The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1907-05-09
somehow" be went on. II doubt II
now I'd know"

Somehow" she echoed. with fine
gravity, "I doubt 1t too"
Although he had so dim perception
of the staring and whispering which
greeted and followed them, Ariel, OF
course. was thoroughly aware OF 1t,
though the only sign she gave was the
slight blush. which very soon disap-
peared. That people turned to look at
her may have been not altogether "a
novelty. A girl who had learned to-
anpear unconscious of the continental
stare, the following gaze of the boule-
| wards, the frank glasses of the costan-
"a in Rome, was not i'll equipped to
face Main street, Canaan, even as 1t
was today.
Under the sycamores before they
started they had not talked a great
deal. There had been long silences, al
most all her questions concerning the
period Of his runaway absence. Sne
appeared to know and to understand
everything which had happened since
his return to the town. He had not, IN
his turn, reached the point where ne
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 mani! she said
gently. HE lived to see how the oth-
er fellows did it at last and everybody
liked him. He was very happy over
there"
After q little while she had said that
Il was growing close upon lunch time;'
she must be going back.
"Then-then-goodby," he repiied
ruefully.
"Why%
.Tm 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
bridge?"
In answer she looked at him full and
straight for three seconds, then threw
back her head and closed her eyes tignt
with laughter. Without word she
took the parasol from him, opened It
herself, placed the smooth white coraf
handle Of it in his hand and lightly
took his arm. There was no further
demur 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 it and how pretty the top or
her hat was, became gradually con-
scious Of a meaning in her action-thae
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 Ariers voice brought
him to himself.
"She is lovelier than ever, isn't she?'
"Yes, 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.. LoudenE
You haven't told me-"
"Oh, he's just yellow dog.' he evad-
ed unskillfully.
Young man, she said sharply.
Well" he admitted reluctantly, II
call him Speck for short"
"And what for long? want to know
his real name"
"Its mighty inappropriate, because
we're fond Of each other" said Joe,
"but when l picked him up he was so
yellow and so thin and so creeping and
so scared that I christened him Re
spectability.' j..
They were now opposite the Pike
mansion, and, to his surprise, she turn
ed indicating the way by a touch
upon his sleeve, and crossed the street
toward the gate, which Mamie and
Eugene had entered. Mamie, after ex-
changing a word with Eugene updn
the steps, was already hurrying into
the house.
Ariel paused at the gate as If wait
ing for Joe to open It.
Don't you know" she cried. I'm
staying here Judge Pike has charge
Of all my property. He was the ad-
ministrator or something" Then, see
log him chopfa!len and aghast, she
went on: "Of course you don't know.
You don't know anything about me.
You haven't even asked"
You're going to live here?" he
gasped.
"Will you come to see meT she
laughed. "Will you come this after
noonY
He grew white. "You know / can't"
he said.
"You came here once. You risked
good deal then just to see Mamie
dance by a window. Don't you dare a
little for an old friend" )
"All right" he gulped. "Ill try"
Mr.. Bantry had come down to the
gate and was holding 1t open, his eyes
fixed upon Ariel, within them a rising
"A