Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-01-28
CHAPTER II.

tude a frozen hush where
4 / the wonder bearing youth
pursued his course along its white,
straight way. None was there IN
whom impertinence overmastered as
constituent or who recovered from the
sight in time to jeer with effect. No
"Trab's hoy" gathered courage to en-
act in the thoroughfare scene OF
mockery and of joy.
And now that expression he wore
the indulgent amusement Of man OF
the world-began to disintegrate and
show signs Of change. 1t became tine
ly grave. as of high conyentionality.
lofty, assured and hammered, as he ap-
preached the Pike mansion"
1t was big, smooth stone faced
house, producto of the seventies, frowning
under an outrageously insistent man
sard, capped by cupola and staring
out Of long windows overtopped with
ornamental slabs. Two cast iron deer,
painted death gray. twins OF the same
mold. stood on opposite sides Of the
front walk. their backs toward 1t
and each other, their bodies In pro-
file to the street, their necks bent, how
ever, SO that they gazed upon the pass
erby, yet gazed without emotion. Two
large calm dogs guarded the top Of the
steps leading to the front door. They
also were twins and Of the same in
teresting metal. though honored be-
yond the deer by coats OF black paint
and shellac. 1t was to be remarked
that these dogs were OF no distinguish
able species or breed, yet they were
Enthusiastically dogs. The dullest must
have recognized them as such ut a
glance, which was perhaps enough. 1t
was n hideous house, important look
Ing. cold. yet harshly aggressive, and
1t sat in the middle Of its fiat acre of
snowy lawn like rich, fat man en-
ragged and sitting straight up in bed
to swear.
And yet there was one charming
thing about this ugly house. Some
workmen were inclosing large side
porch with heavy canvas, evidently for
festal purposes. Looking out from be-
tween two strips Of the canvas was
the rosy and delicate face Of pretty
girl. smiling upon Eugene Bantry as
he passed. It was an obviously pref
ty face, all the youth and prettiness
there for your very first glance. elab-
orately pretty. like the splendid pro-
fusion Of hair about and above 1t, am
Der colored hair, upon which so much
time had been spent that circle Of
large. round curls rose above the mass
Of it like golden bubbles tipping q
coronet.
The girls fingers were pressed
thoughtfully against her chin as Eu-
gene strobe into view. Immediately
her eyes widened and frightened. he
swung along the fence with the hand
soonest appearance Of Inconsistencies
until he reached point nearly oppo-
site her. Then he turned his head as
II haphazardly and met her eyes. At
once she threw out her hand toward
him, waving MIN greeting, a gesture
which as her fingers had been near
her lips was little like throwing a
kiss. He crooked an elbow and with
a one, two, three military movement
removed his small brimmed hat, ex-
tending 1t to full arms length at the
shoulder level, returned it to his head
with life guard precision. This was
also new to Canaan. He was letting
Mamie Pike have it all at once.
The Impression was as large as he
could kave desired. She remained at
the opening in the canvas and watch
ed him until he wagged his shoulders
round the next corner and disappeared
into q cross street. As for Eugene, he
was calm with great calm and very
red.
He had not covered great distance,
however, before his gravity was re-
placed by his former smiling look Of
the landed gentleman amused by the
innocent pastimes of the peasants,
though there was no one in sight ex-
cept woman sweeping some snow
from the front steps of cottage, and
she, not perceiving him, retired In
doors without knowing her loss. He
had come to thinly built part OF the
town, the perfect quiet of which made
the sound he heard as he opened the
picket gate of his own home all the
more startling. 1t was scream, loud,
frantic and terror stricken.
Eugene stopped, with the gate half
open.
Out of the winter skeleton Of grape
arbor at one side of the four square
brick house brown faced girl of sew
enteen precipitated herself through the
air in the midst Of shower Of torn
cardboard which she threw before her
as she leaped. She lit upon her toes
and headed for the gate at top speed,
pursued by pale young man whose
thin arms strove spasmodically to
reach her. Scattering snow behind
them, hair flying, the pair sped on Like
two tattered branches before high
wind, for, as they came nearer Eugene,
Of whom, in the tensity Of their flight,
they took no note, it was to be seen
that both were so shabbily dressed as
to be almost ragged.
The girl ran beautifully, but feeter
foot was behind her and, though she
lodged and evaded like creature OF
the woods, the reaching hand fell upon
the loose sleeve Of her red blouse, nor
fell lightly. She gave wrench of fren-
". The antique fabric refused the
strain, parted at the shoulder seam sc
thoroughly that the whole sleeve came