The Sauk Centre herald., 1907-06-06
Ana now the young men or the town,

squads, making their Sunday rounds,
the youngest working in phalanxes of
threes and fours, those somewhat old
er inclining to 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 it advan-
tageous to travel alone. OF 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 amiably 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 and behavior
of Mr.. Flitcroft, who that day cooled
the feeling of friendship which several
of 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 Arieps right, upon
the step just below her, so disposing
the great body and the ponderous
arms and legs the gods had given him
to sit beside her or approach her from
that direction within conversational
distance.
Norbert, not ordinarily talkative, had
nothing to say. He seemed to find suf-
ficient occupation in keeping the place
he had gained, and from this close
vantage he fastened his small eyes
immovably upon Ariers 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 were able to ap-
proach upon that side and hold speech
with her.
The conversation of the gallants con-
sisted for the greater part of witt
cisms at one another's expense, which,
though evoked for Ariel's benefit (all
eyes furtively reverting to her as each
shaft was loosed), she found more or
less enigmatical. The young men, how
ever, laughed at each other loudly and
seemed content if now and then she
smiled. "You must be frightfully en-
nuied with all this" Eugene said to
her. "You see how provincial we still
are"
She did not answer. She had not
heard him. The shadows were stretch
ing themselves over the grass long and
attenuated. The sunlight upon the trees
and houses was like a thin, rosy pig
ment, blackbirds We're calling each 9th
er home to beech and elm, and Ariers
eyes were fixed upon the western dis
tance of the street where gold dust was
beginning to quiver in the air. She did
not hear Eugene, but she started a
moment later when the name Joe Lou
den was pronounced by young man,
the poetic Bradbury, on the step below
Eugene. Some one Immediately said,
"Shv' But she leaned over and ad-
dressed Mr.. Bradbury, who, shut out,
not only from the group about her, but
from the other centering upon Miss
Pike as well, was holding private
conversation with friend in like mis-
fortune.
what were you saying Of Mr. Lou
den?" she asked, smiling down upon
which inspired his description of her
as "a revelation and a dreamy
"Oh, nothing particular" was his en-
barrassed reply. II only mentioned I'd
heard there was some talk among
the He paused awkwardly, remem-
bering that Ariel had walked with
Joseph Louden in the face of Canaan
that very day. ''That is, mean to say,
there's some talk of his running for
mayor"
"WhatY
There was general exclamation,
followed by an uncomfortable moment
or two Of silence. No one present was
unaware of that noon walk, though
there was prevalent a pleasing notion
that it would not happen again, found
ed on the idea that Ariel, having only
arrived the previous evening, had prob
ably met Joe on the street by accident
and, remembering him as a playmate
of her childhood and uninformed as to
his reputation, had, naturally enough,
permitted him to walk home with her.
Mr.. Flitcroft broke the silence, rush.
ing into words with derisive laugh:
Yes, he's talked Of for mayor-by
the saloon people and the niggers! l
expect the Beaver Beach crowd would
be for him, and if tramps could vote
he might
"What is Beaver BeachY asked Ariel.
not turning.
what is Beaver Beach? he repeat
ed and cast his eyes to the sky, shak-
ing his head awesomely. Its place."
he said, with abysmal solemnity-"a
place l shouldn't have mentioned in
your presence. Miss Tabor"
what has it to do with Mr.. Lou
den?
The predestined Norbert conceived
the present to be heaven sent oppor-
tunity to enlighten her concerning Joe's
character since the Pixies anneared to