The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-06-07

the gate and see me safe homer
"Ohr' he exclaimed blankly.
Isn't 1t all right?"
II think I'd better come for you" b.
answered gently. THE truth is. II
think you'd better not be with 10,
Louden great deal"
"WhyY'
well, he doesn't seem a vicious boy
to me. but I'm afraid he's getting
rather bad name, my dear"
He's not getting one." she said
Nravely. He's already got one. He'I
had a bad name in Canaan for a LONG
while. 1t grew in the first place out OF
shabbiness and mischief, but 1t did
grow, and if people keep on giving him
bad name the time will come when
he'll live up to 1t. He's not any worse
than | am. and guess my own name
isn't too good-for a girl. And yet, 50
i far, there's nothing against him except
his bad name"
I'm afraid there is" said Roger.
1T doesn't look very well for young
nan of his age to be doing no better
than delivering papers"
at gives him time to study law,
she answered quickly. IF he clerked
all day in store he couldn't"
/ II didn't know he was studying now.
l thought I'd heard that he was in a
/ lawyers office for a few weeks last
! year and was turned out for setting
| fire to 1t with d pipe
! 1T was an accident" she interposed.
But some pretty important papers
were burned, and after that none OF
the other lawyers would have him."
He's not in an Office" she admit
ted. 81 didn't mean that. But he
studies great deal. He goes to the
courts all the time they're in session,
and he's bought some books Of his
own"
We'll. perhaps" he assented, but
they say he CANDLES and drinks and
that last week Judge Pike threatened
to have him arrested for throwing dice
with some negroes behind the judges
stable"
What of it? I'm about the only
nice person in town that will have
anything to do with him-and nobody
except you thinks I'm very NIGEL"
Ariel Arielv'
II know all about his gambling with
darkes," she continued excitedly, her
voice rising, "and know that he goes
to saloons and that he's an intimate
friend of half the riffraff In town. And
/ know the reason for it, too, because
he's told me. He wants to know them,
to understand them, and he says some
day they'll make him power, and
then he can help them!'
The old man laughed helplesSly.
But | can't let him bring you home,
my dear"
She came to him slowly and laid her
hands upon his shoulders GRANDPA
Their and granddaughter were nearly
Of the same height, and she looked
squarely into his eyes. '"Then you
must say it is because you want to
come for me, not because l mustn't
come with joe"
But ! think it is little because you
mustn't come with joe" he answered,
especially from the Pixies Don't you
see that it mightn't be well for Joe
himself If the judge should happen to
see him? | understand he warned the |
boy to keep away from the neighbor |
hood entirely or he would have him |
locked up for dice throwing. The !
Judge Is very influential man. you !
know, and as determined in matters
like this as he is irritable"
"Oh, If You put it on that ground"
the girl replied. her eyes softening. II
think you'd better come for me your
self"
very well, put it on that ground"
he returned, smiling upon her.
'Then I'll send Joe word and get
supper" she said, kissing him.
1t was the supper hour not only for
them. but everywhere in Canaan. and
the cold air OF the streets bore zip and
down and around corners the smell of
things frying. The dining room win
/ rs of all the houses threw bright
patches on the snow of the side yards.
The windows of other rooms, except
those of the kitchens, were dark, for
the rule of the place was Puritanical
In thrift, as in all things, and the good
disputed every record OF
The meters with unhappy gas collectors.
There was no better housekeeper in
town than Mrs. Louden, nor thriftier,
but hers was one Of the few houses in
Canaan that evening which showed
bright lights in the front rooms while
he family were at supper. 1t was
proof of the agitation caused by the
arrival of Eugene that she forgot to
urn out the gas in her parlor and in
he chamber she called library on
Ter way to the evening meal.
Joe escaped as soon as he could,
hough not before the count of his lat
n sins had been set before Eugene In /.
letall, In mass and in all of their depth, /,
breadth and thickness. His father spoke
tut once after nodding heavily to con-
lrm all points of Mrs. Loudens re-