Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-04-24

could see Mamie, seated In the ia
miliar chair, following with happy and
tender eyes the figure of Eugene. who
was pacing up and down the room.
The town was deadly quiet; Ariel could
hear the sound of footsteps perhaps a
block away. She went to the gate and
gazed long time into the empty
street. watching the yellow grains of
light sieved through the, naples from
the arc lights on the corner moving to
and fro in the deep shadow as the
lamp swung slightly in the night air.
Somewhere not far away the peace
was broken by the screams of "par-
lor organ" which honked and walled
in pious agonies (the intention was
hymnaD, Unfortunately protracting each
spasm. Presently woman's voice
outdid the organ, voice which made
vivid the picture of the woman who
owned it and the plowed forehead Of
her above the nose glasses when the
grace notes" were proudly given
birth. "Rescue the Perishing" was the
startlingly appropriate selection, rem
dered with Uncomfortable lingering up.
on each syllable-"Roos-cyoo the Poor
oosh-oong" AT unexpected intervals
two male voices, evidently belonging
to men who had contracted the habit
Of holding tin in their mouths, Joined
the lady in thorough search for the
lost chord.
That was the last of silence in Ca
man for an hour or SO. The organ
was merely inaugural. Across the
street piano sounded. Firm, en-
phatic, determined vocal competition
with the instrument here also; Rock
Of Ages" the incentive. Another piano
presently followed suit in neighbor-
ing house-"Precious Jewels" More
distant, second organ was heard.
Other pianos, other organs, took up
other themes, and, rs wakeful pup
py's barking will go over village at
night, stirring first the nearer dogs to
give voice, these in turn stimulating
those farther away to join, one pass.
ing the excitement on to another, until
hounds in farmyards far beyond the
town contribute to the long distance
conversation, even SO did RESCUE the
Perishing" enliven the greater part of
Canaan.
1t was this that made Ariel realize a
thing of which hitherto she had not
been able to convince herself-that she
was actually once more in the town
where she had spent her long ago girl
hood, now grown to seem the girlhood
of some other person. 1t was true her
foot was on her native heath and her
name was Ariel Tabor-the very name
of the girl who had shared the towns
disapproval with Joe Louden! "Rescue
the Perishing" brought it all back to
her, and she listened to these sharply
familiar rites of the Canaanite Sab
bath evening with SILVER of pain.
She turned from the gate to 60 into
the house, heard Eugene's voice at the
door and paused. He was saying good
night to Mamie.
"And please say 'au revolr' to Miss
Tabor for me-" he added, peering out
under his hand. 81 don't know where
she can have gone"
Probably she came in and went to
her ROOM" said Mamie.
Don't forget to tell her .au reyoir.'"
Il won't, dear. Good nightw
Good night!" She lifted her face,
and he kissed her perfunctorily. Then
he came down the steps and went
slowly toward the gate, looking about
him into the darkness as If searching
for something. But Ariel had fed
away from the path of light that led
from the open door.
She skinned noiselessly across the
lawn and paused at the side of the
house, leaning against the veranda,
where. on night long past, a boy had
hid and a girl had wept. A small
creaking sound fell upon her ear, and
she made out an ungalnly figure ap-
preaching, wheeling something Of Gu.
rious shape.
SIS that you. Sam?" she said.
Mr.. Warden stopped close by.
"Yes'm," he replied. I'm a-gittin' out
de hose to lay de dus' yonnah." He
stretched an arm along the crossbar of
the reel. relaxing himself apparently
for conversation. "Y'all done change
considerable. Miss Airll." he continued,
with the directness of one sure of
privilege.
You think so, SamT
"Yes'm. Ev'ybody think so, reckon.
Ben table lot O. talkum bout you
today. Dunno how all dem 9TH young
ladies goin' take it." He laughed with
immoderate delight, yet us to the vol
'ume of mere sound discreetly. with nm
eye to open windows you got 'em
all beat Miss Anvil! Dey aim ben no
one roun' dis town evan got In n thou
sam mile O. you! Fer looks an de way
you walk an cay yo'self an rs fer
de clo'es-name O. de good lam, honey.
dey ain nevah see style befo'! My ole
woman say you got mo- fxin's in a
minute dan de whole res of 'em got In
yeah. She say when she helpln' you
onpack she must "a see mon hunerd
paths O. slippahs alone! An de good
man knows 'membuh wen you run
MIN roun' de back yods an up de alley
rompin' 18th Joe Louden same you's a
boy"
"Do you ever see Mr.. Louden nova
days" she asked.
His laugh was repeated with the
same discreet violence. "Ain' l seen
him dis ve'y day fur up de street at de
gate yonnah. stan'in' 18th you wen /
drivin' de judgeY
"You-you didn't happen to see him
anywhere this-this afternoon"
"No'm, l aim see him." Sans laugh
ter vanished, and his lowered voice be-
came serious. 81 aim see him, but !
hearn about him."
what did you hearY'
"Dey ben considerable stir on de aidge
O. town, l reckon" he answered grave
ly, IAN dey ben havin' some trouble
out Mt de Beach,
Beaver Beach, do you mean?"
"Yes'm. Dey ben some shootin' 60
in on out dat way"
She sprang forward and caught at