Newspapers / The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, … / Sept. 30, 1906, edition 1 / Page 18
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GIIAItjLOTTE DAILY OBSERVER, SEPTEMBER CO, 1003. t THEQUESI0F: CANAAN Uy D O O Til "-v.'. v- v Author VVi;.''?!':',' AaUtor of, 'CiMsrry.T , SJr (Copyright; jo& ; CHAPTER :XVv; The Dlxaeter. ' Ariel had worked all the afternoon 1 1 em bar mother's wedding-gown, and ,.vtw houre were required by her toilet , . for the dance., : flhe curled her hair - frtaally, burning It here and there, ' 'with a elate pencil heated over a temp-chimney., ana she placed above , .'-one ear three or (our large artificial !"reoes, taken from an old hat of her V mother's, which ehe bad round In a ' i ' trunk in the store-room. Possesstng no slippers, ehe carefully blacked and polished, her 'shoe, which had been ' clumsily resoled, and fattened Into the strings of each small rosettes of , red ribbon; after which sh. practiced - swinging the train of her skirt until she was proud of her manipulation of , It. Bhe had no powder, but found In her CTandfather's roam a lump of - i tnsgnesis, that he was in the habit or - 1 takina for heart-burn, and passed It J ver and over her brown face and " wtamds. Then a lingering gaze Into her mall mirror sreve her Joy at last: athe yearned ao hard to see herself : charmlna- that aha did see herself so, Admiration came and she told herself that she was mere attractive to look ' , at than aha had ever been 1n her life, i , Md that, perhaps, at last she might - Iregin to be eougai ror MKe omer ' ' artrle. The little glass showed a sort - of .prettlnees In her thin, unmatured t f- young face; tripping dance-tunes ran . ' through her head, her feet keeping .; the time- ah. she did so hope to ; : 'dance often that night! Perhap ilperbapa she might be asked for every ,-, J number. And so, wrapping an old 1 4 ;water-proof cloak about her, she tooK '' Jber aranfather's arm. and sallied forth, high hopes in her beating heart .i-- It was In the dressing room that t the change began to come. Alone, at 1 . home In ber own ugly little room, ha had thought herself al most beautiful, but hern In " tha brightly lighted chamber , rrewded with the other girls It was '-different There was a big rheval ' V aTlasa at one end of the room, and ', be faced It, whether turn came ' " ifar tha mirror was popular with a " v slaking spirit There was the con ' treat Ilka a picture painted and ; ' framed. The other girls all wore their hair after the fashion introduced ', te Canaan by Mamie Pike tha week itefore, on her return from a visit to U ' Chicago. None of them had "crlmp - -'4" 'and none had bedecked their v ' tresses with artificial flowers. Her ' Iterations of the wedding-dress had not been successful; the skirt was teo pntni in irons muu niK'iri vnr wu. ' i' than ob the other, showing too praln ' ly tha heavy soled shoes, which had - lost most of their polish In the walk . ' ' ' through the snow. The ribbon rosettes tracer, fully revealed, and as she '.lanced at their reflection she heard f, tha words, "lxok at thst train and , those rosettes!" whipered behind hrr, : and saw-la the mirror two pretty ''- young women turn away with their handkerchiefs over their mouths and i trt hnrr11lv in an alcove. All , ' tha feet In the room except Ariel's , ' erere In dainty kid or satin alippers ... of the color of the dress from Wch they glimmered out, and only a 1 llrisl wore train. ' '- W ehe went away from the mirror and rwtratanded to be busy with a hanging ''. '.thread In her sleeve. , ' a ens was singularly an alien In the Shattering room, although she had tMtta born and lived all her life In " ' j!tha town. Perhaps her poult ln mong the young ladles mar be best ? smaN vy ins remark, p;riiei-.iiy t,-ur- V vent among them, that evening, to 'he affect that It was, "very sweet of jMamle to Invite her." Ariel was not , like tha others; she wss not of them. and never had been. Indeed, she did . not know them vary well. Boms of I h. , , a . v. a .. ...... .. . . f .u in pfqgn iu ii c i tnu a.rt 1 1 1 a .. . ,': wera 01 greeung pieasanuy; an or them whispered about her wtth won 3ee and suppressed smuaemnt; but .. Ttoaae talked to hr. Thay were not . . vattlndly, but they wese young snd Mgsr and eartted over their own In taassta which wars than In the . Vaatlamen's dressing-room." Eaek of the ether girls had been feaoerted by a youth of the placu. and, 1 ma by one, joining mas earorts tn the hall outside the doer, they d j ' SMended the stairs, until only Artel j y V was ft ft 8he came down alone after ' ', lbs first dance had begun, snd Kret- fcil V, Miin, kn.lMfl1. fvwt'Ha,1 llmlillv ! Mr Pike a small, frtghtenod-look- tng woman with a prominent ruhy necklace answered her absently, .mil harried away to see that the impoi i . drtatera did not steal anything. Ariel sat In one of the chalrx agnlnxt .the wall and watched the iIiiiinth with a smile of eager end beni-vul-nt '; la tare t In Canaan no narrtitit, no sroardlana nor aunts, were liuled forth nights to duonna the Junkeiins f ' youth. ' Mra. Pike did not reuiipear, V and Ariel sat tonvplcuoujdy nlom , 1 there was nothing else for tier to do. 2t Was not an easy mutter. v Waco the first dance reached an and, Mamie Pike came to her for n , moment with a cherry wrli onn ami Waa Immediately surrouiuleit by, a - rlrela of young men and women, v flushed with dancing, shouting as eas ' their wont laughing Inexplicably over Ward and phrae and unlntelllKlble monosyllables, a If they nil Itelongcd to' a secret society iin l these crlci . were aymbols of thmss exgulsltely humorous, which only they under stood. Ariel laughed with them more heartily than any other, so that she might seem to be of thm ami as marry aa they were, but almost tnime. dlstely she found herself nuisiiin of r tha circle, and presently th. y nil ' .whirled swsy Into another dan , and '. aha waa left alone again. V t aha sal, no on coming near her, -. through several dunces, trying to r; maintain the em lie of delighted In ' teret upon her face, though she felt 'the mwles of her face beginning to ' ,. acha with tl.Hr fixedness, her eves '"t.j arowlng hot and glsted. All the other '-,j girls were provided with partners for C overy dance, with several young men '.'