The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-07-05

not hear Eugene but she started a
moment later when the name Joe Lou
den was pro lJunced by Il young man,
the poetic Bradbury. on the step below
Eugene. Some Onc Immediately said,
/ ssh But she leaned over and al
dressed ~. Bradbury, who, shut ont
not only fro.u the group about her, but
from tie 0 her ceater.ng upon Miss
Pike as well, was hoi ling private
conyers. ton with friend in like mis-
fortune.
/ What were you saying Of Mr.. Lou
den?" she asked, smiling down upon
! the young man. Ut was this smile
which Inspired his description of her
as "a revelation ana a DREAMY
''Oh, nothing particular, was his EN-
! barrassed reply. 81 only mentioned I'd
! heard there was some talk among
the He paused awkwardly. remem-
I berlng that Ariel had walked with
! Joseph Louden in the face of Canaan
/ that very day. ''That is, mean to say,
/ there's some talk of his running for
! mayor"
! "NYhat?"
! There was a general exclamation,
! followed by IN 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 en- the street by accident
; and, remembering him as a playmate
Of her childhood and uniformed as to
! his reputatio had, naturally enough.
permitted him to walk home with her
Mr.. Flitcroft broke the silence, rush
ing into words with derlsive laugh:
Yes, he's talked Of for mayor-by
the saloon people and the niggers!
expect the Beaver Beach crowd would
be for him, and II tramps could vote
he might
what is Beaver Beach 2" asked Ariel,
not turning.
what Is Beaver Beach ?" he repeat
ed and cast his eyes to the sky, shak
Ing his head awesomely. ITS place."
he said, with abysmal solemnity-"a
place l shouldn't have mentioned In
your presence Miss Tabor"
what has 1t to do with Mr.. Lou
denT'
The predestined Norbert conceived
the present to be heaven sent OppOr-
tunity to enlighten her concerning Joe's
character, since the Pixies appeared to
have been derelict In the performance
of this kindness.
HE goes there" he proceeded heav-
lily. He lived there for awhile when
be first came back from running away,
and he's friend of Mike Sheehan's
that runs 1t. He's a friend of all the
riffraff that hang around there"
How do you know he goes thereg
why. 1t was in the paper the day
after he came back" He appealed for
confederation. Wasn't 1t, EugeneW
mo, nor she persisted. "Newspa-
pers are sometimes mistaken. aren't
they? Have you ever met any one
who has seen him thereT
"Pve seen him there myselfw The
words skipped out Of Norbert's mouth
like so many little devils the instant
he opened IT, 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 or smothered laughter. and Nor
bert, overwhelmed by the treachery Of
his own mouth, sat gasping.
ut can't be such terrific place, then,
after ali," said Ariel gently, and. turn
ing to Eugene, Have you ever been
there, Mr. Bantryy' she asked.
He changed color, but answered with
enough gllbness. mo"
Several Of the young men rose. The
wretched Flitcroft, however, evading
Nantes 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 their
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- |
Spouse 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. Arp" called Ariel Il am so
very gladg She ran down to him and
gave him her hand "We'll sit here on
the bench, shan't we?"
Mamie had risen and, skirting Ncr
bert frostily, touched Eugene upon the
as she went up the steps. lie
that he was to follow her
indoors, and, after deep look at the
bench where Ariel had seated hersel
beside Mr. Arp, he obeyed Norber
was left lonely ruin between tn
cold twin dogs. He had wrought desc
lation this afternoon, and that swee
verdure, his good name, so long in IN,