Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-04-17
Miss pike begged her a little perulanr-

Miss Pike begged her little petuiant-
ly to join them.
She came, looking about her dream
lily and touching to her lips now aud
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 rs
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 If she would
not prefer to remove it, Offering to car
ry 1t indoors for her, to Ariels room,
to insure its safety. "You look so
sort of temporary, wearing it." she
urged; "as If you We're only here for
little while. It's the loveliest hat 1
ever saw, and so fragile, too, but I'll
take care"--
81 am wearing my hat" answered
Ariel, because at any moment may
decide to go for long walk"
ooh, hope not" said Mamie
'"rhere are sure to be people. A few
still come, even though Pm an en-
gagged girl. I expect that's just to con-
sole me, though" she added, smiling
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
he terribly disappointed if you weren't
here. 1 shouldn't wonder If the whole
town came. It's curious enough about
your
And now the young men of the town,
laboriously arranged as to 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
err inclining to move in pairs. the
eldest, such as We're 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 We're few who did not before
evening fell turn in mt 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-.
scented TO the visitor.
Ariel sat ut the top OF the steps and.
looking amiably over Their heads, talk
cd with such as could get near her
There We're 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 Ariels right, upon
the step Just below her, so disposing
the great body and the ponderous
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 talkative, had
nothing to say. lie seemed to find suf
fcient occupation in keeping the place
lie had gained, and from this close
vantage he fastened his small eyes
immoyably upon Ariel's 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 WITH
cisms at one another's expense, which.
though evoked for Ariel's benefit tall
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 IL 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" 20
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 thin, rosy pig
ment, blaclibirds were calling each 9th
err home to beech and elm, and Ariers
eyes were fixed upon the western dis
lance Of the street where gold dust was
beginning to culver 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
Ssh" But she leaned over and ad.
dressed Mr.. Bradbury. who, shut out.
not only from the group about her, bu,
from the other centerlng upon Miss
Pike as well, was holding private
conversation with friend in like mis-
fortune.