The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-06-28

, If the staring and whispering which
! greeted and followed them, Ariel. OF
: course was thoroughly aware Of it
: though the only sign she gave was the
slight blush. which very soon disap-
oeared. That people turned to look al
: Ter may have been not altogether a
novelty. A girl who had learned TO
appear unconscious Of the continental
stare, the following gaze of the boule-
yards, the frank glasses of the costan-
ca in Rome, was not Ill equipped to
face Main street. Canaan, even as 1t
was today.
Under the sycamOres before they
started they had not talked a great
fieal There had been long silences, al
most all her questions concerning the
period of his runaway absence. She
appeared to know and to understand
everything which had happened since
his return to the town. He had not, In
mis- turn, reached the point where he
would begin to question her. He was
too breathless in his consciousness of
The marvellous present hour. She had
told him of the death of Roger Tabor,
The year before. Poor man" she said
gently. "He lived to see how the 9th
er fellows did it at last, and everybody
liked him. He was very happy over
There"
After a little while she had said that
/ was growing close upon lunch time,
| she must be going back.
"Then-then-go odby," he replied
ruefully.
why"
I'm afraid you don't understand. 1t.
wouldn't do for you to be seen with
me. Perhaps, though, you do under
stand. Wasn't that why you asked me
to meet you out here beyond the
Oridge?''
In answer she looked at him full and
straight for three seconds, then threw
back her head and closed her eyes tight
with laughter. Without a word she
took the parasol from him, opened it
herself. placed the smooth white coral
handle of it in his hand and lightly
took his arm. There was no further
lemur on the part of the young man.
He did not know where she was going.
He did not ask.
Once Ariel smiled politely, not at Mr..
Louden. and inclined her head twice,
with the result that the latter, after
thinking for time of how gracefully |
she did 1t and how pretty the top of |
her hat was, became gradually con
scious of a meaning in her action-that |
she had bowed to some one across the |
street. He lifted his hat, about four |
minutes late, and discovered Mamie |
Pike and Eugene upon the opposite
pavement walking home from church
together Joe changed color.
The sound of Ariels voice brought
aim to himself.
"She is lovelier than ever, isn't sheT'
Eyes. indeed" he answered blankly.
%Would you still risk she began,
smiling, but, apparently thinking bet
Ter of it, changed her question: What
IS the name of your dog, Mr.. Louden?
You haven't told me-"
"Oh, he's just yellow dog" he evad
I'd unskillfully.
Young manv' she said sharply.
Well he admitted reluctantly, II
all him Speck for short"
"And what for long? want to know
lis real name"
IT'S mighty inappropriate, because
we're fond of each other" said Joe, |
but when | picked him up he was so
-ellow and so thin and so creeping and S
o scared that / christened him Re q
They were now opposite the Pike
mansion, and. to his surprise. she turn 0
d. indicating the way by a touch
Ipon his sleeve, and crossed the street 0
oward the gate, which Mamie and
Eugene had entered. Mamie, after ex- 4
hanging a word with Eugene upon u
be steps. was already hurrying into p
he house. Ia
Ariel paused at the gate as If wait u
lg for Joe to open it.
Don't you know?' she cried I'm )
laying here. Judge Pike has charge W
all my property lie was the ad- s.
illustrator or something" Then see u
lg him chopfallen and aghast she
'ent on: "Of course you don't know. g
ou don't know anything about me.
GU haven't even asked" b
You're going to live here?' he Il
asped. W
win you come to see me?'' she
ughed. "Will you come this after
oon?" T.
He grew white You know can't" 81
2 said or
You came here once. You risked a on
1od deal then just to see Mamie as
ince by window. Don't you dare u "a
tile for an old friendT
"All right" he gulped. "I'll try" W
Mr. Bantry had come down to the VI
tie and was holding 1t open, his eyes w
ied upon Ariel, within them rising lei
ow. An impression came to Joe aft To-
ward that his stepbrother had looked
ny handsome. Al
Possibly you remember me, Miss &c
lbor?" said Eugene in deep and
IpresSiye voice lifting his hat. 1--WE sig