Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1908-01-30
and Joined her own to 1t, though with
certain tremulousness.

all trace of mirth left him. rs it really
you, sitting here and laughing with
me, Ariel?'
1T seems to be- she answered in a
low voice. I'm not at all sure"
you didn't think yesterday after
noon," he began almost in whisper
you didn't think that / had failed to
come because r. He grew very red
and shifted the sentence awkwardly.
II was afraid you might think that /
was-that / didn't come because
might have been the same way again
that / was when-when met you at
the station?'
"Oh, no!' she answered gently. mo.
/ knew better
"And do you know" he faltered,
.that that is all over? That it can
never happen againY'
Eyes, know it." she returned quick
~.
"Then you know little Of what
owe you"
mo, no." she protested.
eyes," he said. you've made that
change in me already. 1t wasn't hard
lit won't be-though it might have
been if-if you hadn't come SOON"
s'Tell me something" she demanded.
IF these people had not sent for you
yesterday. would you have come to
Judge Pixies house to see me? You
said you would try" She laughed a
little and looked away from him. II
want to know If you would have
come"
There was a silence, and in spite of
her averted glance she knew that he
was looking at her steadily Finally.
Don't you known he said.
She shook her head and blushed
family.
Don't yoE known he repeated.
She looked up and met his eyes. and
thereupon both became very grave.
''Yes, do" she answered. you would
have come. When you left me at the
gate and went away you were afraid.
But you would have come"
Eyes, I'd have come You are right.
was afraid at first, but I knew" he
went on rapidly, that you would have
come to the gate to meet me-"
"You understood that?" she cried,
her eyes sparkling and her face flush
| ing happily.
Eyes. / knew that you wouldn't
have asked me to come" he said, with
catch in his voice which was half
chuckle, half groan, ''if you hadn't
meant to take care of me. And it
came to me that you would know how
to do it."
She leaned back in her chair, and
again they laughed together, but only
! for a moment, becoming serious and
very quiet almost instantly.
81 haven't thanked you for the
roses" he said.
sOh, yes, you did! When you first
! looked at them"
so / did," he whispered I'm glad
you saw. To find them here took my
breath away-and to find you with
| them
Il brought them this morning, you
| know
would you have come if you had
not understood why I failed yester-
day?"
"Oh, yes, | think SOP she returned,
the fine edge of smile upon her lips.
''For time last evening, before 1
heard what had happened, I thought
| you were too frightened a friend to
bother about
He made little ejaculation, partly
joyful. partly sad
"And yet" she went on, 81 think that
I should have come this morning after
ali even if you had a poorer excuse for
your absence, because, you see, came
on business"
you did?''
That's why I've come again. That
makes it respectable for me to be here
now, doesn't it-for me to have come
| out alone after dark without their
knowing it? I'm here as your client,
/ joe"
"Why?" he asked
She did not answer at once, but pick
i ed up pen from beneath her hand on
the desk and, turning it, meditatively
felt its point with her forefnger before
she said slowly. care most men care
j full OF other people's-well. of other
peoples money!"
ssYou mean Martin Pike?" he asked.
Eyes. / want you to take charge of
everything | have for me"
He bent a frowning regard upon the
lampshade. you ought to look after
your own property" he said. "You
surely have plenty Of time"
'sYou mean-you mean you won't
help me?'' she returned, with intention
al pathos.
stAriel!n he laughed shortly in an
swer; then asked, what makes you
think Judge Pike isn't trustworthy
Nothing very definite perhaps, un-
less it was his look when told him
| that meant to ask you to take charge
| of things for me-"