第47章

He began lumberingly to rise, talking at the same time, urging upon Ariel the charms of the roadside;wild flowers were in blossom, he said, recounting the benefits she might derive through acceptance of his invitation; and having, thus busily, risen to his knees, became aware that some one was passing near him.This some one Mr.

Flitcroft, absorbed in artful persuasions, may have been betrayed by the darkness to mistake for Eugene.Reaching out for assistance, he mechanically seized upon the skirts of a coat, which he put to the uses of a rope, coming up hand-over-hand with such noble weight and energy that he brought himself to his feet and the owner of the coat to the ground simultaneously.The latter, hideously astonished, went down with an objurgation so outrageous in venom that Mr.Arp jumped with the shock.Judge Pike got to his feet quickly, but not so quickly as the piteous Flitcroft betook himself into the deep shadows of the street.Only a word, hoarse and horror-stricken, was left quivering on the night breeze by this accursed, whom the gods, intent upon his ruin, had early in the day, at his first sight of Ariel, in good truth, made mad: "MURDER!""Can I help you brush off, Judge?" asked Eskew, rising painfully.

Either Martin Pike was beyond words, or the courtesy proposed by the feeble old fellow (for Eskew was now very far along in years, and looked his age) emphasized too bitterly the indignity which had been put upon him: whatever the case, he went his way in-doors, leaving the cynic's offer unacknowledged.Eskew sank back upon the bench, with the little rusty sounds, suggestions of creaks and sighs, which accompany the movement of antiques."I've always thought," he said, "that the Judge had spells when he was hard of hearing."Oblongs of light abruptly dropped from the windows confronting them, one, falling across the bench, appropriately touching with lemon the acrid, withered face and trembling hands of the veteran."You are younger than you were nine years ago, Mr.Arp," said Ariel, gayly."I caught a glimpse of you upon the street, to-day, and Ithought so then.Now I see that I was right.""Me--YOUNGER!" he groaned."No, ma'am! I'm mighty near through with this fool world--and I'd be glad of it, if I didn't expect that if there ISanother one afterwards, it would be jest as ornery!"She laughed, leaning forward, resting her elbows on her knee, and her chin in her hand, so that the shadow of her hat shielded her eyes from the light.

"I thought you looked surprised when you saw me to day.""I reckon I did!" he exclaimed."Who wouldn't of been?""Why?""Why?" he repeated, confounded by her simplicity."Why?""Yes," she laughed."That's what I'm anxious to know.""Wasn't the whole town the same way?" he demanded."Did you meet anybody that didn't look surprised?""But why should they?""Good Lord Admighty!" he broke out."Ain't you got any lookin'-glasses?""I think almost all I have are still in the customs warehouse.""Then use Mamie Pike's," responded the old man."The town never dreamed you were goin'

to turn out pretty at all, let alone the WAY you've turned out pretty! The Tocsin had a good deal about your looks and so forth in it once, in a letter from Paris, but the folks that remembered you kind of set that down to the way papers talk about anybody with money, and nobody was prepared for it when they saw you.You don't need to drop no curtseys to ME." He set his mouth grimly, in response to the bow she made him."_I_ think female beauty is like all other human furbelows, and as holler as heaven will be if only the good people are let in! But yet I did stop to look at you when you went past me to-day, and I kept on lookin', long as you were in sight.I reckon Ialways will, when I git the chance, too--only shows what human nature IS! But that wasn't all that folks were starin' at to-day.It was your walkin' with Joe Louden that really finished 'em, and I can say it upset me more than anything I've seen for a good many years.""Upset you, Mr.Arp?" she cried."I don't quite see."The old man shook his head deploringly."After what I'd written you about that boy--""Ah," she said, softly, touching his sleeve with her fingers, "I haven't thanked you for that.""You needn't," he returned, sharply."It was a pleasure.Do you remember how easy and quick I promised you?""I remember that you were very kind.""Kind!" He gave forth an acid and chilling laugh."It was about two months after Louden ran away, and before you and Roger left Canaan, and you asked me to promise to write to you whenever word of that outcast came--""I didn't put it so, Mr.Arp.""No, but you'd ought of! You asked me to write you whatever news of him should come, and if he came back to tell you how and when and all about it.And I did it, and kept you sharp on his record ever since he landed here again.Do you know why I've done it? Do you know why Ipromised so quick and easy I WOULD do it?""Out of the kindness of your heart, I think."The acid laugh was repeated."NO, ma 'am!

You couldn't of guessed colder.I promised, and I kept my promise, because I knew there would never be anything good to tell! AND THERE NEVERWAS!""Nothing at all?" she insisted, gravely.