Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1907-09-19

| Ioeautiul uay ne made his own. She
nad not worn 1t since, and he was far
distant when he caught the first flick-
ering glimpse Of her through the lower
branches of the naples, but he remem-
bered. And again, as on that day, he
neard a faraway, ineffable music. the
elhand horns, sounding the mysterious
reveille which had wakened his soul to
her coming.
She came to the gate to meet him and
gave him her hand In greeting without
word or the need Of one-from
either Then together they set forth
over the sun 1ecked pavement, the
NAPLES swishing above them, heavier
branches grooming In the strong breeze,
under a sky like Della Robbia back
ground And up against the glorious
blue of 1t some laughing, invisible god
was blowing small rounded clouds OF
pure cotton, as children blow thistle
1own.
When he opened her parasol as they
came out into the broad sunshine be-
yond upper Main street there was the
faintest mlngling Of wild roses and Gin.
Damon loosed on the air.
Joe" she said, "I'm very happyp
That's right" he returned heartily.
Il think you always will be-"
But oh, wish," she went on, "that
MIR. Arp could have lived to see you
come down the courthouse stepsw
God bless hlmp' said Joe. "I can
hear the argument
Those dear old men have been so
loyal to you, joe"
NO" he returned; "loyal to Eskew."
ITO you both," she said. 'Im afraid
the old circle is broken up. They
haven't met on the National House cor
ner since he died. The colonel told me
he couldn't bear to go there again"
IL don't believe any of them ever
WILL" he returned. "And yet I never
pass the place that don't see Eskew
In his old chair. | went there last
night to commune with him. couldn't
sleep, and l got up and went over
there. They'd left the chairs out, the
town was asleep, and II was beautiful
moonlight
"To commune with hlm2 What
aboutT
"You."
"Whyr she asked, plainly mystified.
IL stood In need of good counsel" he
answered cheerfully, "or n friendly
word, perhaps, and as sat there after
awhile IL came"
"What was itT'
ITO forget that l was sodden with
selfshness. to pretend not to be as full
OF meanness as l really was. Doesn't
that seem TO be Eskew's own volceT'
Weren't you happy last night, JoeT
'oh. It was all right" he said quick
ly. "Don't you worry"
And ut this old speech OF his she
broke into little laugh, OF which he
had no comprehension.
mamie came TO see me early this
morning." she said after they had
walked on In silence for time. "Ev-
erything is all right with her again
that Is, l think Il will be. Eugene IL
coming home. And" she added thought
fully, lit will be best for him TO have
his old place on the Tocsin again. She
showed me his letter, and liked It.
hllnk he's been through the fire.
Joe's distorted smile appeared. "And
has como out goldY he asked.
"No." she laughed. but nearer II.
And think he'll try TO be more worth
her caring for She has always thought
that his leaving the Tocsln In the way
he did was heroic. That was her word
for II. And II was the finest thing he
ever did"
IL can't figure Eugene out" Joe
behind his going away that don't
understand" This was altogether the
truth, nor was there ever TO come a
time when either he or Mamie would
understand what things had deter
mined the departure OF Eugene Ban
try, though Mamie never questioned.
as Joe did, the reasons for II or doubt
ed those Eugene had given her, which
were the same he had given her father.
for she was content with his return.
Again the bells across the square
rang out their chime. The paths were
enllvened with family and
neighborhood groups bound church
ward, and the rumble of the organ,
playing the people into their pews,
shook on the air. And Joe knew that
he must speak quickly II he was TO say
what he had planned 10 say before he
and Ariel went into the church.
ariel" He tried TO compel his
voice to a casual cheerfulness, but 1t
would do nothing for him except be-
tray a desperate embarrassment.
She looked at him quickly and as
quickly away. "Yesr
II wanted TO say something to you.
and I'd better do IL now. I think-be-
fore go to church for the first time In
two years" He managed TO laugh.
though with some ruefulness, and con-
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