Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-02-25
CHAPTER XIII.

'HERE was a custom Of Canaan,
 time worn and seldom honored
 in the breach, which put Ariel \ that afternoon in easy posses sion of coign of vantage command ing the front gate. The heavy Sunday dinner was finished in silence lon the part of Judge Pike deafening) about 3 o'clock, and soon after Mamie tossed a number of cushions out upon the stoop between the cast iron dogs, Sam Warden having previously covered the steps with rug and placed several garden chairs near by on the grass. These simple preparations concluded, Eugent sprawled comfortably upon the rug and Mamie seated herself near him, while Ariel wandered with appar- ent aimlessness about the lawn, fol lowed by the gaze of MT. Bantry until Miss Pike begged her little petulant- ly to join them.
 She came, looking about her dream fly and touching to her lips now and then, with an absent air. a cloven blos- som she had found in the longer grass against the fence. She stopped to pat the neck of one of the cast iron deer and, with grave eyes, proffered the clover top first for inspection, then as food. There were those in the world who, seeing her. might have wondered that the deer did not play Galatea and come to life.
 She had put on her hat after dinner. and Mamie now inquired if she would not prefer to remove 1t. offering to car " 1t indoors for her, to Ariel's room, to insure it's safety. You look so sort of temporary, wearing It," she urged; "as if you were only here for a little while. It's the loveliest hat I ever saw, and so fragile, too, but I'll take care"-
 "I am wearing my hat" answered Ariel, because at any moment I may decide to go for long walk"
 "Oh. I hope not" said Mamie. ''There are sure to be people. A few still come, even though I'm an en- gagged girl I expect that's just to con- sole me, though" she added. smiling over this worn quip of the betrothed and shaking her head at Eugene, who grew red and coughed. 'Therell be plenty today, but they won't be here to see me. It's you, Ariel. and they'll be terribly disappointed If you weren't here. I shouldn't wonder If the whole town came. It's curious enough about youv'
 And now the young men of the town, laboriously arranged as to apparel, began to appear on the street in small squads, making their Sunday rounds, the youngest working in phalanxes of threes and fours. those somewhat old CT inclining to move in pairs, the eldest, such as were now beginning to be considered middle aged beaus or (by the extremely youthful "old bach elors," evidently considered 1t advan- tageous to travel alone. Of all these there were few who did not before evening fell turn in at the gate of the Pike mansion. Consciously, shyly or confidently, according to the condition of their souls, they made their way between the cast iron deer to be pre- sented to the visitor.
 Ariel sat at the top of the steps and. looking amiably over their heads. talk. cd with such as could get near her There were many who could not. and Mamie, occupying the bench below, was surrounded by the overflow. The dificulty of reaching and maintaining . position near Miss Tabor was ln' creased by the attitude and behavior of Mir. Flitcroft, who that day cooled the feeling of friendship which several of his fellow townsmen had hitherto entertained for him. He had been the first to arrive. coming alone, though that was not his custom, and he es tablished himself at Ariel's right, upon the step just below her. so disposine the great body and the ponderou arms and legs the gods had given hir that no one could mount above hiI to sit beside Der or approach her fror that direction within conversations distance.
 Norbert, not ordinarily talkative, ha nothing to say. He seemed to find su ncient occupation in keeping the plac he had gained, and from this clos vantage he fastened his small eye immovably upon Ariel's profile. E, gene, also apparently determined nc 10 move, sat throughout the afternoo at her left, but as he was thin other who came and went were able to al proach upon that side and hold speec with her.
 The conversation of the gallants col sisted for the greater part of witt cisms at one another's expense. whlcl though evoked for Ariel's benefit ia eyes furtively reverting to her as eac shaft was osed). she found more ( less enigmatical. The young men. how ever. laughed at each other loudly an teemed content if now and then sh smiled. You must be frightfully CT nuIed with all thIs.- Eugene said | her You see how provincial we sti e-
 She did not answer. She had nc heard him. The shadows were stretcl ing themselves over the grass long an attenuated- The sunlight upon the tree and houses was like a thin. rosy pli ment. blackbirds were calling each otl CT home to beech and elm. and Ariel eyes were fixed upon the western di' tame of file street where gold dust Ra