.'. left ever, these Utter lounging hlla 'f rlossly together lit the doorways, i .Ariel waa careful not to glance to i ward them, but she :ould not help . hating them. Once or twice between "' tha dances she saw Miss Plka speak : ' appesUngly to one of the suiterfluoua, .glancing, at tha same lime. In her own direction, and Artel could see, -" too, that the appeal proved unsuccess ,. tuL until at last Mam Is approached , her,' leading .Norbert riltrroft partly ..." by the heod.-partly by will-power. Norbert was an. eaoeeelvely fat boy, and at-the prewnt moment looked as ' patient as tha blind. Hut ha asked Ariel la she waa "engaged for the next ' ', dance," and, Mamie - having flitted ewsy, stood dlscoosolately beside her. wsjyng for tha musio to begin. , Ariel wss grsteful for him.' ',: . " think y must ba yery goed , natured. Mr, Flftd-oft," aha aald wU en sir of raillery.''-.'' .. ...:.'', -t "No. I'm not." ha replied, plaintive U. "Everybody thinks I am because Im fat and they expect me lo i Diir)" they never dream ' of asking e vio'iy else to de. I'd Ilka to aee i even ssk '(Jena Dantrr to go and , , oome of the things they get me i r ,'. a person Isn't good-natured t t-xause -he'a fst." he ooncluded, .j. syu ha mltfil a wali bal" " -"- ' .'. TAR KING TON "&lVn - eur BeeucairV etc by Harper Bros.) "Oh, I meant good-natured," she returned, with a sprightly laugh, ""be cause you're willing to waits . with me." ..-v.; v 'Oh., wel)," he' returned, sighing, "that's all right." The orchestra flourished Into "La Paloma;" he put his arm mournfully about her, and taking tier right hand with his left, carried her arm out to a rigid right angle, beginning to pump and balance for time. They made three falss starts and then got away. Ariel danced badly; she nop. ped and lost tha step, but they perse yered, bumping against other couples continuatly. Circling breathlessly Into the next room, they passed close to a long mirror, In which Ariel saw herself, although in a nasn, more Dtt terly contrasted to .the others than In tne cnevai-giass or me areasirur-room Tha clump of rosts was flopping about ner neck, her enmpea netr tooaea frowzy, and there was something ter rtbly wrong about ner areas, sua denly she felt her train to be ominous ly grotesque, as a thing following her in a nightmare. A moment later she caught her partner making burlesque face of suffering over her shoulder, and, turn Ing her head quickly, saw for whose benefit he had constructed It. Kugene llantry. flying expertly by with Mamie was bestowing uuon Mr. Flitc.rort condescendingly commiserative wink The next Instant she tripped in her train and fell to the floor at Eugene's feet carrying her partner with her, There waa a shout of laughter. The youna hostess stopped Eugen, who would have gone on, and he had no choice but to stoop to Ariel's assist ance, "It seems to be a habit of mlno," she said, lauahlna loudly 8h did not appear to see the hand he offered, but got to her feet witn out help snd walked quickly away with Norbert, who proceeded to live up to the character he had given himself "Perhaps w had better not try It again," she laughed. "Well, I should think not," he re turned, with the frankest gloom With the air of conducting her home he took hor to the chair against the wall whence h had brought her. There his responsibility for her seemed to cease. "Will you excuse me' ne asked, and there was no doubt thst he felt that he had been given more than his share that evening, even though he was fat. "Yos, Indeed." Her Isughter wss continuous. "I should think you would be glad to get rid of me after . . . i . , . , v,,. inai. iia, na. na: rpur ni r. riiurun, you know you are!" It was the duadiy trutn. and tne fat one, saying, "Well. If you'll Just excuse me now, hurried away wlin a step which grew lighter as the dj tance from her Inereesod. Arrlvd at the haven of a far doorway, he mop ped his brow and shook his head grimly In response to frequent rally- Ings. Ariel sat through more dances, In terminable dances and intermissions. In that same chair, in which, it began tn seem, she was to live out the rest of her life. Now and then. If she thought people were looking at her aa they passed, she broke Into a laugh and nodded slightly, as ir still amynea over her mishap. After a long time she rose, and laughing cheerfully to Mr. Flltcroft, who was standing In the doorway and replied with a wan smile, stepped out quickly Into the hall, where she al most rau Into her great-uncle, Jonas Tabor. He waa going towards the big front doors with Judge Pike, having just come out of the latter s library, down the hall. Jonas was breathing heavily and waa shockingly pale, though hu eyea were very bright. He turned his back upon his grandnlece sharply and went out of the door. Ariel turned from hi m quite as abruptly 'and re-entered the room whence she had come. Rhe laughed again to her fat friend as she passed him, and, stltl laughing, went toward.t the fatal chajr, when her eyea caught sight of Kugen Kantry and Mamls coming In through tbe window from the porch. 81111 laugh ing, she went to the window and look ed out; the porch seamed deserted and was faintly Illuminated by a few Japanese lanterns. She sprang out, dropped upon the divan, and burying her face In her -hands, cried heart brokenly. Presently she felt some thing alive touch her foot, and, her breath catching with alarm, she start ed to rise. A thin hsnd, Issuing from n shabby sleeve, had stolen out be-twet-n two of the green tuba and was pressing upon one of her shoes. " HhTM Huid Joe. "Don't maka a nnlse!" His warning was not needed; she had r...-,,KMir..d the hand fend sleeve Instantly. Hhe dropped back with a low sound which would have been hvstericui if it had been louder, while he rn 1 h.