Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1907-08-22

not only from the group about her, but
from the other centering upon Miss
Pike as well, was holding a private
conversation with a friend in like mis-
fortune.
what were you saying of Mr.. Lou
den?" she asked, smiling down upon
the young man. Qt was this smile
which inspired his description of her
as "a revelation and a dream.")
"Oh, nothing particular" was his en-
barrassed reply. ~ only mentioned I'd
heard there was some talk among
the He paused awkwardly. remem-
bering that Ariel had walked with
Joseph Louden in the face of Canaan
that very day. "That Is, mean to say,
there's some talk of his running for
mayor"
"What?"
There was a general exclamation,
followed by an uncomfortable moment
or two of silence. No one present was
unaware of that noon walk, though
there was prevalent a pleasing notion
that It would not happen again, found
ed on the Idea that Ariel, having only
arrived the previous evening, had prob
ably met Joe on the street by accident
and, remembering him as a playmate
of her childhood and uniformed as to
his reputation, had, naturally enough.
permitted him to walk home with her.
Mr.. Flitcroft broke the silence, rush
Ing into words with a derlsive laugh:
Eyes, he's talked Of for mayor-by
the saloon people and the niggers!
expect the Beaver Beach crowd would
be for him, and IL tramps could vote
he might
what Is Beaver Beach 2" asked Ariel,
not turning.
"What Is Beaver Beach 2" he repeat
ed and cast his eyes to the sky, shak-
ing his head awesomely. Its place."
he said, with abysmal solemnity-"a
place I shouldn't have mentioned in
your presence, Miss Tabor"
What has IL to do with Mr.. Lou
denT
The predestined Norbert conceived
the present to be heaven sent oppor-
tunlty to enlighten her concerning Joe's
character. since the Pixies appeared to
have been derelict in the performance
of this kindness.
HE goes therer' he proceeded heav-
lily. "He lived there for awhile when
he first came back from running away.
and he's a friend Of Mike Sheehan's
that runs 1t. He's a friend of all the
riffraff that hang around there"
How do you know he goes thereT
"Why. 1t was in the paper the day
after he came back" He appealed for
corroboration. wasn't II. EugeneT'
mo, no" she persisted. "Newspa-
pers are sometimes mistaken, aren't
they7 Have you ever met any one
who has seen him therer
'T've seen him there myselfr' The
words skipped out OF Norbert's mouth
like so many little devils the instant
he opened II. She had spoken 80 quick
ly and with such vehemence, looking
him full in the eye, that he had for
gotten everything In the world except
making the point 10 which her Insist
ence had led him.
Mamie looked horrlfied. There was a
sound OF smothered laughter. and Nor
bert. overwhelmed by the treachery OF |
his own mouth, sat gasping
1T can't be such terrific place, then, |
after ALL" said Ariel gently. and. turn
Ing 20 Eugene. "Have you ever been
there. Mr.. Bantryf" she asked.
He changed color. but answered with
enough glibness. mo"
Several OF the young men rose. The
wretched Flitcroft, however. evading
Mamie's eye. in which there was dis.
tinct hint. sat where he was until all
Of them. except Eugene. had taken q
departure, one group after
another, leaving In the order OF their
arrival
Ariel started 10 her feet. but the bent
ngure coming up the walk I'm the dark.
ness was that OF Eskew Arp. He
bowed gloomlly 10 Mamie and In re.
sponse 10 her inquiry II he wished to
see her father answered no; he had
come 10 talk with the granddaughter
n his old friend Roger Tabor.
"Mr. Arp" called Ariel. II am so
Fery glad" She run down to him and
rave him her hand. wen sit here on
he bench. shan't weT'
Mamie had risen and, sklrting Nor
'ert frostily, touched Eugene upon the
boulder as she Went up the steps He
understood that he was to follow her
INDOORS and, after deep look AT the
'ench where Ariel had seated herself
'eside Mr.. Arp, he obeyed Norbert
vas left a lonely ruin between the
old twin dogs. He had wrought desc
alton this afternoon. ana that sweet ,
'erdure, his good name, so long I'm the
'lsnting, so carefully tended. was now
dreary waste; yet he contemplated
his not so much as his present aspect
4 splendid isolation. Frozen by the
nuClfar Of fha h,...