The Sauk Centre herald., 1907-05-30

q delicate rosiness rising from her
cheeks to her temples, as the earliest
dawn rises If there had been many
words left in Joe he would have called
it divine blush. 1t fascinated him,
and if anything could have deepened
the glamour about her it would have
been this blush. He did not under
stand it, but when he saw it he STUN
bled.
Those who gaped and stared were
for him only blurs in the background.
Truly, he saw ''men as trees walk
ing" and when it became necessary to
step out to the curb in passing some
clump of people it was to him as if
Ariel and he, enchantedly alone, were
working their way through underbrush
In the woods.
He kept trying to realize that this
lady of wonder was Ariel Tabor, but
he could not. He could not connect the
shabby Ariel, whom he had treated as
one boy treats another, with this young
woman of the world. He had always
been embarrassed himself AID ashamed
of her when anything she did made
him remember that, after all, she was
girl, as on the day he ran away when
she kissed lock Of his hair escaping
from the bandage. With that recollec-
ton even his ears grew red. 1t did
not seem probable that it would ever
happen again. The next instant he
heard himself calling her Miss Ia
bor."
At this she seemed amused. "You
ought to have called me that years
ago." she said, 'for all you knew me-"
"T did know her-yOu, l mean," he
answered. 81 used to know nearly
everything you were going to say be-
fore you said it. 1t seems strange
now
EYES," she interrupted, "it does seem
strange now"
Somehow" he went on, II doubt If
now I'd know
Somehow she echoed, with fine
gravity, 81 doubt it too"
Although he had so dim perception
Of the staring and whispering which
greeted and followed them, Ariel, of
course, was thoroughly aware Of it,
though the only sign she gave was the
slight blush. which very soon disap-
peared That people turned to look at
her may have been not altogether
novelty. A girl who had learned to
appear unconscious of the continental
stare, the following gaze Of the boule-
u1oC nf tho cOCtQn-
"a in Rome, was not i'll equipped to
face Main street, Canaan, even as it
was today.
Under the sycamores before they
started they had not talked great
deal. There had been long silences, al
most all her questions concerning the
period of his runaway absence. She
appeared to know and to understand
everything which had happened since
his return to the town. He had not. in
his turn, reached the point where he
would begin to question her. He was
too breathless in his consciousness or
the marvellous present hour. She had
told him of the death Of Roger Tabor,
the year before. Poor man!' she said
gently. "He lived to see how the 9TH
er fellows did it, at last, and everybody
liked him. He was very happy over
there"
After a little while she had said that
it was growing close upon lunch time;
she must be going back.
hen-then-goodby," he replied
ruefully.
''Why?'
'Tm afraid you don't understand. 1t
wouldn't do for you to be seen with
me. Perhaps, though, you do under
stand. Wasn't that why you asked me
to meet you out here beyond the
bridge?"
In answer she looked at him full and
straight for three seconds, then threw
back her head and closed her eyes tight
with laughter. Without a word she
took the parasol from him, opened it
herself, placed the smooth white coral
handle of it in his hand and lightly
took his arm. There was no further
demur on the part Of the young man.
He did not know where she was going.
He did not ask.
Once Ariel smiled politely, not at Mr..
Louden, and inclined her head twice.
with the result that the latter, after
thinking for a time Of how gracefully
she did it and how pretty the top Of
her hat was, became gradually con-
scious Of a meaning in her actiOn-that
she had bowed to some one across the
street. He lifted his hat, about four
minutes late, and discovered Mamie
Pike and Eugene upon the opposite
pavement walking home from church
together. Joe changed color.
The sound of Ariels voice brought
him to himself.
''She is lovelier than ever, isn't she? ?"
Eyes, indeed" he answered blankly.
"'Would you still risk. she began,
smiling, but, apparently thinking bet
ter of 1t, changed her question: ''What
is the name of your dog, Mr.. Louden ?
You haven't told me-"
"Oh, he's just yellow dog" he evad-
ed unskillfully.
young manw she said sharply.
"Well," he admitted reluctantly, II
call him Speck for short"
"And what for long? / want to know
his real name"
'It's mighty inappropriate, because
we're fond of each other" said Joe,
"bnt when l picked him ND he was so