Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-02-25
Bv BOOTH HARRINGTON.


 What were you saying of MT. Lou den?" she asked, smiling down upon the young man. Qt was this smile which inspired his description of her as "a revelation and dream.'D
 "Oh, nothing particular" was his em- barrassed reply. T 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, I mean to say, there's some talk of his running for mayor"
 "What?"
 There was general exclamation, followed by an uncomfortable moment or two of silence. No one present was unaware of that noon walk, though there was prevalent pleasing notion that 1t 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 playmate of her childhood and uninformed as to his reputation, had, naturally enough. permitted him to walk home with her. | MT. Flitcroft broke the silence, rush. ing into words with derisive laugh: Yes, he's talked of for mayor-sy the saloon people and the niggers! expect the Beaver Beach crowd would be for him, and if tramps could vote he night
 What is Beaver Beach?" asked Ariel, not turning.
 "What Is Beaver Beach," he repeat ed and cast his eyes to the sky, shak- ing his head awesomely. "It's place." he said, with abysmal solemnity-"a place I shouldn't have mentioned in your presence, Miss Tabor
 What has 1t to do with Mir. Lou den?"
 The predestined Norbert conceived the present to be heaven sent oppor- tunity to enlighten her concerning Joe's character. since the Pikes appeared to have been derelict in the performance of this kindness.
 He goes there" he proceeded heav- i fly. "He lived there for awhile when he first came back from running away. and he's friend of Mike Sheehans that runs 1t. He's a friend of all the riffraff that hang around there"
 How do you know he goes therew xuoS lv tho noY,or fho dou after he came back" He appealed for corroboration. Wasn't 1t, Eugene?"
 "No, no." she persisted. "Newspa- pers are sometimes mistaken, aren't they? Have you ever met any one who has seen him there?"
 i've seen him there myself.' The words skipped out of Norbert's mouth like so many little devils the instant he opened 1t. She had spoken so 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 to which her insist ence had led him.
 Mamie looked mortified. There was a sound of smothered laughter, and Nor bert, overwhelmed by the treachery of bis own mouth, sat gasping.
 Tt can't be such terrific place, then, after all." said Ariel gently. and. turn ing to Eugene. Have you ever been there, MT. BantryT she asked.
 He changed color. but answered with enough glibness. "No."
 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 a reluctant departure, one group after another, leaving in the order of the:r arrival
 Ariel started to her feet, but the bent figure coming up the walk in the dark ness was that of Eskew Arp. He bowed gloomily to Mamie and in re- sponse to her inquiry if he wished to see her father answered no: he had come to talk with the granddaughter of his old friend Roger Tabor.
 "Mr. Arpr' called Ariel. "I am so very glsdf' She ran down to him and
 gave him her hand. "we'Il sit here ol
 the bench, shan't we?"
 Mamie had risen and, skirting Nor
 bert frostlly. touched Eugene upon tn
 shoulder as she went up the steps. H.
 understood that he was to follow he indoors. and. after a deep look at tn
 bench where Ariel had seated hersel beside Mir Arp. he obeyed. Norber was left a lonely ruin between tn, cold twin dogs. He had wrought desc
 lation this afternoon. and that swee verdure. his good name, so long in tn planting. so carefully tended, was nov . q dreary waste: yet he contemplate,
 this not so much as his present aspec
 of splendid isolation. Frozen by tn
 daughter of the house. forgotten b, the visitor. whose conversation witt Mir. Arp was carried on in tones s
 low that he could not understand fl , the fat one. though heartbreakingl, loath to take himself away. began f
 comprehend that his hour had struck |, He rose, descended the steps to tn bench and seated himself unexpect , edly upon the cement walk at Arier i. feet
 Legs gone to sleep he explaine, in response to her startled exclama ton. but, like a great soul. ignorint ; the accident of his position as well a, |, the presence of NIT. Arp. he immedi