Jasper County Democrat, Volume 9, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 March 1907 — THE CONQUEST of CANAAN [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE CONQUEST of CANAAN

By BOOTH TARKINGTON,

Author of “Cherry," “Monsieur Bcaucalre,” Etc. J ( . - ■«»«■»' ■MU' COPYRIGHT, 1003, BY HARPBR G> BROTHERS

SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTKRB. Chapter I—Eugene Btntry. a Canaan (iDd.,) young man, who ha* been east to college, re* turns home and astound* the natives by the Korgeouanes* of hi* raiment. His stepbrother. Joe Loudln. Is characterized by the aged male gossips who daily assemble at the National House for argument as the good for S' othlng associate of doubtful characters. ll—tagene's appearance has a pronounced effect upon Mamie Pike, whose father, Judge Pike, is the wealthiest and most prominent citizen of Canaan. Joe worships Mamie from afar. Eugene interfere* in a snow fight between Joe and his hoidenish and very poor girl friend, Ariel Taber, who 1* worsted. Ariel hotly resents the interference and slaps Eugene, who sends her home. Ill—Ariel, wobecomingly attired, attends Mamie Pike’s ball. IV—Joe. concealed behind some plants On the Pike veranda, watches hungrily for a glimpse of Minnie. Ariel Is ignored by most of the guests. Ariel discovers Joe, aut shortly afterward, learning that her uncle, Jonas Tabor, has died suddenly, leaves. The Daily Tocaln ol the next day tells of Joe's discovery on the Pike veranda and of his pursuit and escape therefrom. It also refers to wounds in the head of himself and of Norbert Flitcroft, who detected him. Joo retires to the “Beach,” a low resort kept by his friend, Mike Sheehan, who dresses his wound. VI Joe leaves Mike's place. He visits Ariel Tabor, who, by the death of her Uncle Jonas, has become rich. She wishes Joe to accompany her and tier grandfather to Paris. Joe refuses and leaves Canaan to avoid arrest for the trouble at Judge Pike's. Vll—Joe is heard from two years later as a ticket seller for a side show. Eugene Bantry also meets him seven years later in a low resort in New York, but wisely refrains from advertising it. VIII—Joe returns to Canaan a full-fledged lawyer. Even his fattier ignores kim. and he is refused accommodations at the National bouse. IX—Joe is welcomed at the “Be»ch.” and "Happy Fear,” one of Joe’ll admirers, seriously asstialts Nashville Cory, a detractor. At the end of Happy's term In prison lie visits Joe, who now has a law office on the sqnare. with a living room adjoining. Joe lias a large practice, principally among the lower classes, and Is frequently attacked by the Tocsin. Joe begins, in his lonliness, to yield to the seductions of the bottle. Bantry’s engagment to Mamie Pike is announced. Bantry is now associate editor of the Tocsin, owned by Judge Pike X—Joe awakens after a “bad night" with the words, “Remember, across the Main street bridge at noon,” ringing in his ears. He goes there and is presently joined by the most beautifully dressed girl he has ever seen. Xl—She turns out to be Ariel Tabor, arrived In Canaan the night before from her long sojourn in Paris. She has seen Joe as the alighted from the train and, realizing hia condition, had escorted him home after exacting from him a promise to meet her the next day (Sunday) across the Main street bridge at noon. Joe learns that Ariel Is stoppiogat Judge Pike's home, the judge having entire charge of her money, etc. XII— Eugene Bantry, although engaged to Mamie, la much smitten with Ariel’s charms. Judge Pike triea his usual blustering tactics with • Ariel, but subsides When she tells him that the shall ask him to turn over the care of her estate to Joe Louden.

