Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-04-17
CHAPTER XII.

4 JAMIE, waiting Just inside the
jN door as Ariel and Eegene en-
tered. gave the visitor pale
1 4 greeting and moment later,
hearing the wheels Of the brougham
crunch the gravel of the carriage drive,
hurried away down the broad hall and
disappeared. Ariel dropped her par
asol upon a marble topped table near
the door and, removing her gloves,
drifted into a room at the left, where
grand piano found shelter beneath
crimson plush. After n moment of
contemplation she pushed back the COW
erlet and, seating herself upon the
plush covered piano stool Ito match),
let her fingers run up and down the
keyboard once and fall listlessly in her
lap ms she gazed with deep interest at
three life sized colored photographs in
carved gilt frames upon the wall she
was facing-Judge Pike, Mamie and
Mrs. Pike, with her rubies.
"Please don't stop playing, Miss Ia
bor," said voice behind her. She had
not observed that Eugene had followed
her into the room.
Every well, II you like" she answer
ed, looking up to smile absently at
him, and she began to play a rakish lit
tie air which, composed by some rattle
brain at cafe table, had lately skip
ped out Of the Moulin Rouge to disport
itself over Paris. She played it slow
~ in the minor, with elfish pathos,
while he, leaned upon the piano, his
eyes fixed upon her fingers, which bore
few rings-none, he observed with an
unreasonable pleasure, upon the third
finger of the left hand.
Its one of those simpler Grieg
things, isn't it2' he said, signing gen
tly. 81 care for Grieg."
would you mind its being Chami-
nader" she returned, dropping her eyes
to cloak the sin.
"Ah, no; / recognize it now," replied
Eugene. "He appeals to me even more
than Greig."
At this she glanced quickly up at
him, but more quickly down again, and
fastened the time emphatlcally, swing
ing the little air into the major.
do you play The Pilgrims Choir
usY"
She shook her head.
'Vous name pas Wagner" inquired
Eugene, leaning toward her.
"Oh, yes," she answered, bending
her head far, over, SO that her face was
concealed from him, except the chin,
which, he saw with thrill of mex
plicable emotion, was trembling slight
ly. There were some small white flow
ers upon her hat, and these shook too.
When she turned to him he was sur
prlsed to see that she looked astOnish-
ingly happy, almost as If she had been
struggling with joy instead Of pain.
''This chair" she said, sinking into
II, "makes me feel at home"
Naturally he could not understand.
Because" she explained, ~ once
thought l was going to live In it. 1t
has been reupholstered, but l should
know it If met it anywhere in the
world" e
"How very oddv exclaimed Eugene,
staring.
81 settled here in pioneer days." she
went on, tapping the arms lightly with
her finger tips. at was the last dance
went to in Canaan"
~ fear the town was very provincial
Mt that time" lie returned, having COM
pletely forgotten the occasion she men,
toned, therefore wishing to shift the
subject. 81 fear you may still find II
SO. There is not much here that one Is
tn fo1I 1tx,A
people really of the world"
"Few people, 1 suppose you mean,'
she said softly, with look that went
deep into his eyes-"few people who
really understand one"
Eugene had seated himself ON the sill
Of an open window close by. "There
has BEEN" he answered. with the ghost
of q sigh, mo one."
Mamie appeared in the doorway, and
Eugene rose swiftly. 81 have been
trying to persuade Miss Tabor" he ex.
planned, with something too much OF
laughter, '.to play again. You heard
that little thing of Chaminade's'-
Mamie did not appear to hear him
She entered breathlessly, and there
was no color In her cheeks ariel,
she exclaimed, II don't want you to
think I'm tale bearer
'Oh, my dear" Ariel said, with u
gesture of depreciation.
mo" Miss Pike went on, all in one
breath, "but ! am afraid you will
think 1t, because papa knows, and he
wants to see you.'
What is it that he knows?"
"That you were walking with Joseph
Louden" Crhis was as If she had
said, "That you poisoned your moth
cry 81 didn't tell him, but when he
saw you with him was troubled and
asked Eugene what I'd better do, be-
cause he always knows what is best