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About The morning Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1899-1930 | View Entire Issue (May 12, 1907)
UN DAY, MAY 12, 1W7. - . 0 THE MORNING ASTOUIAN, ASTOHIA, OREGON. THE CONQUEST Dy BOOTH TARKINGTON, t Author of "Cherry," "Monilftir Btucalr," Et. t copyright, ioa. y harm, o 1110x11111 CIUPTEII XII. AMIE. waiting jiiNt Inside th door m ArM nnd Engen en tered, guv ilm vlattor )lt matins and a moment latur. hearing tin .wheel of tin. brougham crunch tbt gravel of the earring drtv, hurried away doro tli broad hall and disappeared, At VI dropped ber par asol uku a innrble topped labia near tb door and, rmnuvlnv ber gloves, drifted Into a room at the left, where (rand piano found hltr beneath erloiaoo pltmh. After a moment of contemplation tli puahed flack the cov erlet and, seating bcrauif upon tit Idush covered iilnno stool (to match), etht-r Angora run up and down tbt heboard once and full llNtlewaly In bar Mp ualia gated with drep Intermit at three llhi fixed wilnr.Nl photographs la carved glU' frames iihw th vail aba waa factng-Jmlge I'lke, Manila and Mr, rika, with br rulilM. Tleaae don't stp playing, MIm Ta bor," said a voice Imhlnd ber. Klie bad BOt observed that Eugene had followed bar Into tba room. "Vary well, If you like.' alia snswer ad, looking up to mll absently at biffi, and alt tx-unn to plnf a rakish lit tla air which, compowd by some rattle brain at a cafe table, bad lately skip pad out of tho Moulin Hougo to dUport Itself over furls. S'he played It alow ly In tba minor, with eltlib pat boa, while be loaned hm n the plnno, bit tye Used upon In-r iluirer. which bore few ringn-oone. be olxwrved with an nareaaonabi pleaaur. upon the third ftni er of the left bimd. "Ifa otto of tho aluipler Grieg things, lau't Itr be Mid, sighing gen tbr. "I cam for Grieg." "Would you mind Ha being Chaml nadet" ahe returned, dropping ber eyea to cloak tba aln. An, no; I recognise It now," replied Sugene. "lie apiealf to nte even mora than Orel" At thla ebt glanced quickly up at bint, but more quickly down again, and baateued tb time emphatically, swing tag tb little air Into the major. "Do you play The Pllgrlm'a Cher oar" ' She ftbook her bend. , "Voua name pna Wagnerf Inquired Sugene, leaning toward ber. "Ob, yea," ahe answered, bending her bead far over. so that ber face waa concealed from hint, except the chin, which, be taw with a thrill of Inei- (llcnble emotion, waa trembling slight y. There were aome small white flow era upon ber lint, and thou shook too. When aba turned to him be waa sur prised to ace Unit ahe looked astonish ingly bnppy. Almost aa If abe bad been truggllug with joy Instead of pain. "This chair," she snld, sink lug Into It, "make cie feci at boiue." Naturally Le could not understand. "Because," she explained, "I once thought ! waa galitg to live In It It has been reuphotatcred, but I should trnnv It it I mat If nnvwhnM In (ha world." ., "How very odd!" exclaimed Eugene, tnrlnir. " - - " ' - " ' - VI aettled here In pioneer daya," ahe want on, tupping the nrma lightly with ber finger tips. "It was the last dance I went to In Crtt'iiiin." "I fenr tho town wne very provincial at that time'," he returned, having com pletely forgotten the occasion the men tioned, therefore wishing to shift the subject. "I fenr you may still find It so. There It not much here that one la In sympathy with Intellectually-few people really of the world." "Few people, I suppose you mean," she said softly, with n look that went deep Into bis e.ves-"fcw people who really understand one," Eugene bad seated himself on the sill of an open, window close by. "There has been," be answered, with the ghost of n sigh, "no one." Mamie appeared In the doorway, aud Eugene rose swiftly., "I have been trying to porsnndo Mlsa Tnbor," be ex plained, with something too much of laughter, "to piny again. You beard that little thing of Chamlnade's"- Uamle did not appear to bear him. She entered breathlessly, and there was no color In her cheeks. "Ariel," be exclaimed, "I don't want you to think I'm a tale bearer" "Oh, my dearl" Arlol said, with gesture of doprocatlon, "No," Miss Flke went on, all in one breath, "but I am afraid you will think It, because papa knows, and be want to see you." "What Is It that he knows?" "That you were walking with Joseph Louden!" (This was as if she had Mid, "That you poisoned your moth er) "I didn't toll him, but when he saw you with htm I was troubled and sked Eugene what I'd better do, be cause be always knows what Is best." (Mr. Bantry's expression, despite this uiDute, was not nappy.) "Ana ne aa rtsed me to tell mamma about It and leave It in her bands. But she always v f