The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-02-27
1905. az HARPER & BRoTHrRs

: terminable dances and intermissions. il
: that same chair, in which. 1t began t,
seem, she was TO live out the rest o.
her lie Now and then If she though
people were looking at her as they
passed she broke into laugh and nod
ded slightly, az If still amused over hel
mtshap.
After a long time she rose and, laugh
ing cheerfully to Mr.. Futeroft who
was standing in the doorway and re
Piled with a wan smile. stepped out
quickly into the hall. where she almost
ran into her greatuncle, Jonas Tabor
lie was going toward the big front
doors with Judge Pike, having Just
come out OF the Iatter's library. down
the hall.
Jonas was breathing heavily and was
shockingly pale, though his eyes were
very bright. He turned his back upon
his grandniece sharply and went out
OF the door. Ariel turned from him
quite as abruptly and re-entered the
room whence she had come. She laugh
ed again to her fat friend as she passed
him and, still laughing, went toward
the fatal chair, when her eyes caught
sight of Eugene Bantry and Mamie
coming in through the window. She
went to the window and looked out.
The porch seemed deserted and was
family Illuminated by few Japanese
lanterns. She sprang out, dropped upon
the divan and, buryIng her face IN her
hands, cried heartbrokenly. Presently
she felt something alive touch her foot,
and, her breath catching with alarm,
she started to rise. A thin hand. issu-
ing from a shabby sleeve had stolen
out between two Of the green tubs and
was pressing upon one of her shoes.
"Sh!'' said Joe. Don't make
noisel What were you crying about?"
Nothing" she said the tears not
ceasing to gather in her eyes.
Il want to know what 1t was" he
insisted Didn't the fools ask Won
to dance? Well, what do you care
about that forT'
Il don't" she answered; "I don't"
Then suddenly, without being able to
prevent 1t, she sobbed.
She gave way all at once to a gust of
sorrow and bitterness. She bent far
over and caught his hand and laid il |
against her wet cheek. "Oh, joe" she
whispered brokenly, II think we have
such hard lives, you and I! 1t doesn't
seem right while we're so young! Why
can't we be like the others? Why can't
we have some of the f,1n 50
He withdrew his hand with the en-
barrassment and shame he would have
felt had she been boy. "Get outr' he
said feebly.
she did not seem to notice, but, still
STOPPING, rested her elbows on her
knees and her face in her hands. 81
try so hard to have fun, to be like the
rest, and it's always a mistake. al
ways, always, always She rocked
herself slightly from side to side. 81
am fool, it's the truth, or I wouldn't
have come tonight. 1 want to be at,
tractive. I want to be In things. l
want to laugh like they do''
"Tll tell you something" Joe whis-
pered, chuckling desperately. Gene
made me unpack his trunk, and | don't
believe he's as great a man at college
as he is here. 1 opened one Of his
books, and some one had written in II.
Bantry, the Glass Try-to-
Be" He'd never noticed, and YOU
ought to have heard him go ont You'd
have just died, Ariel. 1 almost bust
wide open. It was mean trick 10 me,
but couldn't help showing It to him"
Joe'S object was obtained She stop
ped crying and, wiping her eyes, smiled
family. Then she became grave.
You're jealous Of Eugene" she said. {
He considered this for a moment
Yes" he answered thoughtfuIiy; 81
am. But wouldn't think about him :
differently on that account. And
talk about him to any one but '
you" /
you must go away" she said anx- I
ousiy. ooh, please, Joer' |
mot yet. want '
She coughed loudly. Eugene and '
Mamie Pike had come to the window, I
With the evident intention Of occupy
ne the veranda; but, percelving Ariel
ngaged with threads in her sleeve,
hey turned away and disappeared. ]
)ther couples looked out from time to :
ine and, finding the solitary figure in ;
possession, retreated abruptly to seek !,
tairways and remote corners for the
Kings they were impelled to say.
And so Ariel held the porch for three =.
ances and three intermissions, occu-
wing a great part Of the time with !.
ntreaties that her obdurate and reck- :
sss companion should go. When for :
he fourth time the music sounded, her =
citation had so increased that she
7as visibly trembling. II can't stand =
: joe" she said, bending over him. !.
don't know what would happen II :
hey found you. You've got to goY'
No; haven't" he chuckled. "They ;
aven't even distributed the supper u
ct"
and yOU %nHa OIL 49, aA--u.-,, - p