The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1907-07-11
Continued from last week.
CHAPTER XVI.

CHAPTER XXvI.
Y YE woke to the Ginning Of bells,
- and as his eyes slowly opened
the sorrowful people Of a
u Il dream, who seemed to be
bending over him, weeping, swan back
into the darkness of the night whence
they had come and returned to the i'm
perceptible. leaving their shadows in
bis heart Slowly he rose. stumbled
Into the outer room and released the
huttering shade, but the sunshine,
sprinSing like a golden lover through
the open window, only dazzled him and
found no answering gladness to greet
It or Joy in the royal day 1t heralded.
II would be an hour at least before
time to start to church, when Ariel ex-
pected him. He stared absently up the
street, then down and, after that, be-
gan slowly to walk in the latter direc-
ton with no very active consciousness
or care Of where be went. He had
fallen into a profound reverie, SO deep
that when he had crossed the bridge
and turned into a dusty road which
ran along the river bank he stopped
mechanically beside the trunk Of fall
90 sycamore and, lifting his head for
the first time since he had set out
looked about him with melancholy
,eerplexity, 4 little surprised to fnd
himself there.
For this was the spot where he had
6rst seen the new Ariel, and on that
fallen sycamore they had sat together.
Remember, across Main street bridge
at noonr' And Joe's cheeks burned
ss he recalled why he had not under
stood the clear voice that had haunted
him. But that shame had fallen from
him; she had changed all that, as she
had changed so many things. He sank
down in the long grass, with his back
AGAINST the log. and stared out over the
6elds of tall corn shaking in steady
wind all the way to the horizon.
Changed so many things?" he said,
half aloud. "Everything~ Ah, yes,
she had changed the whole world for
Joseph Louden-at his first sight Of
her, AND now it aeemed to him that
be was % lose Der, but not in the
way he had thought.
EAlpost from the very first he had
the feeling that nothing 80 beautiful
a. that she should stay in Canaan
could happen to him. he Was sure
that she was but for the little while,
that her coming was like the dying
petals Of which be he'd told her.
Changed SO many things"
The bars that had been between him
and half Of his world were down. shat
tsred, never more to be replaced, and
the ban of Canaan was lifted. Could
this have been save for her? And upon
that thought he got to his feet, utter
ing an exclamation Of bitter self re-
proach, asking himself angrily what he
was doing. He knew how much she
gave him, Yhat full measure of hes at
fecdon. Was not that enough? Out
upon you, Louden! Are you to sulk IN
your tent, dour In the gloom, or to play
q mans part, and IL she be happy turn
Q CHEEKY face upon her joy2
And thus this pilgrim recrossed the
bridge, emerging to the street with his
bead up, smiling, and his shoulders
thrown back, so that none might see
the burden he carried.
Ariel was waiting on the porch for
him. She wore the same dress she had
worn that Sunday Of their tryst-that
exquisite dress, with the faint lavender
overtint, like the tender colors Of the
beautiful day he made his own. She
had not worn it since. and he was far
distant when he caught the first flick
ering glimpse Of her through the lower
branches Of the naples, but he remem-
bered. And again. as on that day, he
heard faraway, ineffable music, the
elfand horns, sounding the mysterious
reveille which had wakened his soul to
her coming.
She came to the gate to meet him and
gave him her hand in greeting without
q word or the need Of one-from
either. Then together they set forth
over the sun fecked pavement, the
naples swishing above them, heavier
branches grooming in the strong breeze,
under a sky like Della Robbia back
ground And up against the glorious
blue Of it some laughing, invisible god
was blowing small rounded clouds Of
pure cotton, as children blow thistle
down.
When he opened her parasol as they
came out into the broad sunshine be-
yond upper Main street there was the
faintest mingling Of wild roses and Gin
namon loosed on the air.
"Joe," she said, I'm very happy!'
That's right" he returned heartily.
81 think you always will be-"
"But, oh, WISH" she went on, that
Mr.. Arp could have lived to see you
come down the courthouse steps"
"God bless him. said Joe. Il can
hear the argument
oil horo hpan