tells papa everything" "Certainly; that Is understood," said AHnl alnwlw t.ivnfln 4a amlla t mil. sf CANAAN The (liiiivtl ti-r of the bouse exhibited signs of 'conrtifi aitlon. "lie wunta to see yon," she related falterlngly. "lit' In the library." Huvlim V.mn d'uM'lnjM ber errand, she hastened to tltf front door, which bad boeu lift open, and out to the steps, evidently w.iU (be Intention of remov!;ig j;. ;-dc'f as muu uud u far ai possible from t!,o .vicinity of the li brary. Eugene, visibly ierttirbed, followed ber to the doorway of the room and paused. "Io you kkow the way' be Inquir ed, with a bote of soii-mult.v. "Where r Ariel bad not risen, "To tho library," "Of co'.ilne," she r:tld, beaming upon blm. "I was nlmtit to nk you If you wouldn't spenk ti the Ju!gt fur me. This la such n comfortable old friend, this chair," "Bpcak to blm for yout" rcien!d tb nonplused Eugi'iie. Sbe nodded tbevrfully. "If I may trouble yox Tell him certainly I shall be glad to see hUii." Eugene went. There was nothing else to do, And be wished with every step that the distance to the imrtaM of the library might have been greater. In whatever guise he delivered the summons, it was perfectly efficacious, A door slamuicd, a heavy and rapid tread was beard In the ball, and Ariel, without otherwise moving, turned her bead and offered a brilliant arnlle of greeting. "It waa itix-d of you," she said a the doorway filled with red, Imperial wrath, "to wish to bnve a little chat with nie, fin anxious, of count, to go over my affairs with yen, and tost night after my Journey I was too tired. Hut now we might beglu. not In detail, of course. Just yet. That will do for later when I've learned more atKiut business." Th great one bad stopinnl on the threshold. "Madam,"- be Itegan coldly, "when I say my llbiary I tnenu my" "Ob. yes," ahe interrupted, with ami able wenrlnets; "1 Jmow, You mean yon keep all the paier and books of the estate lu there, bnt I think we'd better put tbem off for a few days" "I'm not talking about the estate!" be exclaimed. "What ! want to talk to you about la lielng seen with Joseph Louden!" "Yes," she nodded brightly. "That's along the Hue we must take up first." "Yea. It Is!" He hurled his bull bnia at her. "You knew everything about him aud his standing In tills communi ty! I know you did, because Mm. Pike told me you asked all about him from Mamie after you came last night, aud. aeo here, don't you" 'Oh, but I knew before that," abe laughed. "I bad correspondent la Canaan, one who baa always taken a great Interest In Mr. Louden, I asked Miss Pike only to get ber own point of view." "I want to tell yon, madam," he shouted, coming toward hor, "that no member of my household" Tout's another point we must take op today. I'm glad you remind me of It," sbe said thoughtfully, yet with so magically compelling an Intonation that be stopped his shouting In the middle of a word, stopped with an apoplectic splutter. "We must arrange to put the old bouse In order at once." "We'll arrange nothing of Tne sort," be responded after a moment of angry silence. "You're going to stuy right here." "Ah, I know your hospitality," sbe bowed graciously. "Hut of course ( muat not tax It too far. And about Mr. Loudon? As I suld, I want to apeak to you about blm." , "Yes," he Intervened harshly, "so dc L aud I'm going to do It quick! You'll flud"- Agalu sbe mysteriously bnllkd him "lie's a dear old friend of uiluo, you know, and I have uiatle up my mlud that we both need his help, you nud I." "What!" "Yes," abe continued calmly, "lu a business way, 1 menu. I know you have great Interests In a hundred di rections, all more Important than mine. It Isn't fair that you should bear the whole burdeu of my affairs, and 1 think It will bo best to retain Mr, Louden as my man of bualuess. 11 could take all the cares of the estate off your shoulders." Martin I'lke spoke 110 word, but he looked nt her strangely, nnd alio watch ed him with sudden keenuess, loaning forward lu her chulr, her guxe nlert but quiet, fixed on the dilating pupils of bis eyes. He seemed to becoauu dlM,v, and the choleric scarlet which had overspread bis broud face and bl,i ueck fuded splotchlly, Still keeping her eyes upon blm, she, went on: "I hnveu't nuked blm yet. and so I don't know whether or u;i he'll consent, but I think It posnlbl that be mny come to see me this nft(v noon, and if he does we can propav It to him together and go over thlnr a little," Judge Tike recovered his voice "He'll got a warm welcome,"' he proa. "H'$ one of thou simpler Orieg Ihlnyt, Un't itr h mUL tsed huskily, "if be sets foot on my premises!" "You mean you prefer I shouldn't receive blm herof ' She nodded pleas antly. 