Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1908-01-23

grew red ana eOugned. IlereH De
plenty today, but they won't be here
to see me- It's you, Ariel, and they'll
be terribly disappointed If you weren't
here. I shouldn't wonder If the whole
town came It's curious enough about
your
And now the young men Of the town
laboriously arranged as to apparel
began to appear on the street In small
squads, making their Sunday rounds
the youngest working in phalanxes Of
threes and tours, those somewhat old
er inclining to move in pairs. thu
eldest, such as were now beginning td
be considered middle aged beaus OF
(by the extremely youthful "old bach
elors,'' evidently considered it advan
tageous to travel alone. OF all these
there were few who did not before
evening fell turn In at the gate of the
Pike mansion. Consciously. shyly OIL
confidently, according to the condition
of their souls. they made their way
between the cast iron deer to be pre-
sented to the visitor.
Ariel sat at the top of the steps and
looking amiably over their heads, talk
ed with such as could get near her
There were many who could not, and
Mamie occupying the bench below
was surrounded by the overflow. The
difficulty of reaching and maintaining
a position near Miss Tabor was in
creased by the attitude and behavior
Of Mr.. Flitcroft, who that day cooled
the feeling of friendship which severa
of his fellow townsmen had hitherto
entertained for him. He had been the
first to arrive, coming alone, though
that was not his custom, and he es
tablished himself at Ariel's right, upon
the step just below her, SO dispDsing
the great body and the ponderous
arms and legs the gods had given him
that no one could mount above him
to sit beside her or approach her from
that direction within conversational
distance
Norbert, not ordinarily talkative, had
to say. He seemed to find suf-
ficient occupation in keeping the place
he had gained, and from this close
vantage he fastened his small eyes
upon Arieps profile. Eu-
gene, also apparently determined not
to move, sat throughout the afternoon
at her left, but as he was thin others
who came and went were able to ap-
proach upon that side and hold speech
with her.
The conversation of the gallants con-
sisted for the greater part of witt
cisms at one another's expense, which,
though evoked for Ariel's benefit tall
eyes furtiyely reverting to her as each
shaft was loosed), she found more or
less enigmatical The young men. how
ever, laughed at each other loudly and
seemed content il now and then she
smiled. you must be frightfully en-
nuied with all this" Eugene said to
her. you see how provincial we still
are"
She did not answer. She had not
heard him. The shadows were stretch
ing themselves over the grass long and
attenuated. The sunlight upon the trees
and houses was like thin, rosy pig
ment, blackbirds were calling each 9TH
er home to beech and elm, and AriePs
eyes were fixed upon the western dis
lance Of the street where gold dust was
to culver in the air. She did
not hear Eugene, but she started
later when the name Joe Lou
den was pronounced by young man,
the poetic Bradbury, on the step below
Eugene. Some one Immediately said,
"Shr' But she leaned over and adj
dressed Mr. Bradbury. who, shut out,
not only from the group about her, but
from the other centering upon Miss
Pike as well, was holding a private
with friend in like mis-
fortune.
What were you saying of Mr.. Lou
denp she asked, smiling down upon
the young man. ct was this smile
which inspired his description of her
as "a revelation and a dreamy
"Oh. nothing particular" was his en-
.tAl ldsoSu ASpAJ. Uuiy uCuliVucu
heard there was some talk among
the He paused awkwardly. remem-
bering that Ariel had walked with
Joseph Louden in the face of Canaan
that very day. "That is, mean to say,
there's some talk Of his running for
mayor"
"What?
There was a general exclamation,
followed by an uncomfortable moment
or two of silence. No one present was
unaware OF that noon walk. though
there was prevalent pleasing notion
that it would not happen again. found
ed on the idea that Ariel. having only
arrived the previous evening. had prob
ably met Joe on the street by accident
and, remembering him as a playmate
Of her childhood and uniformed as to
bis reputation. had. naturally enough,
permitted him to walk home with her.
Mr.. Flitcroft broke the silence, rush
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