Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-05-02

who entered the room and sat down to
whit for the absentee There were
plenty of chairs in the office now, book
cases also and big steel safe But
when evening came and the final gray
Of twilight had vanished from the win
| dow panes all had gone except one
woman who sat patiently, her eyes
upon the floor and her hands folded ia
her lap, until the footsteps Of the last
Of the others to depart had ceased to
sound upon the pavement below. Then
with wordless exclamation she
sprang to her feet, pulled tho window
shade carefully down to the sill and
when sha had done that struck q match
on the heel of her shoe-a solled white
canvas shoe, not a small one-and ap-
piled the flame to a gas Jet. The yell
/ low light fared up, and she began to
/ pace the room haggardly.
/ The courthouse bell rang o. and as
! the tremors following the last stroke
| pulsed themselves into silence She
heard football on the stairs and i'm
mediately relapsed into a chair, fold
D llG DtI uuIltlS uHulu III HeT zap, nGT eN-
/ preston composing itself to passivity,
for the step was very much lighter
than Joe's.
A lady beautifully dressed In white
dmity appeared in the doorway. She
hesitated at the threshold not, appar.
emily, because OF any timdity cher ex-
preston being too thoughtfully assur-
ed for that, but almost immedi ately
she came in and seated herself near
the desk, acknowledging the others
presence by slight inclination of the
head.
This grave courtesy caused a strong,
deep flush to spread itself under the
rouge which unevenly covered the wo
Aln's cheeks az she bowed elaborate
i in return. Then furtiyely. during
prctracted silence, she took stock OF
the new conner from the tip Of her
white suede shoes to the tilmy lace and
pink roses upon her wide white hat,
and the sldelong gaze fingered marvel
ngly upon the quiet, delicate hands,
slender and finely expressive, in their
white gloves.
Her own hands, unlike the lady's be-
gan to fdget confusedly. and, the ST.
lence continuing she coughed several
times to effect the preface required by
her sense OF fitness before she felt 1t
proper 10 observe, with polite litter:
"Mr. Louden seems to be good
while comm"
Have you been waiting very long1"
asked the lady.
Ever since o'clock!'
Yes" said the other. that is very
long"
Yes, maam, 1t cert'nly is" The ice
thus broken. she felt free to use her
eyes more directly and, after a long
frank stare, exclaimed:
why, you must be Miss Ariel Ia.
Dor, amt you?"
"Yes"-Ariel touched one Of the roses
upon Joe's desk with her finger tips
II am Miss Tabor"
well. excuse me fer asking: I'm
sure it amt any business of mine"
said the other. remembering the man.
ners due one lady from another But
I thought it must be. | expect" she
added, with loud. inconsequent laugh
ter. there's not many in Canaan amt
heard you've come back" She paused.
laughed again. nervously. and again,
less loudly. to take of the edge of her
abruptness, gradually tttering herself
down to a pause, TO fill which she put
forth, Right nice weather we ben
havin'"
Yes" said Ariel.
- 81
though. don't mind rain so much
this with more lsughter-"I stay in
the house when it rains. Some people
don't know enough to, they say.
You've heard that saying. amt you
Miss Tabor
Yes"
well, tell you" she exclaimed
noisily, there's plenty ladies and gen.
'lemen in this town that's like that"
Her laughter did not cease. 1t be-
came louder and shriller. 1t had been
until now a mere lubricati ton Of the
conversation. helping TO make her
easier In Miss Tabor's presence, but as
it increased in shrillness she seemed
to be losing control Of herself, as if
her laughter were getting away with
her She was not far from hysteria
when she stopped with a gasp, and
she sat up straight In her chair, whitc
and rigid.
There she said listening intently.
Amt that him. Steps sounded upon
the pavement below, paused for sec
ond at the foot Of the stairs; there was
4 snap of match. then the steps
sounded again, retreating. She ssnE
back in her chair Imply. 1T was only
some one stoppin' TO light his cigar in
the entry. 1t wasn't Joe Louden's
step anyway
You know his step" Ariers eyes
were bent upon the woman wonder.
ingly.
I'D know it tonight" was the an
swer, delivered with sharp and pain
full giGgle. Il got plenty reason to-"
Ariel did not respond. She leaned
little closer to the roses upon the desk,
letting them touch her face and breath
Ing deeply of their fragrance to peu-
tralize a perfume which pervaded tbs
room, an odor as heavy and cheap
sweet as the face OF the woman who
had saturated her handkerchief with