Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-05-01

NAS 0Vohs oShbOWiCoSAAS IAV OthSA . |
presence by slight inclination of the
head,
This grave courtesy caused strong,
deep flush to spread itself under the
rouge which unevenly covered the wo-
mans cheeks US she bowed elaborate
~ in return. Then furtively, during a
protracted silence, she took stock of
the new conner from the tip Of her
white suede shoes to the filmy lace and
pink roses upon her wide white hat,
and the sidelong gaze fingered marvel
ingly upon the quiet, delicate hands,
slender and finely expressive, in their
white gloves.
Her own hands, unlike the lady's be-
gan to fidget confusedly, and, the ST.
lence continuing, she coughed several
times to effect the preface required by
her sense of fitness before she felt it
proper to observe, with polite litter:
"Mr. Louden seems to be a good
while COMM"
"Have you been waiting very long,"
asked the lady.
Ever since o'clockw
"Yes," said the other, "that is very
long"
Eyes, ma'am, it cert'nly is" The ice
thus broken, she felt free to use her
eyes more directly and, after n long,
frank stare, exclaimed:
"Why, you must be Miss Ariel Ia
Dor, amt your"
"Yes"-Ariel touched one of the roses
upon Joe's desk with her finger tips
II am Miss Tabor"
"Well, excuse me fer asking; Pm
sure it amt any business Of mine,"
said the other, remembering the man
ners due one lady from another. But
thought 1t must be. i 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 off the edge of her
abruptness, gradually tlttering herself
down to pause, to fill which she put
forth, Fright nice weather we. ben
havin'."
"Yes," said Ariel.
at was rainy first of last week
though. don't mind rain SO much
this with more laughter-'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 TaborT
"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. It be-
came louder and shriller. 1t had been
until now mere fabrication 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 q gasp, and
she sat up straight in her chair, white
and rigid.
'"There! she said listening intently
"Ain't that him." Steps sounded upon
the pavement below, paused for Sec
ond ut the foot of the stairs; there was
a snap of u match, then the steps
sounded again, retreating. She sank
back in her chair Imply. ut was only
some one stoppin' to light his cigar in
the entry. 1t wasn't Joe Louden's
step anyway"
you know his step?" Ariel's eyes
were bent upon the woman wonder
ingly. /,
I'D know it tonight" was the an
swer, delivered with sharp and pain
full giggle 81 got plenty reason to-"
Ariel did not respond. She leaned q
little closer to the roses upon the desk,
letting them touch her face and breath
ing deeply of their fragrance to neu-
tralize perfume which pervaded the
room, IN odor as heavy and cheap
sweet as the face of the woman who
had saturated her handkerchief with
1t. scent which went with her per
fectly and made her unhappily def
mite; suited to her clumsily dyed hair,
to her soiled white shoes, to the hot
red hat smothered in plumage, to the
restless stub fingered hands, to the fat,
plated rings, of which she wore a
great quantity. though, surprisingly
enough, the large diamonds In her ears
We're pure and Of very clear water.
1t was she who broke the silence
once more. "Well," she drawled,
coughing genteelly at the same time,
"better late than never. as the saying
is wonder who it is gifts up all them
comical sayings" Apparently she had
no genuine desire for light upon this
mystery as she continued Immediately:
Il have gentleman friend that's al
ways gittin' 'em off. Well he says,
the best of friends must part and
Thou strlkest me to the heart-all
kinds Of cracks like that. He's real
comical. And yet" she went on in IN
altered voice, II don't like him much
I'd be glad IL I'd never seen him."
The change of tone was SO marked
that Ariel looked at her keenly. to find
herself surprised into pitying this
strange client Of Joe's, for tears had
sprung to the woman's eyes and slid
along the lids, where she tried vainly
to restrain them. Her face had altered
too. like her voice, haggard lines sud
denly appearing about the eyes and
mouth as If they had just been pen.
ciled there-the truth issuing from be.
meath her pinchbeck slmulations like O
tragic mask revealed by the displace.
ment Of tawdry covering.
II expect you think Pm real foolish
she said, "but ben waitin' SO awful
long, and got good deal of worry
on my mind till see Mr.. Louden."
81 nm sorry" Ariel turned from the
roses and faced her and the heavy per
fume. ~ hope he will come soon."
81 hope So" said the other. "It's
something to do with me that keeps
him away, and the longer he is the
more 1t scares me-" She shivered anG
set her teeth together. "It's kind Of
hard waitin'. l cert'nly got my share
of troubles"
Don't you think that Mr.. Louder
will be able to take care of them fol
you?"
"Oh. hope SO, Miss Tabor! If hi
can't nobody can" She was crying
openly now, wiping her eyes with hel