CHAPTER XIII. THERE was a custom of Canaan, time worn ami seldom honored In the breach, which put Ariel that afternoon in easy possession of a coign of vantage commanding the front gate. The heavy Sunday dinner was finished In silence (on the part of Judge Pike deafening) about 3 o’clock, and soon after Mamie tossed a number of cushions out upon the stoop between the cast iron dogs, Sam Warden having previously covered the ateps with a rug and placed several garden chairs near by on the grass. These simple preparations concluded, Eugent sprawled comfortably upon the rug and Mamie seated herself near him, while Ariel wandered with apparent aimlessness about the lawn, followed by the gaze of Mr. Bautry until Miss Tike begged her a little petulantly to join them. She came, looking about her dreamily and touching to her lips now and then, witli an absent air, a clover blossom she had 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 her, might have wondered that the deer did not play Galatea and come to life. She had put on her hut after dinner, and Mamie now inquired if she w'ould not prefer to remove it, offering to carry it indoors for her, to Ariel’s room, to insure its safety. “You look so sort of temporary, wearing it,” she urged; “ns if you were only here for a • little while. It’s the loveliest hat I ever saw, and so fragile, too, but I’ll take care”—

“I mn wearing my hat,” answered Ariel, "because at any moment I may decide to go for a long walk.” “Oh, I hope not,” said Mamie. “There are sure to be people. A few ■till come, even though I’m an engaged girl. I expect that’s Just to console me, though,” she added, smiling over this worn quip of the betrothed and shaking her head at Eugene, who grew red and coughed. “There'll be plenty today, but they 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 came. It’s curious enough about you!’’ And now the young men of the town, laboriously arranged ns to apparel, began to appear on the street In small aquads, making their Sunday rounds, the youngest working In phalanxes of threes and fours, those somewhat older inclining to move in pairs, the eldest, such as were now beginning to be considered middle aged beaus or <by the extremely youthful) “old bnchelors,” evidently considered It advantageous to travel aloue. Of all these there were few who did not before evening fell turn In at tbe gate of the Pike mansion. Consciously, shyly or confidently, according to the condition of their Souls, they made their w r ay between tbe cast iron deer to be presented to th# visitor. Ariel sat at the top of the stepa and. looking amiably over their heads, talkad with such as could get near her. There were mapy who could not, and

Mamie, occupying the bench below, was surrounded by the overflow. The difficulty of reaching and maintaining a position near Miss Tabor was increased by the attitude and behavior of Mr. Flitcroft, who that day cooled the feeling of friendship which several of his fellow townsmen had hitherto entertained for him. lie had been the first to arrive, coming alone, though that was not his custom, and he established himself at Ariel’s right, upon the step just below her, so disposing the great body and the ponderous arms and legs the gods had given him that no one could mount above him to sit beside her or approach her from that direction within conversational distance. Norbert, not ordinarily talkative, had nothing to say. lie seemed to find sufficient occupation in keeping the place he had gained, and from this close vantage he fastened his small eyes Immovably upon Ariel’s profile. Eugene, also apparently determined not to moyo, snt throughout the afternoon at her left, but us he was thin others who cAixie and went were able to approach upon that side and hold speech with her. The conversation of the gallants consisted for the greuter part of witticisms at one another’s expense, which, though evoked for Ariel’s benefit (all eyes furtively reverting to her as each sliaft was loosed), she found more or less enigmatical. The youug men, however, laughed at each other loudly and seemed content if now and then she smiled. “You must be frightfully ennuied with all this,” Eugene said to her. “You see how provincial we still are.” She did not answer. She had not heard him. The shadows were stretching themselves over the grass long aud attenuated. The sunlight upon the trees aud houses was like a thin, rosy pigment, blackbirds were calling each other home to beech and elm, and Ariel’s eyes were fixed upon the western dis tance of the street where gold dust was beginning to quiver in the air. She did not hear Eugene, but she started a moment later when the name Joe Louden was pronounced by a young man, the poetic Bradbury, on the step below Eugene. Some one immediately said “8h!” But she leaned over and ad dressed Mr. Bradbury, who, shut out not only from the group about her, but from the other centering upon Miss Pike as well, was holding a private conversation with a friend In like misfortune.

“What were you -saying of Mr. Louden?” she asked, smiling down upon the young nAm. (It was this smile which inspired his description of betas “a revelatlou and a dream.”) “Oh, nothing particular,” was his embarrassed reply. “I only mentioned I’d heard there was some talk among the”— He paused awkwardly, remembering that Ariel had walked with Joseph Louden in the face of Canaan that very day. “That is, I mean to say, there’s some talk of his running for mayor.” “What?” There was a general exclamation, followed by an uncomfortable moment or two of silence. No one present was unaware of that noon tvalk, though there was prevalent a pleasing notion that it would not happen again, founded on the idea that Ariel, having only arrived the previous evening, had probably met Joe on the street by accident and, remembering him as a playmate of her childhood and uninformed as to his reputation, had, naturally enough, permitted him to walk borne with her.

