Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-02-27
Bv BOOTH TARKINCTON,
Author Of -che.ry." -r1on,ieur Be.ue.ir.." Etc.
coprR1cHr, l9os. BY HARPER {. sRorHER.

rouge which unevenly covered the wo mans cAceks IS she bowed elaborate ly in return. Then furtively. during ErotrnctcG silencc, she took stock ot the Hew comer from the tip of hcl white suede shoes to the fifay lace snd pink roses upon her wide white hat, end the sidelong gaze fingered marvel sngly upon the quiet, delicate bands, slender and finely expressive, in theil white gloves.
 Her own hands, unlike the lady's. De gan to fidget confusedly, and. the si. fence continuing, she coughed several times to effect the preface required by her sense of fitness before she felt 1t proper to observe, with polite litter:
 Mir. Louden seems to be good while comin'."
 Have you been waiting very long?'' asked the lady.
 Ever since 6 o'clock"
 "Yes," said the other, "that is very long,"
 .Yes, ma'am, it cert'nly is." The ice thus broken, she felt free to use her eyes more directly and, after long, frank stare, exclaimed:
 "Why, you must be Miss Ariel Ia bor. ain't you?"
 'Yes''-Ariel touched one of the roses upon Joe's desk with her finger tips s.I am Miss Tabor"
 5 Well, excuse me fer asking; I'm sure it ain'e any business of mine," " said the other. remembering the man. ners due one lady from another. But l thought it must be. expect" she added, with loud, inconsequent laugh ter. there's not many in Canaan ain't heard you've come back" She paused, laughed again, nervously, and again, less loudly. to take off the edge of her abruptness, gradually tittering herself down to pause, to i'll which she put forth, Right nice weather we ben havin'."
 "Yes," said Ariel
 Ut was rainy first of last week though. don't mind rain so much this with more laughter-"I stay in the house when 1t rains. Some people don't know enough to, they say. You've heard that saying, ain't you, Miss TaborY
 "Yes." "Well, I 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. It had been until now mere fabrication of the conversation, helping to make her easier in Miss Tabor's presence, but as 1t 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, white and rigid.
 "Therew she said listening intently "Ain't that him?" Steps sounded upon the pavement below. paused for sec ond at the foot of the stairs; there was a snap of match, then the steps sounded again. retreating. She sank back in her chair Imply. Tt was only some one stoppin' to light his cigar in the entry. It wasn't Joe Louden's step anyway"
 You know his stepT' Ariel's eyes were bent upon the woman wonder tngly.
 I'd know it tonight" was the an swer, delivered with sharp and pain full giggle. T got plenty reason to-"
 Ariel did not respond. She leaned a little closer to the roses upon the desk letting them touch her face and breath ing deeply of their fragrance to neu tralize a perfume which pervaded the room, an odor as heavy and cheap sweet as the face of the woman who had saturated her handkerchief with if. a scent which weE. with her per fecfIy and made her unhappily defi mite; suited to her clumsily dyed hair 10 her eoileL white shoes, 70 the ho' red hat smothered in piumaga to the restless stub fingered hands. to the fat plated rings. of which she were q great quantity. though. surprisingly enough. the inrge diamonds .n her ears were pure aad of a very clear water.
 It was she who broks the silence cnce more. well" she sraxle3. coughing gen.ee;iy st the same tine, better late than never. as the saying IS. wonder who 1t is gifts mp all them cnmical ssyingsT Apparently shs had ID genuine desire for light upou this mystery as she continued immediately: "l have a gen'le:1an friend that's ai- ways yittis' 'em or. Well he says. '.he best of friends must part and ~TEou strikest me to inc beart-nIl kinds sf c-seEs like that He's real comicaI. And yet" she went on in an altered vo'cc. T don't like him much. Tsl be glad If I'd never seen hir.-
 T1Ia change os toae was so marked ahat Ariel looked at her kesa,y, to find sersel. surprised into pi.ying this
 -=sEge client of Joe's. fo- tears had sprung to tle voraan's eyes and slid aiof- the Ids. where she tried vainly ta restrain :hsm. Her face had altered. soc. ike her voice. haggsrt lines sud s-nIy appearing about the eyes and mouth as if they had just been pen eiied tfe-e-the tr.th issuing from be- meath Der rlpchbeck simuIstions ike a Tragic mask revealed by the GisDiace- nent Of tawdry covering.
 T exp>ct you think I'm real fcoiish." 1" she said. but I ben vsitin' 8 awful long. and got good desl Of worry on my mind till see Mir Louiea-'
 T am sorry- Ariel turned from the r,~~. .r.4 s~r.d t..- ar1 .ha heavy us--