'Then certainly I shall not, 8ut.il things are much better for ofllces; you are quite right" Bhe swept light ly and quickly to the door, where she paused, gutlwluii ber skirts. "I shall not detain yah another Instant! Aud If Mr. Louden comcVtbls afternoon I'll remember. I'll not let him come In, of course. It will be perhaps pleas aiiW to talk over my proposition as we walk!" There was a very faint spicy odor, like wild roses and cinnamon, left In the room where Martin I'lke stood alone, staring wbltety at tbe open door way. CHAPTER XIII. T'lIKUE was a custom of Canaan, time worn and aeldom honored In the breach, which put Ariel that afternoon In easy posses sion of a coign of vantage command ing tbe front gate. The heavy Sunday dinner was finished In silence (on the part of Judge Pike deafening) about 8 O'clock, and aoou after Mamie tossed a number of cushion out upon the Stoop between tbe cast Iron dogs, Snm Warden having previously covered the Steps with a rug and placed several garden chairs near by on tb grass. These simple preparations concluded, Eugent sprawled comfortably upon tbe rug and Mamie seated herself near blm, while Ariel wandered with appar ent almleesness about the lawn, fol- ' lowed by the gas of Mr. Bantry until Mlas Pike begged ber a little petulant ly to Join them, She came, looking about ber dream ily and touching to her lips now and then, with an absent air, a clover blos som she bad found In the longer grass against the fence. She stopped to pat the neck of one of the cast Iron deer and, with grave eyes, proffered the clover top first for Inspection, then as food. There were those In the world who, seeing ber, might have wondered that the deer did not play Galatea and come to life. , Sho bad put on ber hat after dinner, and Mamie now Inquired If she would not prefer to remove It offering to car ry It Indoors for ber, to Ariel's room, to Insure Its safety. "You look so sort of temporary, wearing It" she urged; "as If you were only here for a little while. It's the loveliest bat I ever saw, and so fragile, too, but I'll take care" "I am wearing my hat" answered Arlol, "because at any moment I may decide to go for a long walk." "Oh, I hope not" said Mamie. "There are sure to bo people. A few still come, even though I'm an en gaged girl. I expect that's Just to con sole me, though," she added, smiling over this worn quip of the betrothed and shaking ber bead nt Eugene, who grew red and coughed. 'There'll be plenty today, but tbey 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 enme. It's curious enough about you!" And now the young men of the town, laboriously arranged as to apparel, bognn to appear on the street In small squads, making their Sunday rounds, the youngest working In phalanxes of threes nnd fours, thoso somewhat old er Inclining to move In pairs, the eldest such as were now beginning to be considered middle agod beaus or (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 or confidently, according to the condition of their souls, they made their way botween the. cast Irou deer to be pre sented to the visitor. Ariel sut at the top of the step and. looking amiably over their heads, talk ed with such ns could gut near her. There were many who could not, u:nl Mamie, occupying the bomb belor, was surrounded b.y t'.-.c overflow, '"he difficulty of rencl:!i:s nnd luitlnt.ilntu;; a position near Mis Tabor vis In creased by the attitude nnd Miavlor of Mr, Flltcroft. who tlpit day eooleu the feeling of friendship which several of bis fellow townsmen bad hitherto entertained for him. He had beeu the first to arrive, coming alone, though that was not his custom, aud he es tablished himself at Ariel's right, upjn the step Just below her, so disposing tbe great body and tb ponderout arm and legs the god had given blm that no one could mount above b!iu to sit boslde ber or approach ber from that direction within conversational distance. Korbort, not ordinarily talkative, bad nothing to say. He seemed to find suf ficient occupation In keeping tbe place he bad gained, and from this close vantage bu fastened his email eyes Immovably upon Ariel's profile. Eu gene, also apparently determined not to move, sat throughout the afternoon at her li ft, but as be was thin others who catue and went were able to ap proach upon that side and bold speech with her. Tbe conversation of the gallants con sisted for the greater part of witti cisms at one another's expense, which, though evoked for Ariel's benefit (all eye furtively reverting td her as each xhaft was loused), she found more or Us enigmatical. Tbe young men, how ever, laughed at each other loudly and teemed content If now and then sbe smiled, "You must be frightfully eu nuled with all