The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-05-31

| the snow, ADDED TO It's que
tude frozen hush where
4 4 the wonder bearing youth
| pursued his course along its white,
straight way. None was there in
whom impertinence overmastered as
| constituent or who recovered from the
sight in time to jeer with effect. No
'"Trab's hoy" gathered courage to en-
act in the thoroughfare a scene of
mockery and of joy.
And now that expression he wore
the indulgent amusement of a man of
| the world-began to dislntegrate and
show signs of change. 1t became fine
| ly grave. as of high conventionality,
lofty, assured and hammered, as he ap-
preached the Pike mansion"
1t was a big. smooth stone faced
house, product of the seventies, frowning
under an outrageously insistent man
sard, capped by cupola and staring
out of long windows overtopped with
ornamental slabs. Two cast iron deer,
painted death gray twins of the same
mold, stood on opposite sides of the
front walk, their backs toward it
and each other, their bodies in pro-
file to the street, their necks bent. how
ever, so that they gazed upon the pass
erby, vet gazed without emotion. Two
large calm dogs guarded the top of the
steps leading to the front door. They
also were twins and of the same in
teresting metal, though honored be-
NV, - h ooIy Inf
and shellac 1t was to be remarked
that these dogs were Of no distinguish
able species or breed, yet they were
Enthusiastically dogs. The dullest must
have recognized them as such at a
glance, which was perhaps enough. 1t
was hideous house, important look
ing. cold yet harshly aggressive, and
1t sat in the middle Of its fiat acre of
snowy lawn like a rich, fat man en-
ragged and sitting straight up in bed
to swear.
And yet there was one charming
thing about this ugly house Some
workmen were inclosing a large side
porch with heavy canvas, evidently for
festal purposes. Looking out from be-
tween two strips of the canvas was
the rosy and delicate face of pretty
girl, smiling upon Eugene Bantry as
he passed. 1t was an obviously pref
ty face, all the youth and prettiness
there for your very first glance. elab-
orately pretty, like the splendid pro-
fusion of hair about and above it, am
Der colored hair upon which so much
time had been spent that circle Of
large, round curls rose above the mass
of it like golden bubbles tipping a
coronet.
The girls fingers were pressed
against her chin as Eu-
gene strobe into view. Immediately
her eyes widened and frightened. He
swung along the fence with the hand
appearance of Inconsistencies |
until he reached point nearly oppO- |
site her. Then he turned his head as |
II haphazardly and met her eyes. At |
Dnee she threw out her hand toward 4
him, waving him greeting, gesture
which as her fingers had been near
aer lips was LITTLE HE throwing "a !
Kiss. He crooked an elbow and with
, one, two, three military movement
his small brimmed hat ex-
ending It to full arms length at the
shoulder level. returned II to his head
With life guard precision. This was
llso new TO Canaan. He was letting
Mamie Pike have 1t all at once.
The impression was as large as he
'ould have desired. She remained at
he opening in the canvas and watch
ID him until he wagged his shoulders
ound the next corner and disappeared
nto cross street. AS for Eugene, he
vas calm with great calm and very
ed
He had not covered a great distance, ,
owever. before his gravity was re.
laced by his former smiling look of
be landed gentleman amused by the
Innocent pastlmes OF the peasants,
hough there was no one in sight ex-