Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-02-28
CHAPTER XIV.

" KNOW how tired you are," said
 Ariel as he came back into the
 room. T shall not keep you
 A long,"
 "Ah, please do"' he returned quickly, beginning to tumble with the shade of . student lamp at one end of the desk.
 'Let me do that" she said. 'Sit down." He obeyed at once and watch ed her as she lit the lamp and, stretch ing upon tiptoe. turned out the gas. "No," she continued, seated again and looking across the desk at him, T wanted to see you at the first possible opportunity, but what have to say''-
 Wait" he interrupted. Let me tell you why did not come yesterday"
 You need not tell me. I know" She glanced at the chair which had been occupied by Mrs. Fear. T knew last night that they had sent for you"
 You didr' he exclaimed. "Ah, un- derstand! Sam Warden must have told you.'
 "Yes," she said. Tt was he. And I have been wondering ever since how he heard of it. He knew last night, but there was nothing in the papers this morning, and until came here I heard no one else speak of it. Yet Ca naan is not large"
 Joe laughed. Tt wouldn't seem strange if you lived with the Canaan that I do. Sam had been downtown during the afternoon and had met friends. The colored people are good deal like freemasonry. you know. A great many knew last night all about what had happened and had their theo- ries about what might happen today in case the two men met. Still you see, those who knew also knew just what people not to tell. The Tocsin is the only newspaper worth the name here. But even if the Tocsin had known of the trouble it wouldn't have been like ly to mention it. That's thing I don't understand" He frowned and rubbed the back of his head. There's something underneath it. For more than a year the Tocsin hasn't spoken of Beaver Beach. I'd like to know why"
 "Joe." she said slowly. "tell me some thing truly A man said to me yes terday that he found life here insuffer- able. Do you find it so?''
 "Why, no!' he answered, surprised.
 Do you hate CanaanT
 s'Certainly not.'
 "You don't md it dull, provincial, un- sympathetic" -.-
 He laughed cheerily. Well, there's this." he explained: T have an advan- tage over your friend. I see more in- teresting side of things probably. The people I live among are pretty thor ough cosmopolites in a way, and the life lead''-
 T think l begin to understand lit tie about the life you lead" she inter- rupted. 'sThen you don't complain of CanaanT
 "Of course not"
 She threw him a quick, bright, happy look, then glanced again at the chair in which Mrs. Fear had sat. "Joe," she said, Hast night I heard the people singing in the houses, the old Sunday evening way. It took me back SOL"
 "Yes, it would. And something else. There's one hymn they sing more than any other. It's Canaan's favorite. Do you know what 1t is:"
 "Is it Rescue the PerishingT"
 That's it. Rescue the Perishingr" he cried and, repeating the words again, gave forth peal of laughter so hearty that it brought tears to his eyes. ".Rescue the Perishingv"
 At first she did not understand his laughter, but after a moment she did and joined her own to it. though with . certain tremulousness.
 Tt Is funny, isn't it?" said Joe. wip- ing the moisture from his eyes. Then all trace of mirth left him. ''Is it really you. sitting here and laughing with me, Ariely'
 Tt seems to be-" she answered in a tow voice. I'm not at all sure"
 "You didn't think yesterday after noon," he began almost in a whisper you didn't think that l had failed to come because IT. He grew very red and shifted the sentence awkwardly. T was afraid you might think that I was-that I didn't come because I might have been the same way again that I was when-when I met you at the station?-
 '-Oh, nor she answered gently. "No. knew better"
 And do you know.- he faltered. 'that that is all over? That 1t can never happen againT
 "yes. I know It." she returned quick ly.
 Then you know a little of what I exe you" NO. no." she protested.
 Tes.s be said. "You've made that change in me already. It wasn't hard fit won't be-though it might have been Tiff you hadn't come soon." Tell me something she demanded. If these people had not sent for you yesterday. would you have come 10 Judge Pike's house to see me? You said you would try" She laughed little and looked away from him. 'I want to know if you would have come.- There was a silence. and in spite of her averted glance she knew that he was looking at her steadily. Finally. Don't you know- he said She shook her head and blushed faintly- Don't rou kuouy he repeated.