-.i iiircir on his arm until she could . hiH fnce dimly, aa ha peered nt her ti. twrcn the jalrns. "U'hn i wit you going on ahoutT" In- n k -. . unirrlly. "Not IiIuk." she answered. "I wKun't. Ymi must go away, and quick. Hk loo dangerous. If ths JuiIk" found vi'H " "ll. won't!" "Ah, you'd risk anything to see Manilo Pike-" "What w-ro you crying about T" he Interrupted. "Nothing. I tell you!", she repeated, the tears not reusing to gather in her eyes. "I wasn't." "I want to know what Is was," he Insisted, "lildn't the fools ask you to danoe? Ah! You needn't tell me. That's it. I've iert here for the Inst three dances and you weren't In sight till you rams to the window. Well, what do you csre sbout that forT" "I don'tl" she answered. "I don't!" Then suddenly, without being able to prevent It, she sobbed. "No," he said, gently, "I see you don't. Ami you let yourself be a fool because there are a lot of fools In there." Phe give way, all at once, to a gust of sorrow and bitterness: she bent far over and caught his hand and laid It against her wet cheek. "Oh. Joe," she whispered, brokenly. "I think we hnve such hard Uvea, you and II It doesu't seem right while we'ra so young! Why can't we be like the others? Why ron't we have some of the fun?" Ho withdrew his hsnd. with the m Iterrasemsnt and shame he would have felt had she been boy. "Wet out!" he said, feebly.. Hhe did not seem to notice, but. still stooping, rested her elbows on her knees and her face In her hands, "I try so hard to have fun, to ha Ilka the rest snd Ha always a mistake, always, slways, always!" he rocked herself, slightly, from side to side. "I an a fool, It's the truth, or I wouldn't have come to-night I want te be at tractive t want to be In things. I want to laugh Ilka they, do " 'To laugh lust to laugh, and not because there's something funny?" "Yes. 1 do. t dot And to know how 46 dreae- and la wear my hairthere mast be, soma place ' where you can tearo thvee things. I've never had any one ta ehow met Ah! Grand father said something like that this afternoonpoor man! We're lit tha same case. If we only bad some one ta aaow aa i att aeemi ao bUcd. here In 'Canaan, for htm and met don't say It's not my own fault as much as hrdng poor. rv been a hoy den; I don". feel as If Vdvlearned how to be a girl yet. Joe; v lfa onlyijately I've cared. . jjut i m aevemeen. iiss, and and so-day to-day I waa aent home end to-night-" Sho faltered, cama to a atopi and hrr whole body waa shaken wth sobs. 'I hate myself so for crying for everythlngl" o t, "I'll tell you something,' r ha whls- l. tw 'A.n. made me an neck his trunk," and -I don't believe he's as great a man at college as he Is here. I opened one of his books, and soma one had writ ten In It Prtgama!oo Bentry, v tha Class Trv-To-Be!' He'd nevef no ticed, and you ought to have heard him go on!. Tou'd hava just . died, Ariel I almost, bust wide pen! It was a mean trick in me, but 1 couldn't help showing It to him," ' I Joe's object was obtained. She stopped crying, and, wiping her eyes, smiled faintly. Then sha . became grave. "You're jealous of Eugene, h said. it considered this for a moment "Yes, ha answered, thoughtfully, "I am. But I wouldn't think about mm differently on that account And I wouldn't talk about him to any one but you." "Not even to" Sha left tha ques tion unfinished. "N6." he said quietly. "Of course not." "Not Because it wouldn't be any use?" "I don't know. I never hava a chance to talk to her. anyway." "Of course you oon t: rter voice had grown steady. "You aay I'm a fool. What are wu7" "You needn't worry about ma," he beran. "I ran take care " " 'Sh!" ehe whispered, warningly. The muslo had stopped, a loud clatter of voices and laughtbr succeeding It. What need to be careful," Joe as sured her, "with all that noise going on?" 'You must go away, she said, anx iously. "Oh, please, Joe!" "Not yet I I want Bhe roughed loudlv. Eugene and Mamib Pike had come to the window, with the evident intention of occupy ing the veranda, but perceiving Ariel engaged with threads in her aleeve, they turned away and disappeared Other couples looked out from tlms to time, and finding the solitary figure In possession, retreated abruptly to seek stairways and remote corners for the things they were Impelled to say. And so Ariel held the porch for three dances and three Intermissions, occupying a great part of tha time with entreatlea that her obdurate and reckless companion should go. When, for the fourth time the music sounded, her agitation had so increased that she wss visibly trembling. "I can't stand It, Joe," she said, bending over him. "I don't know what would hap pen ir tney rouna you. xou ve got to go!" "No, I haven't." he chuckled. "They hawn't even distributed the supper yet!" "And you take an tne cnances, sne Id, slow ly, "Just to see her pass that window a few times. 'What chances?" 'Of what the Judge will do If any one sees you. "Nothing; because 11 any one saw me I d lnave. "Please go." "Not till " " 'Hh!" A colored waiter, smiling graciously, ramo out upon the porch bearing a tray of salad, hot oysters, and corree. Ariel shook her head. "I don't want any," she murmured. The waiter turned away In pity and was re-entering the window, when a passionate whisper fell upon his ear as well as upon Ariel's. "Taks It!" "Ma'am?" said the waiter. "I've changed my mind," she re plied, quickly. The waiter, his elation restored. gave of his viands with the superflu ous bounty loved by his race when dis tributing the product or the wealthy. When he had gone, "(live me every thing that's hot," aald Joe. "You can keep the salad." "I couldn't eat It, or anything else" she answered, thrusting the plate be- ween the palms. For a time there was silence. From within the house came the continuous babble of voices and laughter, the clink of cutlerry on china. The young people spent a long time over their supper. By-and-by the waiter return ed to tho veranda, deposited a plate of colored Ices upon Ariel's kneea with a noble gesture, and depurted. "No Ice for me, said Joe. "Won't you please go now?" she en- treatsd. "It wouldn't be good manners," he responded. "They might think I only ame for supper. "Hand me buck the things. The waiter might come for them any min ute." "Not yet. I haven't (julte finished, eat with contemplation, Ariel, be- ause there's tnoru than the mere ood and the warmth of It to consider. There's the pleamire of being enter tained by the ureal Martin Pike. Think whnt a reul kindness I'm doing him, too. I Increase his good deeds nd his hospitality without his know- ng It or being utile to nelp it. Dun t ou see how 1 boost his standing with the KiicorUIng Angel? If I.nr.urua had behaved the way I do, Wives' needn t have had thosu worries that csme to him In the after-life." "Give mo the dish and coffee-cup," she whispered, Impatient ly. "Hup- pose the waiter ciime and had to look for them? Quick!" 