Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-05-16
Of dust settling down upon thew
through the hot air.
CHAPTER Xxx.

seat BnOSllv Nulte Olb Hldh Win
closed eyes, supported by two pale la
dies, his head upon the shoulder OF the
taller, while beside the driver a young
man whose coat and hands were
bloody, worked over the hurts of an in
jured dog. Sam Warden's whip sang
across the horses: lather gathered on
their tanks, and Ariels voice steadily
urged on the pace, Quicker, Sam, II
you can" For there was little breath
left in the body OF Eskew Arp.
Mamie. almost as white rs the old
man, was silent, but she had not hesl-
tated in her daring now that she had
been taught to dare. she had not
come TO he Ariels friend and honest
follower for nothing. and it was Ma
mie who had cried TO Joe TO lift Eskcw
into the carriage You must come.
too" she said 1--WE will need you"
And so II came to pass that under the
eyes Of Canaan Joe Louden rode in
Judge Pixies carriage at the bidding OF
Judge Pixies daughter.
Toward Ariels own house they sped
with the stricken octogenarian, for he
was "alone in the world" and she
would not take him to the cottage
where he had lived for many years by
himself, q bleak little house, a derelict
of the early days" left stranded far
down in the town between n wooden
mill and the water works. The work
men We're beginning their dinners un-
der the big trees, but as Sam Warden
drew IN the lathered horses at the gate
they set down their Tin buckets hastily
and ran to help Joe LIT the old man
out Carefully they bore him into the
house and laid him upon a bed in one
of the finished rooms. He did not
speak or move. and the workmen I'M
covered their heads as they went out,
but Joe knew that they were mistaken.
ITS all right, Mr.. Arp" he said, as
Ariel knelt by the bed with water and
restoratives ITS all right Don't
You worry"
Then the veterans lips twitched, and.
though his eyes remained closed, Joe
srw that Eskew understood for he
gasped feebly, Posi- e-ly-no-free
| seats
To Mrs. Louden, sewing at an up
! stairs window. the sight of her stepson
! descending from Judge Pixies carriage
was sufficiently startling. but when she
saw Mamie Pike take Responsibility
from his masters arms and carry him
tenderly indoors. W bile Joe and Ariel
occupied themselves with Mr.. Arp, the
good lady sprang to her feet as if she
| had been stung. regardlessly sending
her work basket and its contents scat
| terng over the floor and ran down the
stairs three steps at time.
At the front door she met her hus-
band, entering for his dinner, and she
leaped at him. Had he seen: What
was 1t? What had happened2
Mr.. Louden rubbed his chin beard, In
! dulging himself in pause which was
like to prove fatal to his companion
finally vouchsafing the information tina;
the doctors buggy was just turning the
corner, Eskew Arp had suffered a
stroke" 1t was said, and. in Louden's
opinion, was mighty sick man. His
spouse replied in no uncertain terms
that she had seen quite that much for
herself, urging him 10 continuc. which
he did with deliheration that caused
her to recall her wedding day with 6
gust of passionate self reproach. Pres
emily he managed to interrupt, remind
ing her that her dining room windows
commanded as comprehensive a view
Of the next house as did the front steps
and after a time her houSewirely duty
so far prevailed over her Indignation a.
the mans unwholesome stOlidlty tina
she followed him down the hall to pre-
side over the meal, not, however, Il
partake largely of it herself.
Mr.. Louden had no information Of
Eugene's mishap, nor had Mrs. Lou
den any suspicion that all was not wei
with the young man, and, hearing hin
enter the front door she called L
him that his dinner was waiting. Eu
gene however, made no reply and wen
upstairs to his own apartment with
out coming into the dining room
A small crowd, ueighboring children
servants and negroes, had gatheret
about Ariels gate and Mrs. Louder
watched the workingmen dispense thi
assembly, gather up their tools and de
part. Then Mamie came out of tn
house and. bowling sadly to three ol'
men who were entering the gate as sh
left 1t, stepped into her carriage ant
drove away. The newcomers, Colone
Flltcroft, Squire Buckalew and Pete
Bradbury, glanced at the doctors bug
gy, shook their heads at one anothe
and slowly went up to the porch, wher
Joe met them. Mrs. Louden uttered
sharp exclamation, for the colone
shook hands with her stepson.
Perhaps Flitcroft himself was SUI
prised IIe had offered his hand a.
most unconsciously, and the greetin
was embarrassed and perfunctory blu
his two companions, each In turr
gravey followed his lead, and Joe
set face flushed n little. 1t was tn
first time in many years that men o
their kind in Canaan had offered hlr
this salutaton.
He wouldn't let me send for you,
he told them. He said he knew you
be here soon without that" And b
led the way to Eskew's bedside.
Joe and the doctor had undressed tn
old man and had put him into nigh
.oor 80 Do1nr To hor's tokap from n