The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1907-05-30

traitor. He wouldn't have tried 1t prob
ably unless he was more desperately
pushed than l think he has been. It
would have been too dangerous, Sup,
pose you wait a week or so and think
II over"
"But there's something want you :"
do for me Immediately, joe"
whats that?"
Il want the old house put In order.
I'm going to live there"
"Alone%
I'm almost twenty-seven, and that's
being enough Of an old maid for me to
risk Canaan's thinking me eccentric.
isn't itT'
"It will think anything you do is all
right"
"And once" she cried. ut thought
everything did wrong"
Yes. That's the difference"
"You mean it will commend me be-
cause I'm thought rich?
"No, no." he said meditatlvely. 1T
isn't that. It's because everybody will
be In love with you"
"Qulte everybody" she asked.
Certainly" he replied. Anybody
who didn't would be absurd"
"Ah, Joe!" she laughed. you al
ways were the incest boy in the world.
my dear!'
At that he turned toward her with
a sudden movement, and his lips part
ed, but not to speak. She had rested
one arm upon the desk and her cheek
upon her hand; the pen she had pick
ed up. still absently held in her fin.
gers, touching her lips. and it was
given to him to know that he would
always keep that pen, though he would
never write with it again. The soft
Iamplight fell across the lower part
Of her face. leaving her eyes, which
were lowered thoughtfully. in the
shadow Of her hat. The room was
blotted out in darkness behind her.
Like the background Of an antique
portrait. the Office. with its dusty cor
ners and shelves and hideous safe.
had vanished, leaving the charming
and thoughtful face revealed against
an even, spacious BROWNIES. Only
Ariel and the roses and the lamp were
clear, and a strange, small pain NOV
ed from Joe's heart to his throat as he
thought that this ugly Office, always
before so harsh and grim and lonely
hneliest for him when it had been
most crowded-was now transdgured
into something very. very different
from an office; that this place where
he sat, with q lamp and flowers on a
desk between him and woman who
called him my dear" must be Ike
like something that people called
"hOme."
And then he leaned across the desk
toward her as he said again what he
had said a little while before, and his
voice trembled:
"Ariel. 1t is you?"
She looked at him and smiled.
You'll be here always, won't you?
You're not going away from Canaan
again.?
For q moment 1t seemed that she
had not heard him. Then her bright
glance at him wavered and fell. She
rose, turning slightly away from him,
but not so far that he could not see
the sudden agitation In her face.
"Ah," he cried, rising, too. Il don't
want you to think l don't understand
or that I meant l should ever ask you
to stay here! l couldn't mean that.
You know l couldn't, don't you? You
know l understand that it's all just
your beautiful friendliness, don't your
'It isn't beautiful; it's just me. joe"
she said. 1T couldn't be any other
way"
Its enough that you should be here
now" he went on bravely. his voice
steady. though his hand shook. Moth
ing so wonderful as your staying could
ever actually happen. It's just q light
coming into dark room and out again.
ene day long ago. l never forgot 1t,
some apple blossoms blew by me as l
passed an orchard. and it's like that
too. But, oh, my dear. when you go
you'll leave a fragrance In my heart
that will last!'
She turned toward him, her face suf
fused with a rosy light. You'd rather
have died than have said that to me
once" she cried. I'm glad you're
weak enough now to confess lt!'
He sank down again into his chair,
and his arms fell heavily on the desk.
Confess itw he cried despairingly.
"And you don't deny that you're going
away again-so it's true! wish l
hadn't realized it so soon. I think I'd
rather have tried to fool myself about
it little longer"
"Joe." she cried in voice Of great
pain, "you mustn't feel like that! How
do you know I'm going away again?
Why should want the Old house put
in order unless l mean to oStay? And IL
went you know that l could never
change You know how I've always