'Take them, then. You'll see that ealousy has'nt spoiled my appetite" A bottle-shaped llaiiru appeared In he window and sho had no time to Hke the plate and cup which wars being pushed throuKh tha palm-leaves. Hhe whispered a syllubln of warning, nd tha dishes were hurriedly with rswn as Norbert Flltcroft, wearing a olnmn expression of Injury, cama out upon the veranda. He halted suddenly. "What's that?" he asked with suspicion. "Nothing." answered Ariel, sharply. her ?" "Behind those palms." "Probably your shadow." sh laughed; "or It might have been a raught moving the leaves." He did not seem satisfied, but tared hard at the spot where tha dishes had disappeared, meantime edging back cautiously nearer tha window. "They want you." he said, after a pause, "Some m s come for you. "Oh, Is grsnd fat her welting?" Hhe rose, at the same time letting her ndksrchlef fall. Hhe stooped to nick It up, with her face away from Norbert and toward the palms. Whis pering tremulously, hut wtth passion ate urgency, "Please go!" i "It isn't your grandfather that has come for you, said the fat one, slowly. "It's Is old Esken v Aro. Something's: happened." - : Bhe looked at mm ror a moment, beginning to tremble violently, her eyes growing wide with fright. "Is my grandfather is ha alckT v "You better go and aea.; old Ea. kew'a waiting In tha hall. Ha ll tail you.M, , 8he waa by him and throurh tha window instantly. Norbert (did ' not follow her; he remained for several moments looking earnestly i at tha nalms: then he stepped through tha window" and beckoned to a youth who waa lounging tn tha doorway across tha room. - , ,,y "There'a aomebody hiding behind those plants," ha whispered, when his friend reached him. "Oo and tsll Judge Tika t atnd some of tha alf gers to watch outside tha porch, ' ao that he doesn't get away. Then tell him to get his revolver -end come here,' i j'.V'v'" s . i ' ''', Meanwhile Ariel had found" Mr, Arp waiting In the hall, talking in a low voice to Mra. Pike. M ' - r' ; "Tour granfather'a all right," ha told tha frightened girt, quickly. He sent me for you, that's all. Just hur ry and get your thing , v ',- . She waa -with him again in a mo ment. and. seising the old man's arm. hurried down tha steps and toward tha street almost at a run. "Tou're not tailing me v tha truth sha said. ' You're not telling ma tha truth!" . .. .. '. -v 'Nothing has happened to Roger, panted Mr, Arp. "Nothing, to mlod, I mean. Herel we're going this way, not that." They had come' to 'the gate, and as she turned to tha right he pulled her round sharply - ta tha left "We're not going to your nouse. "Where era we coins: ?" "We're going to your Uncle Jo- nas's." "Why?" she crfed, In supreme as tonishment "What do you want to take ma there forT : Don't you know that he's stopped speaking to mar' "Yes." said tha old man. grimly, with something of the look he wore when delivering a clincher at tha "Na tional House," "he'a stopped apeak- Ing to everybody. CHAPTER V. Beaver I loach. Tho Canaan Daily Tocsin of tho following mornlnr "ventured tha as sertion" upon Its front page that "the scene at the Plka Mansion waa one of unalloyed festivity, music, ana roirtn; a fairy bower of airy figures wafting hsrs and there to the throb of waltt- strains! a viirl table Tempi Of Terp slchore, shining forth with a myriad of lights, which, together with the generous profusion of floral decora tions and the mldgled dellgtha afford ed by Mind's Orchestra, of Indianapolis and Carterer Jones of Chicago, waa In all likelihood never heretofore sur passed In elegance In our city. . . .Only one Incident" The Tocsin remarked, "marred an otherwise psrreci occa slon, and out of regard for the cul prit's family connectlono. which are prominent In our social world, wa withhold his name. .Suffice It to say that throurh the vlrllance of Mr, Norbert Flltcroft grandson of Colonel A. A. Flltcroft, who proved himself a thorough Leceq (the celebratod French detective), the rascal waa slesed and recognised. Mr. Flltcroft having discovered him In hiding, had a cordon of waiters draw up around his hldins- nlace. which waa tha charmingly decorated side plasza of the Pike Mansion, and sent ror jucige Pike, who came upon the intruder by surprise. He evaded the Judges in- d srnant otsr-d. but received a wen- merlted blow over the head fiym a poker which tne Judge naa conceaiea about his person while pretending to approach ths hiding place casually. Attracted to the acene by tha crlea of Mr. Flltcroft, who, standing behind Judge Pike, accidentally received a blow from the same weapon, an tne guests of the evening sprang to view the scene, only to behold the culprit leap through a crevice between the trips of canvaa wnicn encioaea me plana. He was seised by the colorea coachman of the mansion, Sam War den, and immediately pounced upon by the cordon of Caterer Jones's dusky assistants from Chicago, who were In ambush outside. Unfortu nately, after a brief struggle he man asede to trip Warden, and. tha others stumbling upon tha prostrate body of the latter, and to make nis escape in he darkness. It is not believed by many that nis Intention was burglary, though what his designs were can only be left to conjecture, as he Is far beyond the age when boys perform such actions out of a sense of mischief. He had evident ly occupied his hiding-place some time, and an idea of his coolness may be obtained from his having procured nd eaten a full meal through an un- nown source. Judge Pike Is Justly Incensed, and swears that ha will proe ecute him on this and other charges as soon as he can be found. Much sympathy Is felt for the culprit's fam ily, who feel his ahame moat keenly. ut who. thougn sorrowing over me occurrence, declare that thejr have put up with his derelictions long enough, and will do nothing to step between him and the Judge's righteous Indig nation." The Pike Mansion, "scene of festiv ity, music, and mirth" (not quite so unalloyed, after all. the stricken Fllt croft keenlna his room for a week under medical supervision), had not been the only bower of the dance in Canaan that evening: another Temple