Mr. Flitcroft broke the silence, rushing into words with a derisive laugh: “Yes, he’s ‘talked of’ for mayor—by the saloon people and the niggers! I expect the Beaver Beach crowd would be for him, and If tramps could vote he might’’— “What Is Beaver Beach?” asked Ariel, not turning. “What Is Beaver Beach?” he repeated and cast his eyes to the sky, shaking his head awesomely. “It’s a place,” he said, with abysmal solemnity—“a place I shouldn’t have mentioned in your presence, Miss Tabor.” “What has It to do with Mr. Louden?” The predestined Norbert conceived the present to be a heaven sent opportunity to enlighten her concerning Joe’s character, since the Pikes appeared to have been derelict In thJ. of this kindness.

“He goes there!” he proceeded heavily. “He lived there for awhile when he first came buck from running away, and he’s 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 he goes there?” “W r hy, It was in the paper the day after he came back.” He appealed for corroboration. “Wasn’t it, Eugene?” “No, no!” she persisted. “Newspapers are sometimes mistaken, aren’t they? Have you ever met any one who has seen him there?” “I’ve seen him there myself 1” The words skipped out of Norbert’s mouth like so many little devils the Instant he opened It She had spoken so quickly and with such vehemence, looking him fall In the that he_had for-

gotten everything in the world except making the point to which her Insistence had led him. Mamie looked horrified. There was a sound of smothered laughter, and Norbert, overwhelmed by the treachery of his own mouth, sat gasping. “It can’t tie such a terrific place, then, after all,” said Ariel gently, and, turning to Eugene, “Have you ever been there, Mr. Bantry?” she asked. He changed color, but answered with enough glibness, “No.” Several of the young men rose. The wretched Flitcroft, however, evading Mamie’s eye, in which there was a distinct hint, snt where he was until all of them, except Eugene, had taken a reluctant departure, one group after another, leaving In the order of their arrival. Ariel started to her feet, but the bent figure coming up the walk In the darkness was that of Eskew Arp. Ho bowed gloomily to Mamie and In response to her inquiry If he wished to see her father answered no; he had come to talk with the granddaughter of his old friend Roger Tabor. “Mr. Arp!” called Ariel. “I am so very glad!” She ran dawn to him and gave him her hand. “We’ll sit here on the bench, shan’t we?” Mamie had risen and, skirling Norbert frostily, touched Eugene upon the shoulder as she went up the steps. He understood that he was to follow her Indoors, and, after a deep look at the bench where Ariel had seated herself beside Mr. Arp, he obeyed. Norbert was left a lonely ruin between the cold twin dogs. He had wrought desolation this afternoon, and that sweet verdure, his good name, so long in the planting, so carefully tended, was now a dreary waste; yet he contemplated this not so much as his present aspect of splendid • Isolation. Frozen by the daughter of the house, forgotten by the visitor, whose conversation with Mr. Arp was carried on in tones so low that he could not understand it, the fat one, though heartbreakingly loath to take himself away, began to comprehend that his hour had struck. He rose, descended the steps to the bench and seated himself unexpectedly upon the cement walk at Ariel’s feet “Leg’s gone to sleep,” he explained in response to her startled exelama-

tion, but, like a great soul, ignoring the accident of his position ns well ns the presence of Mr. Arp, he immediately proceeded, “Will you go riding with me tomorrow afternoon?” “Aren’t you very good natured, Mr. Flitcroft?” she asked, wdth an odd intonation. “I’m imposed on often enough,” he replied, rubbing his leg, “by people who think I am. Why?” “It is only that your sitting so abruptly upon the ground reminded me of something that happened long ago, before I left Canaan, the last time 1 met you." “I don’t think I knew you before you went away. You haven’t said if you’ll go riding with me tomorrow. Please”— “Get up,” Interrupted Mr. Arp acidly. “Somebody’ll fall over you if yon stay there.” Flitcroft departed abruptly. Ariel laughed, leaning forward, resting her. elbow-s 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 today.” “I reckon I did!” he exclaimed. “Who wouldn’t of been?” “Why?” “Wasn’t the whole town the same way?” he demunded. “Did you meet anybody that didn’t look surprised?” “But why should they?” “Good gracious!” 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 goln’ 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 jjobody was prepared for it when they saw you. You don’t need to drop no courtesies 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 ypu when you went