this," Eugene said to ber. "You see bow provincial wo still are." She did not answer. Sbe bad not beard him. Tbe shadows were stretch ing themselves over the grass long and attenuated. Tbe sunlight upon tbe trees aud bouses was Ilk a thin, rosy pig: meut blackbirds were calling each 0U1 tr bom to beech and elm, aud Ariel's eyes were fixed upon the western dis tance of the street where gold dust was beginning to quiver In tbe air. She did not bear Eugene, but sbe started a moment later when tbe name Joe Lou den was pronounced by a young man. the poetic Bradbury, on the step below Eugene. Some one Immediately said, "fib!" But she leaned over and ad dressed Mr. Bradbury, who, shut out, not ouly from the group about ber, but from tbe other centering upon Miss Pike as well, was holding a private conversation with a friend In like mis fortune, "What wr you saying of Mr. Lou don?" sbe asked, smiling down upon tbe young msn. (It waa this smile which Inspired bis description of ber as "a revelation and a dream.") "Oh, nothing particular," was his em barrassed reply. "I only mentioned I'd beard there was some talk among the"' He paused awkwardly, remem bering that Ariel bad walked with Joseph Louden In the face of Canaan that very day. "That la, I mean to say, there's torn talk of his running for mayor." "Whatr There wa t ' general exclamation, followed by aa uncomfortable moment or two of silence. No on present was unaware of that noon walk, though there waa prevalent a pleasing notion that It would not happen again, found ed on th Idea that Artel, having only arrived the previous evening, had prob ably met Joe on tb street by accident and, remembering him aa a playmate of ber childhood and uninformed aa to hi reputation, bad, naturally enough, permitted him to walk home with ber. Mr. Flltcroft broke the silence, rush ing Into word with a derisive laugh: "Yea, he'a talked of for mayor by the aaloon people and the niggers! 1 expect tbe Beaver Beach crowd would b for him, and if tramps could vote he might" "What Is Beaver Beach?" asked Ariel, not turulng. "What Is Beaver Beach?" he repeat ed aud cast hi eye to the sky, shak ing bis head awesomely. "Ifa a place," he said, with abysmal solemnity "a place I shouldn't have mentioned In your preseuce, Miss Tabor." "What haa it to do with Mr. Lou den?" - ' ' ; The predestined Korbert conceived the present to be a heaven sent oppor tunity to enlighten ber concerning Joe's character, since the Pikes appeared to have been derelict In the performance of thla kindness. ' "He goes there!" he proceeded heav ily, "He lived there for awhile when he first came back from running away, aud he'a a friend of Mike Sheehan's that runs It. He's a friend of all the riffraff that hang around there," "How do you know be goes there?" "Why, it waa lu the pnper the day after be came back." He appealed for corroboration. "Wasn't It Eugene?" "No, no!" she persisted. "Newspa pers are sometimes mistaken, aren't tbey? Have you ever met any one who has seen him there?" "I've seen him there myself!" The words skipped out of Norbert's mouth like so many little devils the Instant he opened it. Sho had spoken so quick ly and with such vehemence, looking him full In the eye, that he bad for gotten everything In the world except making the point to which ber Insist ence bad led blm. Mamie looked horrified. There was a sound of smothered laughter, and Nor bert overwhelmed by the treachery of bis own month, sat gasping. "It cau't be such n terrific place, then, after all," said Ariel gently, and, turn ing to Eugene, "nave you ever been there, Mr. Ilnntry?" she asked. He changed color, but answered with enough gllbness, "No." Several of the young men rose. The wretched Flltcroft, however, evading Mamie's eye, In which there was a dis tinct hint, sat where he was until all of them, except Eugene, had taken a reluctant departure, one group after another, leaving in the order of thotr arrival. (Continued next week.) tr Morning Astorian, $0 cents per month, delivered by carrier. MEN ADMIRE t- pretty face, a good fitrure, but sooner or later learn that the healthy, happy, contented woman la most of all to be admired. Women troubled with fainting spells, Irregularities, nervous irrita bility, backache, the "blues," and those dreadful dragging sensations, osnnot hope to be happy or popular, and advancement In either noma, business or social life is impossible. Tho cause of these troubles, how ever, yields quickly to LydlaE. Pink ham's Vegetable Compound made from native root and herbs It acta at onoe upon the organ afflicted and the nerve centers, dispelling effeo tuallr alt thoee distressing svmij- tom. 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