of Terpsichore had shono forth witn lights though of these there were not quite a myriad. The festivities they Illumined obtained no mention in the paper, nor did they who trod the measures In this temple exhibit any sense of Injury because of tha Tocsin's omission. Nay, they were m that class, shy without being bashful, ex clusive yet not proud, which shuns publicity with a single-heartedness al most unique In our republic, courting nlaiervatlon neither In tne prosecution of their professions nor In tha pursuit of happiness. Not quite a mile above the north ernmost of the factories on the water front, there projected Into the river, near the end of the crescent bend above the town, a long pier, rello of steamboat' days, rotting now, and many years fallen from Its maritime uses. About mldwsy of Its length stood a huge, crasy shed, long ago utilised as a freight store-room. Thla bad been patched and propped, and a dangerous-looking veranda attached lo It overhanging the water. Above the doorway was placed a sign where on might be read the words, "Bsaver Beach, Mike's Place." Tha ahora end of the pier was so ruinous that pass ags waa offered by a single row of planks, which presented an appear nara ao temporary, as well as Insecure, thst one might have guessed . their office to be something In tha nature of a drawbridge. From these- a narrow path ran through a marsh, ' left by tha receding river, to a country road of desolate appearance.. Hera there was a rough enclosure, of corral, with some tumble down sheds which afford ed shelter, on tha night of Joseph Louden' disgrace, for, a number of shaggy teams attached to those de crepit and musty vehicles known pic turesquely and accurately aa Night Hawks. Tha presence of mich ques tionable shapaa In tha corral Indicated that tha danoa waa on - at Beaver Beach. Mike's Place, as surely as tha short line of ceba and family carriages on upper Main street made It known that gayety was tha order of tha night at tha Plka Mansion. But among other differences waa this, that at tha hour when the guests of tho latter were leaving, those seeking the hospitalities of Heaver Beach had Just begun to arrive. v ; f By three o'clock, however, Joy at Mike's Plaeo had become beyond question unconflned, and tha tokens of It wera audible for a long distance tn all directions. If, however, there Is no sound wh era no ear hears, silence rested upon tha country-side until an hour later. Then a lonely figure came shivering trim tha direction of tha town, hot by tha road, but Blinking through the snow upon tha froaen river. It came slowly, as though very tired, and cautiously, too. often turn Ing Ita head to look behind. Finally It reached tha pier, and stopped aa If to listen, t ' ; ,'.,:',;.$, v '' Within tha house above, 4 piano of vU life was being beaten to death for Its sins and clamoring Its last cries horribly. The old . shed rattled la vary part with tha : thud of : many rieavjr irvi, muq iremuicq. wun , me shock of noise an Incesesant roar of men's voices, . punctuated , with wo men's screams. Then tha riot quieted somewhat; there waa a clapping of hands, and a violin bean to squeak measures Intended to be Oriental. The next moment tne listener scram uiea up one of the rotting piles and stood upon the verapda. - . A shaft -of red light through a broken shutter struck across tha figure above the shoulders. revealing ' a bloody- handkerchief clumsily Knotted about tna neacu ana. beneath It the race of Joe Liouden. - Ho went to tha broken, abutter and looked in, - Around the , blackened walls of tha "room stood' a bleared mob. applauslvely watching, through a fog of smoke, tha contortions of aa old woman In a red carloo, wrapper, who was -dancing in the center of tha floor. Tha fiddler a rubicund person evidently not suffering : from any great depression ot spirit through the circumstance of being "out on hall,' as no ' waa. to joe a intimata . gno wi edge eat astrlda a barret, resting his Instrument upon tha foamy tap there of. and playing somewhat .after, tha manner 01 a ceuisi; in no wis in commodad by the fact that a tall man (known to a Jew iriends aa an expert in tna porcn-cumning iine waa sleep, tna on hist shoulder, while another gentleman (who had prevented many casea or typhoid by - removing . 01a plumbing from nouses) lay-, on the floor at tha musician's feet and an deavoved to assist him by plucking tha strings or tne-naaie. ; , , ' , -v Joe opened the door ana went in. All of the merry company (who ware able), turned sharply toward tha door as It opened; then, recognising tho new-comer, turned again to watch the old woman. ' Ona or two nearest tha , 1 J , W ...... M. I . W A . ....In.l... vuvr snliru lliv UV7, vimvui vui iu, 1 jr , what had happened to his head, : He merely shook it faintly in 'reply, and crossed the room to an open hallway beyond. At tha end of thla ha cama to a frowsy bedroom, tha door of which stood ajar. Seated at a deal table, and working by a dim - lamp with a broken chimney, a closet-crop ped, red-bearded, red-hatred man In his shirt sleeves waa Jabbing, gloomily at a, column of figures scrawled In a amy isager. - tie tooaea up as oe ap peared in the doorway, and bis eyes showed a alight surprise. "I never thought yon had tha tarn per to git somebody to split yer head," aald he. "Whera'd ye collect It?" "Nowhere," Joe answered, dropping weakly on the bed. . "It doesn't amount to anything." Well. I'll take Just a look fer my self." said the red-bearded man, rising. And I ve no objection to not know la' how ye came by It , YA'vs always be eh the'' great one fer keepln' yer mysteries to yerself." He unwound tho handkerchief and removed It from Joe's head gently. Wheo!" ho cried, art a long gash was exposed over tha forehead. "I hope ye left a mark somewhere to pay a little on the score o' this!" ' Joe chuckled and dropped dlxslly back upon tha pillow. "There was another who got aomethlng Ilka It" he gasped, feebly; ','and. oh, Mlka, I wish you could hava heard him going on! Perhaps you did It waa only three miles from here," "Nothing I'd like better!" said tha other, bringing a basin of clear water from the stand In tha corner, "it s a beautiful thing to hear a man holler when he gits a grand ona ilka ye re wearing to-night" Ha bathed