pa»t me today, and I kept on lookin’ long as you were In Bight. I reckon I always will when I git the chance, too—only shows what human nature Is. But that wasn’t ell that folks were starin’ at today. 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 yhu, Mr. Arp?” she cried. “I don’t quite see.” The old man shook his head deploringly. “After what I’d written yon 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, nndif he came back to tell you how and when and ail about it. Aud I did It and kept you sharp on bis record ever since he landed here again. Do you know why I’ve done it? Do you know why I promised so quick and easy I would do It?” “Out of 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 never was!” “‘Nothing at all?” she Insisted gravely- “ Never! I leave It to you If I’ve written one good word of him.” “You’ve written of the treatment he has received here,” she began, “and I’ve been able to see what he has borne and bears.” “But have I written one word to show that he didn’t deserve It all? Haven’t I told you everything, of his associates, his” — “Indeed you have!” “Then do you wonder that I was more surprised than most when I saw you walking with him today? Because I knew you did it in cold blood aud knowledge aforethought! Other folks thought it was because you hadn’t been here long enough to hear his reputation, but I knew!” “Tell me,” she said, “if you were disappointed when you saw me with him.” “Yes,” he snapped. “I was.” “I thought so. I saw the consternation iu your face. You approved, didn’t you?” “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Yes, you do. I know it bothers you to have me read you between the lines, but for this once you must let me. You are so consistent that you are never disappointed when things turd out badly or people are wicked or foolish, are you?” “No, certainly not. I expect it.” “And you were disappointed in me today. Therefore, it must be that I was doing something you knew was right and good. You see?” She leaned a little closer to him, smiling angelically. “Ah, Mr. Arp,” she cried, “1 know your secret! You admire me!” He rose, confused and incoherent, as full of denial as a detected pickpocket. “I don’t! Me admire? What? It’s an ornery world,” he protested. “I don’t admire any human that ever lived!” “Yes, you do,” she persisted. “I’ve just proved it. But that is the least of your secret. The great thing is this—you admire Mr. Louden!” “I never heard such nonsense,” he continued to protest, at the same time moving down the walk toward the gate, leaning heavily on his stick. “Nothin’ of the kind. There ain’t any logic to that kind of an argument nor no reasdn.” “You Bee, I understand you!” she called after him. “Pm sorry you go away in the bitterness of being found out.”

•'Found out!” His stick ceased for a moment to tap the cement. “Pooh!” he ejaculated uneasily. There was a pause, followed by a malevolent chuckle. “At any rate,” he said, with Joy In the afterthought, "you’ll never go walkin’ with him again.” He waited for the answer, which camo, after a time, sadly. “Perhaps you are right. Perhaps X shall not.” “Ha, I thongut so! Good night” “Good night, Mr. Arp.” She turned toward the lighted house. Through the windows nearest her she could see Mamie, seated in the familiar chair, following with happy and tender eyes the figure of Eugene, who was pacing up and down the room. The town was deadly quiet; Ariel could hear the sound of footsteps perhaps a block away. She went to the gate and gazed a long time into the empty street, watching the yellow grains of light sieved through the maples from the arc lights on the corner moving to and fro in the deep shadow as the lamp swung slightly In the night air. Somewhere not far away the peace was broken by the screams of a “parlor organ,” which honked and walled in pious agonies (the intention was hymnal), interminably protracting each spasm. Presently a woman’s voice outdid the organ, a voice which made vivid the picture of the woman who owned it and the plowed forehead of her above the nose glasses when the “grace notes” were proudly given birth. “Rescue the Perishing” was the startlingly appropriate selection, ren-

