The Sauk Centre herald., 1907-06-13
HIT, 1905, BY HARPLR e. BROTHERS

y
went away. You haven't said if you'll
60 riding with me tomorrow. Please
"Get up," interrupted Mr.. Arp acid
ly. "Somebody'll fall over you If you
stay there" Flitcroft departed abrupt
ly.
Ariel laughed, leaning forward, rest
ing her elbows on her knee and her
chin in her hand, so that the shadow Of
her hat shielded her eyes from the
light. 81 thought you looked surpris-
ed when you saw me today"
81 reckon l didv' he exclaimed.
"Who wouldn't of been"
"Why?"
wasn't the whole town the same
way?" he demanded. "Did you meet
anybody that didn't look surprised?"
"But why should they?"
"Good graciousv he broke out
Saint you got any lookin' glassesrs
81 think almost all 1 have are still
in the customs warehouse"
''Then use Mamie Pike's," respond
ed the old man. "The town never
dreamed you were goin' to turn out
pretty at all, let alone the way you've
turned out pretty. The Tocsin had a
good deal about your looks and so
forth in it once in letter from Paris,
but the folks that remembered you
kind Of set that down to the way pa
pers talk about anybody with money,
and nobody was prepared for it when
they saw you. You don't need to drop
no courtesies to me-" He set his mouth
grimly in response to the bow she
made him. 81 think female beauty is
like all other human furbelows and
as holler as heaven will be if only the
good people are let in. But yet I did
stop to look at you when you went
past me today, and I kept on lookin'
long as you were in sight. 1 reckon
always will when git the chance, too
only shows what human nature is. But
that wasn't all that folks were starin'
at today. 1t was your walkin' with
Joe Louden that really finished 'em,
and I can say it upset me more than
anything I've seen for a good many
years."
upset you, Mr.. Arp?" she cried. 81
don't quite see."
The old man shook his head deplor-
ingly. "After what I'd written you
about that boy
"Ah," she said softly, touching his
sleeve with her fingers, 81 haven't
thanked you for that"
''You needn't" he returned sharply.
ut was pleasure. Do you remember
how easy and quick 1 promised you"
81 remember that you were very
kind"
"Kindv' He gave forth an acid and
chilling laugh. 1T was about two
months after Louden ran away and be-
fore you and Roger left Canaan, and
you asked me to promise to write to
you whenever word of that outcast
II didn't put it 50, Mr.. Arp"
mo, but you'd ought Of! You asked
me to writesyou whatever news of him
should come, and if he came back to
tell you how and when and all about it.
And l did it and kept you sharp on his
record ever since he landed here again.
Do you know why I've done it? Do
you know why promised so quick and
easy l would do it?'
''Out of kindness of your heart,
think"
The acid laugh was repeated. mo,
ma'am You couldn't of guessed cold
er. promised, and I kept my promise
because l knew there would never be
anything good to tell. And there never
wasw
Nothing at all?" she insisted grave
ly.
"Never! I leave it to you if I've writ
ten one good word of him.
you've written of the treatment he
has received here" she began, land
I've been able to see what he has borne
and bears"
"But have 1 written one word to
show that he didn't deserve it all?
Haven't 1 told you everything, of his
dSSOcldIeS, Ills -
Indeed you havew
"Then do you wonder that I was
more surprised than most when I saw
you walking with him today? Because
knew you did it in cold blood and
knowledge aforethought! Other folks
thought it was because you hadn't been
here long enough to hear his reputa-
ton, but knew"
"Teil me- she said, "if you were dis
appointed when you saw me with
him"
eyes" he snapped. 81 was"
81 thought so. 1 saw the consterna-
ton in your face. You approved,
didn't you?"
81 don't know what you're talking
about"
Eyes, you do. l know it bOtherS you
to have me read you between the lines,
but for this once you must let me.
You are so consistent that you are
never disappointed when things turn
out badly or people are wicked Or
foolish, are you?''
mo, certainly not. l expect it."
"And you were disappointed in me
today. Therefore, it must be that
was doing something you knew was
right and good. You see? She lean
ed little closer to him, smiling an
gelically. "Ah, Mr. Arp" she cried,