Los Angeles herald., 1908-10-04
BY ZOna Gale.


soft-coored and plumes and the laughter, and
although they did not know of what those idle peo-
pie talked nor at what they laughed nor the name
of the queer equpage in which they rode, they did
know that it had Jared forth from Loverdge's house
and they had heard that their own toll and ugliness
had paid for it. So they hated it with reason, and
without.
The drag may have spent fifteen minutes in the
camp. But that long enough At quitting
time the men renounced with one voice the indirect
and tedious method of written appeal to Lover
idgey They would go as they had wished, masse,
Loveridge's house and they would him face to
face. If the superintendent would head this COM
mittee of the whole, so much the better. If he
would not do So they would go without head.
And they would go later than that night. At
which Endicott who seemed to understand the
considerably better than they did themselves mere
ly nodded and replied that if they would have it
and If they really going to see Loveridge, he
would go with them, certainly. He even added
suggestion Suppose, he said thoughtfully. that
they to plan arrive at Loveridge's house at
about eight o'clock, when his guests would probably
be the veranda, at coffee?
On the veranda of Loveridge's house. at about
eight o'clock that night. Eve and young Hartley
were at coffee along
THE drag'n be here for three hours"
young Hartley was saying contentedly. Eve! Why
not announce our engagement as they all come up
thessteps?"
Chiefly because we're not engaged, you know"
Eve explained
But we could be by the time they got here"
young Hartley submitted hopefully. II could be-"
Eve looked down the gravel walk, Some way,
though she really fond of him. he had been. all
day. rather insupportable. And too, she fond
of Toby Slocum and the rest, but she did not dis
guse from herself that they and their goodnatured
Jesting about the strike were become insupportabe
too from the moment that the superintendent of
the mill had laughed rather bitterly because she
of them, and had strode off into the dark.
Though, for all his striding off into the dark he had
not been far from her thought since. II only she
could talk with him again she could tell himcould
make him know
And at that. quite suddenly, she saw him stand
ing at the foot of the steps, In his shabby riding
clothes and shirt of brown flannel. and behind him
the sweep of gravel growing black with men
from the mill, and among them were women neatly
dressed, and some of them with children in their
arms. And the man himself said nothing and did
not meet her eyes, but the silence of them all
broken by demand shrill or rough or sullen, from
a of throats:
"Loveridgei Where's Loverdge7 Where's Low
eridge?"
On which young Hartley lost his head. Eve had
invoiuntariiy risen and young Hartley leaped past
her.
stay where you arei" he said briefly Leave
them to me-"
1y obeyed Then. with sudden resolution to speak
herself to the women she followed him for step
or two toward the lagoon flowing limidly the
veranda. In the same instant she him bending
over something, and even she sprang forward the
mischief was done Young Hartley had reached un-
der the pyramid of coral, the responsive stream
leaped into the clear glass In the court. and
the next moment the waters of the lagoon were
gushing and foaming down the wide steps. Then,
pleasantly intoxicated with his own stupidity, he