the wound gently, and hurrying from tha room, returned Im mediately with a small Jug of vinegar. Wettlnga rag with this tender fluid, he applied It to Joe's head, speaking soothingly the while. Nothing In the world like a bit of good cider vinegar to keep off tha festerln'. It may seem a trifle scratchy fer tha moment but It aaaaa slnates tha blood-p'lson. There ya go! It s the fine thing fer ye, Joe what are ye squlrmln' about?" "I'm only enjoying it," tne boy answered, writhing as the vinegar worked Into tht gash. "Don t you mind my laughing to myself." "Ye re a aood one, Joe!" said the other, continuing his ministrations. "I wisht. after all. ye felt like makln' me known to what's the trotfble. There's some of us would be glad to take It up fer ye. and" "No, no: It s an ngnt was some where I had no business to be, and I got caught." "Who caught ye?" "First, some nice white people" Joe smiled his distorted smile and then a low-down black man helped me to get away as aoon aa he (saw who It waa. He's a friend of mine, and he fell down and tripped up the Dursuit" "I always knew ye'd git into large trouble aome day." The red-bearded man tore a strip from an old towel and began to bandage the boy's head with an unaccustomed hand. "Ter taste fer excitement has been growl n' on ye every minute of the four years I ve known ye." "Excitement!" echoed Joe, painfully blinking st his friend. "Do you think I'm hunting excltementi" "Be hanged to yet" aald the red bearded man. "Can't I say a teasing word without glttln' called to order fer It? I know ye, my boy, aa wel aa ye know yerself. Ye' re a queer one. Ye're one of the few that. mast know all sides of the world and can't content themselves with betn respectable! Te haven't sunk to 'low life' because ye're low yourself, but ye'll never git a damned one a' the respectable to belUve It. There'a a few others like ye In the wide world, and I've seen one or two of 'em. I've been all over, sUeple-chaatn", sailor man, soldier, pedier, ana in the po lice: I've pulled the Orand National tn Paris, and I've been handcuffed tn Hong-Kong; I've seen all the few kinds ot women there Is on earth and the many kinds of men , Yer own kind la tha one I've seen the fewest of, but Z knew ye belonged to It the first time I laid eyes on yet" Ha paused, then continued with convict Hon! "Ye'll come td no good, either, fer yerself, yat no one can say ye haven't talents.. Ye've helped many of the boys out of a bad hale with a word ot advice around tha oourta and the Jail. Who knows but yt'd be a great lawyer If ye kept oa?" , r Young people usually like to dis cuss themselves under any conditions hence the rewards of palmistry but Joe's comment on this harengha was not so responsive as might hava been expected. : m ' ' ' '"I'ye got eeven dollars', he - saeVI, "snd I'll leave the clothes 'I've got on. Can you ft tna up -with some thing dlfferentf" . . .' .-, - "Aha!" cried tha red-bearded man. "Then ye are In troublel I thought It'd come to ye some dsyl Have ye twan rivntivmliln' Martin Plka? "Bee what you can do," aald Joe. jJ want ta wait here until daybreak." ' "We down, then." Interrupted the other. v-And ftrglt the hallabaloo In the throne-room heyond." , :. "I ran easily do that" Joe stretched himself upon the bed "I've got so many other things to remember." ' '.'- "I'll hava the things fer ya, and I'll let ye know t have no use fer seven dollars." returned the red-bearded man, crossly.' , "What are ye snlffln' fert"..; -. ...... V;:..- '"'.;' "'-. , Tm thinking of the ' poor fellow that got the mate to this," said Joe, touching the bandage. ' "I can't help rrylng when I think they may have used vinegar OB his head, too." v Ult to sleep If ye can!" exclaimed the Samaritan, as a hideous burst of noise came from ' the dance-room, where some one seemed to be bresk Ing a chair upon an .acquaintance, "l it go out and regulate, the boys a bit." He turned down - the lamp, fumbled la hU bjp-pockst. and went to the door. ' ' . 1 , "Don't f erget." Joe called after him 1- "Oo to sleep, said the red-bearded man, his hand ' on the door-knob. "That Is, go to thlukln', fer ye won sleep; ye're not the kind, ' But think easy; I'll have the things fer ye. it' a matter of pride with tne that I al ways knew ye d come to trouble."' , ' - . , CHAPTER VI, , , ' "YeTl Tak' the High Road and I'll xan' the lxw lload.", , ,h -The day broke wtth a scream of wind out of the prairies i and such cloudbursts of snow that Joa could see neither bank of the river as he made hla way down. the big bend of ice. - The wind struck so bitterly that now and then he stopped and, panting and, gasping, leaned hla weight against It , -The snow on thv ground was caught up and flew like at sea spume In a hurricane; It swirled about htm. Joining the flakes in the air, ao that It seemed to be snowing from,; the ground Upward aa much aa from the sky downward. tierce as It was, hard as It waa to- fight through, snow from the earth, snow from the sky. Joe was grateiui ror it, reeling that It veiled him, making him eater, ' though he trusted somewhat .the change of cos tume ne naa errectea at Beaver Beach A rough.- workman'a can waa nulled down over his ears and eyebrows; a knitted comforter waa wound "about the lower part ot hta face; under a ragged overcoat ha wore blue overalie and rubber boots; and In one of his rea-mittened hands ha swung a tin Inner bucket -? iv,,--?. .. When he reached tha nearest of the factories he heard tha exhaust of lta engines long before ha could see the building, so blinding was the drift Hera he struck Inland from-tha river, and, skirting the edges of tha town. maae nis way by unfrequented streets ana alleys, bearing In the general di rection or upper Main street to find himself at last almost exhausted, tn tne auey behind the Plka. Mansion. There he paused; leaning, heavily against a board fence and araslna st tne vaguely outlined gray plana which was all that could be made of the house through the bllxsard. He had often, very often, stood In this same place at night and there-was one window (Mra Pike's) which he had guessed to be Mamie's. -. The storm waa so thick ' that he could not seen this window now, but he looked a Jong time- through the thickness at (nat part of tha , gray plane