The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-03-09

4 lady beautifully dressed In qUhtte
dt1ntty appeared in the doorway.
when she had done that struck a match
on the heel of her shoe-a soiled white
canvas shoe, not a small one-and APP
piled the fame to a gas jet. The yell
low light fiared up, and she began to
pace the room haggardly.
The courthouse bell rang 9, and as
the tremors following the last stroke
pulsed themselves into silence she
heard a football on the stairs and i'm
mediately relapsed into a chair, fold
ing her hands again in her lap, her ex-
preston composing itself to passivity.
for the step was very much lighter
than JOe's.
A lady beautifully dressed in white
dimity appeared in the doorway. She
hesitated at the threshold, not, appar-
emily, because OF any timidity cher ex-
preston being too thoughtfully assur-
ed for that, but almost Immediately
she came in and seated herself near
the desk, acknowledging the others
presence by a slight inclination Of tho
head.
This grave courtesy caused a strong,
deep flush to spread itself under the
rouge which unevenly covered the wo-
mans cheeks as she bowed elaborate
ly in return. Then furtively, during q
protracted silence, she took stock of
the new conner from the tip of her
white suede shoes to the filmy lace and
pink roses upon her wide white hat,
and the sidelong gaze fingered marvel
ingly upon the quiet, delicate hands,
slender and finely expressive, in their
| white gloves.
Her own hands, unlike the lady's, be-
gan to fidget confusedly, and, the 81
| lence continuing, she coughed several
times to effect the preface required by
| her sense of fitness before she felt 1t
proper to observe, with polite litter:
"Mr. Louden seems to be a good
while comm"
"Have you been waiting very long,"
asked the lady.
Ever since o'clock
'Yes," said the other, chat is very
| long"
Yes, ma'am, it cert'nly is" The ice
thus broken, she felt free to use her
eyes more directly and, after a long,
frank stare, exclaimed:
"Why, you must be Miss Ariel Ia
Dor, amt your
"Yes"-Ariel touched one of the roses
upon Joe's desk with her finger tips
Il am Miss Tabor"
| 'Well, excuse me fer asking; I'm
sure it amt any business of NINE"
said the other, remembering the man
ners due one lady from another But
thought it must be- l expect" she
added. with loud, inconsequent laugh
ter, there's not many in Canaan amt
heard you've come back" She paused
laughed again, nervously, and again,
less loudly, to take off the edge of her
abruptness, gradually tittering herself
down to a pause, to fill which she put
forth, Right nice weather we ben
havin'"
YES" said Ariel.
1T was rainy first of last week
though 1 don't mind rain so much
this with more laughter-"I stay in
the house when it rains. Some people
don't know enough to, they say.
You've heard that saying. amt you,
Miss Tabor"
Yes"
! "Well, 1 tell YOU" she exclaimed
noisily, there's plenty ladies and gen.
'lemen in this town that's like that"
Her laughter did not cease 1t be-
came louder and shriller. 1t had been
until now a mere fabrication of the
conversation, helping to make her
easier in Miss Tabor's presence, but as
it increased in shrillness she seemed
to be losing control of herself, as If
her laughter were getting away with
her. She was not far from hysteria
when she stopped with a gasp, and
she sat up straight in her chair, white
and rigid
There she said listening intently.
Amt that him?" Steps sounded upon
the pavement below, paused for a sec
ond at the foot of the stairs; there was
a snap of match, then the steps
sounded again. reueating. She sank
back in her chair Imply. TT was only
] some one stoppiu' to light his cigar in