The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1907-08-08
By BOOTH HARRINGTON.

5
. She did not answer. She had not
heard him. The shadows were stretch
Ing themselves over the grass long and
attenuated. The sunlight upon the trees
and houses was like thin, rosy pig
ment, blackbirds were calling each 9TH
er home to beech and elm, and Arie's
eyes were fixed upon the western dis
lance Of the street where gold dust was
beginning to culver in the air. She did
not hear Eugene, but she started a
moment later when the name Joe LOU
den was pronounced by young man,
the poetic Bradbury, on the step below
Eugene. Some one Immediately said,
'Shv' But she leaned over and adj
dressed Mr.. Bradbury, who, shut out,
not only from the group about her, but
from the other centering upon Miss
Pike as we'll, was holding a private
conversation with friend in like mis-
fortune.
"What were you saying Of Mr.. Lou
den?'' she asked, smiling down upon
the young man. Ut was this smile
which inspired his description Of her
as "a revelation and a dreamy
"Oh, nothing particular" was his en-
barrassed reply. Il only mentioned I'd
heard there was some talk among
the He paused awkwardly, remem-
bering that Ariel had walked with
Joseph Louden in the face Of Canaan
that very day. "That is, I mean to say,
there's some talk Of his running for
mayor
"What?'
There was a general exclamation,
followed by an uncomfortable moment
or two Of silence. No one present was
unaware of that noon walk, though
there was prevalent a pleasing notion
that it would not happen again, found
ed on the idea that Ariel, having only
arrived the previous evening, had prob
ably met Joe on the street by accident
and, remembering him as a playmate
of her childhood and uniformed as to
his reputation, had, naturally enough,
permitted him to walk home with her.
Mr.. Flitcroft broke the silence, rush.
ing into words with a derisive laugh:
Yes, he's talked Of for mayor-by
the saloon people and the niggers! l
expect the Beaver Beach crowd would
be for him, and if tramps could vote
he might
what is Beaver Beach," asked Ariel.
not turning.
what is Beaver Beach?" he repeat
ed and cast his eyes to the sky, shak-
Ing his head awesomely. cts place."
he said, with abysmal solemnity-"a
place l shouldn't have mentioned in
your presence Miss Tabor
what has it to do with Mr.. Lou
den?'
The predestined Norbert conceived
the present to be heaven sent oppor-
tunity to enlighten her concerning Joe's
character, since the Pixies appeared to
have been derelict in the performance
Of this kindress.
He goes there" he proceeded heav-
lily. "He lived there for awhile when
he first came back from running away,
and he's a friend of Mike Sheehan's
that runs it. He's friend Of all the
rifraf that hang around there"
How do you know he goes thereY'
why, it was in the paper the day
after he came back" He appealed for
confederation. Wasn't it, Eugene?'
mo, nor she persisted. "Newspa-
pers are sometimes mistaken, aren't
they? Have you ever met any one
who has seen him thereY'
1--WE seen him there myselfv' The
words skipped out of Norbert's mouth
like so many little devils the instant
he opened it. She had spoken so quick
~ and with such vehemence, looking
him full in the eye, that he had for
gotten everything in the world except
making the point to which her insist
ence had led him.
Mamie looked Mortified There was a
sound of smothered laughter, and Nor
bert, overwhelmed by the treachery of
his own mouth. sat gasping.
1T can't be such terrific place. then,
after all" said Ariel gently, and, turn
ing to Eugene, "Have you ever been
there, Mr.. Bantry?" she asked.
He changed color, but answered with
enough glibness, mo"
Nv NANA VI SAAS JOuA4S 4uCA 1OSC 1uc
wretched Flitcroft, however, evading
NAMES eye, in which there was a dis
tlnct hint, sat where he was until all
of them, except Eugene, had taken a
reluctant departure, one group after
another, leaving in the order of their
arrival
Ariel started to her feet, but the bent
figure coming up the walk in the dark
ness was that Of Eskew ARD. He
bowed gloomily to Mamie and in re-
Spouse to her inquiry if he wished to
see her father answered no; he had
come to talk with the granddaughter
of his old friend Roger Tabor.
"Mr. Arpv' called Ariel. 81 am so
very glad!' She ran down to him and
gave him her hand "We'll sit here on
the bench, shan't WEI"
Mamie had ricop opd cl-;,+:,,- H,..