where he knew It waa. ! Then his lips parted. k "Good-bye. Mamie." he said softly. Good-bye, Mamie," . He bent his body against the' wmd and went on, still keeping to the hadk ways, until he csme to the alley which passed behind his Own home, where, however, he paused only for a moment to make a quick survey of the prem ises. A glance satisfied him; he ran-to the next fence, hoisted himself wearily over 11, ana aroppea intO Hoger xa oor a oaca yara. He took shelter from the wind for a moment or two, leaning against the fence, breathing heavily; then he stumbled on across the, obliterated paths of a vegetable garden until he reached the house, and beginning with the kitchen, began to make the cir cuit of the windows, peering can tiously into each as he went ready to tap on tne pane should ho catch a glimpse of Artel, and prepared to run if he stumbled upon her grand ratner. But tne place seemed- empty: he had made his reconnalaance appar ently In vain,, and was on the point of going away, when he heard-the click of the front gate and saw Ariel cotn lrg towards him, her 'old water-proof cioaa aoQut ner neaa ana snouidera, the patched, scant faded skirt which he knew so well, blowing about her tumultously. At the sound of the gate he had crouched dose against tne side or tne house, but she saw him at once. s She stopped abruptly, and throw Ing the water-proof back from her bed, looked at him through tbe driven fog of snow. One of her hands was stretched towards him" Involuntarily, and It waa In that attitude that he long remembered her, standing In the drift which had. piled up against the gate almost knee-deep, the shsbby sKirt ana tne black water-proof, nap. ping like torn sails, one; hand out stretched like that of a figure In tableau, her brown face with Its thin features mottled with cold and un lovely, her startled eyes fixed on him with a strange, wild tenderness that held something of the laughter of whole companionship la It mingling with a loyalty and championship that waa almost ferocious she looked an Undine of the snow. Suddenly she ran ta him, still keep ing her .hand out-stretched until . It touched his own. "How did you know . me?" he said. "Know you!'? was all the answer she made to that question. "Come Into the house. I've got some coffee on the stove for you, I've been up and down the street waiting for you ever since It began to get light" "Your grandfather won't " 1 He's at Uncle Jones's; he Won't be back till noon. There'a no one here." Bhe led hlra to the front door, where he stamped and shook himself; ha waa snow from head to foot "I'm running away from the good Gomorrah," he said, "but I've stopped to look back, and I'm a pretty white pillar." "I know where you stopped to look back," she answered, brushing . him heartily with her- red hands. "You came in the alley way. . It was Ma mle's window." He did not reply, and the only vis ible token thst he had any conscious ness of this clairvoyance of. hers was a slight lift of his higher eyebrow. Bhe w asted no time In getting him . to the kitchen, where, when she had re moved hla overcoat aha placed him In a chair, unwound the comforter, and, as carefully as a nurse, lifted the cap from his Injured head. -When the strip of towel, was disclosed she stood quite still for a moment with the cap in ner nana, men witn a nroaen little cry', she 'stooped and kissed a lock 'of his hair, which escaped, ,,) discolored, beneath the bandage. . ' : - . ; "too that!" he commanded, hor Mbly embarrassed. : " '0 . ' i "Ohi Joe." she cried. "I Knew! I knew it was there but 'to ee it! And It's my fault for leaving you I had - ta go. or ' I. wouldn't have I"v .,.-.. ,.?,-;,:'."' v.. ..i-ofi v'.Where'd you near about U7";. he asked, shortly. . - : VI haven't been -ta . bed.'" she an swered. "Grandfather and I were up all night ajt Uncle Jones's, and Col onel Flltcroft' came about . o'clock, and he told a.''.. -'":;,. -' t- ''',;.'".- "Did, he tell you about Norbert?? ;r "Yale-- great deaLT She poured coffee Into a cup from a pot on the stove, brought it to him, then- placing some thin slices of bread upon a grid Iron, began , to toast them over the hot coals. ."The Colonel said that Norbert thought ha wouldn't get Well," she concluded; "ana Mr. Arp saia Norbert was' the kind that' never die, and they had quite an argument" 'What were you doing at Jonas Ta bor's?" asked Joe, drinking hla coffee with a brightening eye. - . , , , "We were sent for. aha answered, What f or f, v.-t' w.J (the toasTed the bread . attentively without replying, and when' ehe de rided that it was brown enough, plied It on a warm plate. This she brought to him, and kneeling tn front of him,, her elbow on hie knee, offered for his consideration, looking steadfastly up St his eyes, He began to eat raven ously. 5 " ' "What for?" he r-ptated. "I didn't suppose Jonas would let you corns .in hi- hoiiBe. Was he sick?" "Joe," she stiM, qiilttlly. dlBregard-, Ing his quotums "Joe, have you got to runaway?". ' "Yes, I've got tohe answered. 'Would you have to go to prison if you stayed?" . hhe asked this with a breathless tenalty. , ; "I'm not golnn to beg father to help. ' me out," he said, determinedly. "H said he wouldn't, and he'll be spared . th. chance. He won't mind that: no body,, will 'caret ., Nobody! ' - Wha does anybody care what I do!" "Now you're thinking of Mamie!", ; she cried..7 "I can always telt When , ever vou don't talk naturally you're thinking of herl" t , lie poured down the Iaet ; "of the coffee, growing red to the tips of his ears. . "Ariel," he said, "if ever come hack".' v.. V '. -tv- -f-u ' "Walt" aha : interrunted. Woult- you have to go to prison right away , p If they caught you?'T i . ; N . r v 'Oh, It isn't that" he laughed,. sad-v- jy. auv a m going 10 clear ouu jl ra .jt ,, not'vgoing to take any chances. ' I wani to sea other .parts of the world, other kinds -of people.- I might have f gone, anyhow, soon, even If It hadn't r , been for last night Don't vou ever . feel that way?",,; ""( 'V'nv. .' " , "You know I do." she said, "I've ; told you how often! & But. Joe. Joe- ;' you haven't any money! , You've got , 1 , - to nave money to liver' '.