dered with Inconceivable lingering upon each syllable—“Roos-cyoo the Poor-oosb-oong!” At unexpected intervals two male voices, evidently .belonging to men who had contracted,the habit of bolding tin jn their months, jWued the lady in a thorough search for thfc lost chord. « ’ That was the last of silence In Canaan for an hour or so. The organ was merely inaugural. Across the street a piano sounded. Finn, emphatic, determined vocal competition with the instrument here also; “Rock of Ages” the incentive. Another piano presently followed suit In a neighboring house—“ Precious Jewels.” More distant, a second organ was heard. Other pianos, other organs, took up other themes, and, as a wakeful puppy’s barking will go over a village at night, stirring first the nearer dogs to give voice, these In turn stimulating those farther away to join, one passing the excitement on to another, until hounds in farmyards far beyond the town contribute to the long distance conversation, even so did “Rescue the Ferishing” enliven the greater part of Canaan. It was this that made Ariel realize a thing of which hitherto she had not been able to convince herself—that she was actually once more in the town where she had spent her long ago girlhood, now grown to seem the girlhood of some other person. It was true her foot was on her native heath and her name was Ariel Tabor—the very name of the girl who had shared the town’s disapproval with Joe Louden! “Rescue the Perishing” brought It all back to her, and she listened to these sharply familiar rites of the Canaanlte Sabbath evening with a shiver of pain. She turned from the gate to go into the house, heard Eugene’s voice at the door and paused. He was saying good night to Mamie. “And please say ‘au revolr* to Miss Tabor for me,” he added, peering out under his hand. “I don’t know where she can have gone.” “Probably she came In and went to her room,” said Mamie. “Don’t forget to tell her ‘au revoir.’ ” “I won’t, Good night!”

“Good night!” She lifted her face, and he kissed her perfunctorily. Then he came down the steps and went slowly toward the gate, looking about him into the darkness as if searching for something. But Ariel had fled away from the path of light that led from the open door. She skimmed noiselessly across the lawn and paused at the side of the house, leuning against the veranda, where, on a night long past, a boy had hid and a girl had wept. A small creaking sound fell upon her ear, and she made out an ungainly figure approaching, wheeling something of curious shape. "Is that you, Sam?” she said. Mr. * Warden stopped close by. “Yes’m,” he replied. “I’m a-gittln’ out de hose to lay de dus’ yonnab.” He stretched an arm nloug the crossbar of the reel, relaxing himself apparently for conversation. “Y’all done change eonsld’able. Miss Alrll,” he continued, with the directness of one sure of privilege. “You think so. Sam?”

“Yes’m. Ev’ybody think so, I reckon. Be’n a tal-ble lot o’ talkum 'bout you today. Dunno how all dem oth’ young ladies goln’ take it.” He laughed with Immoderate delight, yet as to the volume of mere sound discreetly, with an eye to open windows. “You got ’em all beat, Miss Airil! Dey ain’ be’n uo one roun’ dis town evah got in a thousan’ mile o’ you! Fer looks an’ de way you walk an’ ca’y yo’self an’ as fer de clo’es—name o’ de good lan’, honey, dey ain’ nevnh Bee style befo’! My ole woman say you got mo’ flxln’s In a minute dan de whole res’ of ’em got in a yeah. She say when she helpin’ you onpack she must ’a’ see mo’n a hunerd paths o’ slippahs alone! An’ de good man knows I ’membuh w’en you runnin’ roun’ de back yods an’ up de alley rompin’ ’itb Joe Louden same you’s a boy!” “Do you ever see Mr. Louden nowadays?” she asked. His laugh was repeated with the same discreet violence. “Ain’ I seen him dis ve’y day fur up de street at de gate yonnah, stan’in’ 'ith you w’en 1 drivin’ de Judge?” “You—you didn’t happen to see him anywhere this—this afternoon.” “No’m, I ain’ see him.” Sam’s laughter vanished, and his lowered voice became serious. “I ain’ see him, but I beam about him.” “What did you hear?” “Dey be’n consld’able stir on de aldge o’ town, 1 reckon,” he answered gravely, “an’ dey be’n havin’ some trouble out at de Beach”— “Beaver Beach, do you mean?” “Yes’m. Dey be’n some shootln’ goin’ on out dat way.” She sprang forward and caught at his arm without speaking. “Joe Louden all right,” he said reassuringly. “Ain’ nullum happen to him. Nigh as I kin mek out f’m de talk, dat Happy Fear gone on de rampage ag’ln, an’ dey hatta sent fer Mist’ Louden to come in a hurry."

Ito be continued.l

"Will yon go riding with me tomorrow afternoon t ”