Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1908-01-30
a lady beautifully dressed in qchite
6lianital nnrlenred in the doorapaaL


the tremors following the last stroke
| pulsed themselves into silence she
| heard football on the stairs and i'm
mediately relapsed into a chair, fold
ing her hands again in her lap, her ex-
preston composing itself to passivity.
| for the step was very much lighter
than Joe's.
A lady beautifully dressed in white
dimity appeared in the doorway. She
nesitated at the threshold, not, appar-
emily, because of any timidity Cher ex-
preston being too thoughtfully assur-
ed for tnat), but almost Immediately
she came in and seated herself near
the desk, acknowledging the others
presence by slight inclination of the
head.
This grave courtesy caused a strong,
deep flush to spread itself under the
rouge which unevenly covered the wo-
| mans cheeks as she bowed elaborate
| ly in return. Then furtively, during a
| protracted silence, she took stock of
the new conner from the tip of her
| white suede shoes to the filmy lace and
pink roses upon her wide white hat,
and the sidelong gaze fingered marvel
ingly upon the quiet, delicate hands,
slender and finely expressive, in their
white gloves.
Her own hands, unlike the lady's, be-
| ran to fidget confusedly and, the ST.
ience continuing, she coughed several
times to effect the preface required by
her sense of fitness before she felt it
proper to observe, with polite litter:
"Mr. Louden seems to be a good
while comm"
"Have you been waiting very long"
asked the lady.
Ever since 6 o'clockw
YES said the other, 'tthat is very
long"
Yes, ma'am, it eert'nly is" The ice
thus broken, she felt free to use her
eyes more directly and, after long,
frank stare, exclaimed:
"Why, you must be Miss Ariel Ia
Dor, amt your"
"Yes"-Ariel touched one of the roses
upon Joe's desk with her finger tips
81 am Miss Tabor"
'sWell, excuse me fer asking; I'm
sure it amt any business of NINE"
said the other, remembering the man.
ners due one lady from another. But
l thought it must be. / expect" she
added, with loud, inconsequent laugh
ter. there's not many in Canaan amt
heard you've come back" She paused,
laughed again, nervously, and again,
less loudly, to take off the edge of her
abruptness, gradually tittering herself
down to pause, to fill which she put
forth, Right nice weather we ben
havin'"
YES" said Ariel.
sit was rainy first Of last week
though. l don't mind rain so much
this with more laughter-"T stay in
the house when it rains. Some people
don't know enough to, they say.
You've heard that saying, amt you,
Miss Tabor?'
Yes
"Well, / tell you" she exclaimed
noisily, there's plenty ladies and gen.
'lemen In this town that's like that
Her laughter did not cease 1t be-
came louder and shriIler. 1t had been
until now mere fabrication of the
conversation, helping to make her
easier in Miss Tabor's presence, but as
/ it increased in shrillness she seemed
| to be losing control of herself, as If
her laughter were getting away with
her. She was not far from hysteria
when she stopped with gasp, and
she sat up straight in her chair, white
and rigid.
''Therep she said listening intently.
"Ain't that him?" Steps sounded upon
the pavement below, paused for Sec
ond at the foot of the stairs; there was
snap of a match, then the steps
| sounded again, retreating. She sank
back in her chair Imply. ''It was only
some one stoppin' to light his cigar in
the entry. 1t wasn't Joe Loudens
step anyway"
"You know his stepw Ariel's eyes
were bent upon the woman wonder
ingly.
I'D know it tonight" was the an
swer. delivered with sharp and pain
full giggle. 81 got plenty reason to-"
Ariel did not respond. She leaned a
little closer to the roses upon the desk,
letting them touch her face and breath
ing deeply of their fragrance to neu-
tralize perfume which pervaded the
room, an odor as heavy and cheap
sweet as the face of the woman who
had saturated her handkerchief with
it, scent which went with her per-
fectly and made her unhappily def
mite; suited to her clumsily dyed hair,
to her soiled white shoes, to the hot
red hat smothered in plumage, to the
restless stub fingered hands, to the fat,
i plated rings, Of which she wore a
great quantity, though, surprisingly
enough, the large diamonds in her ears