- V r m ; "You needn't worry about that," ray .,'' '. turned the master of seven .dollars-. , " . genially. "I've saved enough to take, , - care of me for a long time." r. - h C "Joe, please! I know It isn't ao. ' ' It yoC could watt Just a little while . only a few . weeks only . a . tew, 4 joe" . ..'.,.. .-.j "What fortt-.Vv:' VV :,' "I could let yea have arl you want It , would be such a. beautiful thing -for ma, Joe. Oh, I know how you'd feel; ' you wouldn't even leume give you tht dollar I found In the atreet last ;. year; but this would be-only lending; ;.''.'.. it to you. and you could pay tna back V7; some time" - -. : -' . "Artel!" he exclaimed, and, setting-, hta empty , cup upon the floor, took - - , her by. the shoulders snd shook .her till tha empty plate which had held . tha toast dropped from her hand and broke Into fragments. 'You've been. ,w reeding the Arabian Nights!". -' . : . - "No, no? she cried. vehemently., si ; "Grandfather would give me anything He'll give . me all the money I ask -fori". ' V ,,r ,v-,v v'. "Money " said Joa. "Which of us , ' Is wandering? Money?. Roger Tabor 'm art... Ma mam ' . . . "Not for a. while, " A greet many- things have to be settled flrat'.' "wnai tmngST. 1, " , - - . "Joe," she asked earnestly- "do you , think It's bad of ma not to feel things . I ought to feelt'V' ,-. .-'- --xi-ir'-' "NO." . - . ' ' . V ' Then vl'm glad," aha said. - and 'i something In the way she spoke made. ' ? htm start with pain, remembering the ' ' ' eame words, spoken In the same tone. ' , by another voice, the night before on ' - the vefanda. "I'm glad. Joe, because '' , I aeemed alt wrong to myself. Unci -v, t- Jonae died last night, and I haven't ' been able to get sorry. Perhaps It's . because I've been so frightened about ' you. but I think not for I wasnt sorry before Colonel Flltcroft told ma .' about you." - - r .: vjonas . Tabor dead!" said Joe. . - . "Why, Lsaw him on tha street yester Yls, and I saw him Just' before X came out on the porch where " you were. He waa there In the hall; he and Judge Pike had been having a 7-. - long talk: they'd been in aome specu, lations together, and If had all turned out well. It's very strange, but they say now that Uncle Jones's heart waa - weak he was an old man, you know, almost eighty and 'he'd been very, anxious about hla money. The Judge had peauaded him to risk It; and the v shock of finding that he'd made :a ; -great deal suddenly " ' - . V ; "I've heard - held had that same ev ', shock before." aald Joe, "when he sold ' out to your father." 1 ' V ' Yes. but this was different, grand- , v. father says. He told me it was la : : one of those big" risky busmesaee that tv- Judge Pike likes to go Into. And last . ,. night It was all finished, tha strain'; ,' was over, and ' Uncle Jones started ".,v home. His house is only a little way . from the Pikes', you know; but- he ', dropped down In the enow at hie gate, and some people who were going by , A '. saw him fall. He was dead before ; grandfather got there." - "i can't ne sorry, saia joe, siow: ly. -'. ' 1 ...-i.'.;. "Neither can I. That's the dreadful , part of It! -They eay he hadn't made '-; , a will, that though he was sharper.-;- than anybody else In the whole world',-.4 about any otner matter or business, that was the one thing ha put off. And we're all the kin- he had ta' the world, granfather and . And they - ' say" her voice sank to a whisper of . excitement "they say he Waa liohsr, A than anybody knew, and that this Isst S business with Judge Pike, the very t thing .that" kUleihln) aomethlng '-'-about grain made himi five- times richer than before!" - - v r. ; ";..' She put her hand on the boys arm,, . and he let It remain there. Her eyes ".': stni sought hla with a tremulous ap- v peal. . ' ... .,-"...- '.,.'. . "God bless you, Ariel!" he aald. "It's Y ; gQlng to bb a great thing for you."? - "Yea Yea, It ta." - The tears cama s suddenly to her eyea ."I was. foolish ;., last night, but -there had been such a long time of wanting things; " and . '' now and now grandfather and X cao".'' -V lou re going, 100; - joe vnucaieo. "It's heartless.1 suppose, but I've .; settled It! We're going" . "I know."' he cried "Toue told - ' me a thousand times what he's said r s ten times a thousand, you're i go .; : ing to PaHel'V-. "?? "Paris! Yes,.jlhafSi It,V,T V, parte,:, ;'H where he can see at last how the great 1 r onea have painted where the, ethers - - -. can show him!. To Paris, where w '. can study together,' where'- he , can: ;T? r learn how to put tha pictures ha sees ; upon canvas, and where I" . " , ,x --VGon on," Joe encouraged her. ; "I ' -went to hear - vou aav 1L You don't." ' mean that you're going to study paint Ing; you meaa that you're going to . t. -learn how - to make such fellows as ' Eugene ask you to dance. Go ahead - . v and say Jtl"' -. ---. v. v "Yes to learn how to dressl' she .. , aald. L f '-.'ti' 't': .1 -' ;''. v'; ':. ' ' Joe was silent for a moment Then - r , ha rose and took tha rsggsd overcoat;, from the back of his chair. "Where's ' thet muffler?" he aaked. v - She; brought It from where she had placed It to dry, behind tne at ova "Joe," sha said, huskily, "can't 7 you wait tin" - '. " ',.-" i, "Till tha estate Is settled and yetf ' . cap. coax your grandfather to " "No,-not f JBut you could go with - -us."-."v'-f KT -'., -'" v.', "To Paris V v.;--.' .'.' ; , ; "He . would take yc-u as his secre :t . tary.".. - v " ' ". 'Ahal" Joe's voice rang out gaily -i as he rose, refreshed by the coffee, i toast and warmth she had given him, ' i "You've been story-readjng, Artel, like ftugenet .'Secretaryl' mJ"-Cv.' 5 1 : ' mease, aoal?,',iA,,.'i.y'i ?.Vf?yJ !' v Where's my tin dinner-pail?" He found It himself open the table where . he had set It down. Tm going to earn a dishonest living," be went on. "I have an engagement to take a: freight at a water-tank that's a friend ' of mine, half a mile, south of the , yarda Thank God. I'm going to get away from Canaan!" , "Walt Joe!" Bhe caught at his sleeve, "I want you to " He had swung out of the room snd was already at the front door. Hie -followed him cloeely. , "Good-bye, Ariel!' '. " '. ''' ' . . "No. ne! Walt, Joe!" kr -' ? -' , ; He took her right band tn his awn "it
The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Sept. 30, 1906, edition 1
18
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