Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1908-02-13

zoe Louden I" called the veteran In a
loud Uoice.
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 Ariel's voice steadily
urged on the pace, Quicker, Sam. IL
you can" For there was little breath
left In the body of Eskew Arp.
Mamie, almost as white as the old
man, was silent, but she had not hesi-
tated in her daring now that she had
been taught to dare. She had not
come to be Ariers friend and honest
follower for nothing, and 1t was Ma
mie who had cried to Joe to lift Eskew
into the carriage. you must come,
too" she said. I'VE will need you
And so it came to pass that under the
eyes Of Canaan Joe Louden rode In
Judge Pixies carriage at the bidding Of
Judge Pixies daughter.
Toward Ariers 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, bleak little house, derelict
of the "early days. left stranded far
down in the town between a wooden
rA %r.x.
men were beginning their dinners un-
der the big trees. but as Sam Warden
drew In the Iathered horses at the gate
they set down their tin buckets hastily
and ran to help Joe lift the old man
out Carefully they bore him into the
house and laid him upon bed in one
of the finished rooms. He did not
speak or move, and the workmen un-
covered their heads as they went out,
but Joe knew that they were mistaken.
.sIt's all right, Mr.. Arp" he said, as
Ariel knelr by the bed with water and
restoratiyes. Its all right. Don't
you worry"
Then the veterans lips twitched, and,
though his ewes remained closed. Joe
aw that Eskew understood, for he
gasped feebly, POSITIVELY 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, while Joe and Ariel
occupied themselves with Mr.. Arp, the
good lady sprang to her feet as if she
had been stung, regardlessly sending
her workbasket and its contents scat
tering over the floor and ran down the
stairs three steps at a time.
At the front door she met her hus-
band, entering for bis dinner, and she
leaped at him. Had he seen? What
was it? What had happened?
Mr.. Louden rubbed his chin beard, in
dulging himself in pause which was
like to prove fatal to his companion,
finally vouchsafing the information that
the doctors buggy was just turning the
corner. Eskew Arp had suffered
stroke" it 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 to continue, which
he did with elaboration that caused
her to recall her wedding day with a
gust of passionate self reproach. Pres
emily he managed to interrupt, remind
ing her that her dining room windows
commanded as comprehensive view
Of the next house as did the front steps,
and after time her housewifely duty
SO far prevailed over her indignation at
the mans unwilolesome stolidity that
she followed him down the hall to pre-
side over the meal, not, however, to
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 well
with the young man. and, hearing him
enter the front door, she called to
him that his dinner was waiting. Eu-
gene, however. made no reply and went
upstairs to his own apartment with
out coming into the dining room.
A small crowd, neighboring children,
and negroes, had gathered
about Ariel's gate. and Mrs. Louden
watched the workingmen dispense this
assembly. gather up their tools and de-
part. Then Mamie came out OF the
house and, bowling sadly to three old
men who were entering the gate as she
left 1t. stepped into her carriage and
drove away. The newcomers, Colonel
Flitcroft, Squire Buckalew and Peter
Bradbury, glanced at the doctors bug
gy. shook their heads at one another
and slowly went up to the porch. where
Joe met them. Mrs. Louden uttered
sharp exclamation, for the colonel
shook hands with her stepson.
Perhaps Flitcroft himself was sur
prised. He had offered his hand al
xnacf 11uconscioaalv and fhe rrnptinx