. or all these
there were few who did not before
evening fell turn In at the gate OF the
Pike mansion. Consciously. shyly or
confidently, according to the condition
OF their souls they made their way
between the cast iron deer TO be pre-
sented TO the visitor.
Ariel sat at the top OF the steps and,
looking amlably over their heads. talk.
ed with such as could get near her.
There were many who could not. and
Mamie, occupying the bench below.
was surrounded by the overflow. The
difficulty OF reaching and maintaining
position near Miss Tabor was In. |
creased by the attitude aud behavior
OF Mr.. Flitcroft, who that day cooled D
the feeling OF friendship which several
or his fellow townsmen had hitherto |
entertained for him. He had been the |
first TO arrive. coming alone. though |
that was not his custom, and he es. |
tablished himself at Ariers right, upon
the step Just below her, so disposlng
ne great body and the pondesous
arms and legs the gods had given him
that no one could mount above him
to sit beside her or approach her from
that direction within conversational
distance.
Norbert not ordinarily talkatiye. had
nothing 10 say, He seemed 10 lind suf.
hcient occupation in keeping the place
he had gained, and from this close
vantage he fastened his small ewes
immovably upon ATiers profile. Eu-
gene, also apparently determined not
TO move, sat throughout the afternoon
at her left but as he was thin others
who came and went We're able 10 ap-
proaeh upon that side and hold speech
with her.
The conversation OF the gallants con.
sisted for the greater part OF With
cisms at one another's expense. which.
though evoked Tor Ariels benefit lan
eyes furuvely reverting 20 her as each
shaft was loosedl. she found more OF
less enigmatieal. The young men. how.
ever. laughed at each other loudly and
seemed content II now aud then she
smiled. "lou must be frightfuly en-.
nuied with all this" Eugene said 10
her. "fou see how provincial we still
are"
She did not answer. She had not
heard him. The shadows were stretch
ng themselves over the grass long and
lttenuated. The sunlight upon the trees