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Updated: May 24, 2025
Now, as every one knew such a thing to be ludicrously impossible, it was at once noised abroad in Canaan that Joe had helped to swindle Judge Pike out of a large sum of money it was notorious that the shyster could bamboozle court and jury with his tricks; and it was felt that Joe Louden was getting into very deep waters indeed.
Louden brightened inexpressibly whenever Eugene spoke of himself, and consequently she glowed most of the time. Her husband a heavy, melancholy, silent man with a grizzled beard and no mustache lowered at Joe throughout the meal, but appeared to take a strange comfort in his step-son's elegance and polish. Eugene wore new evening clothes and was lustrous to eye and ear.
"You've made up your mind to stay here, then?" "Yes." "I don't believe," said Mr. Louden, with marked uneasiness, "that Mrs. Louden would be willing to let you live with us." "No," said Joe, gently. "I didn't expect it." He turned to the window and looked out, averting his face, yet scoring himself with the contempt he had learned to feel for those who pity themselves.
"You knew everything about him and his standing in this community! I know you did, because Mrs. Pike told me you asked all about him from Mamie after you came last night, and, see here, don't you " "Oh, but I knew before that," she laughed. "I had a correspondent in Canaan, one who has always taken a great interest in Mr. Louden. I asked Miss Pike only to get her own point of view."
Arp's prophecy fell true, and he took it back to his bosom again, claimed it as his own the morning of its fulfilment. Joe Louden had come back to Canaan. The elder Louden was the first to know of his prodigal's return. He was alone in the office of the wooden-butter-dish factory, of which he was the superintendent, when the young man came in unannounced.
An' de good Man knows I 'membuh w'en you runnin' roun' back-yods an' up de alley rompin' 'ith 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 I drivin' de Judge?"
Fear wheeled toward the door and stood, rigid, her hands clenched tight, her whole body still, except her breast, which rose and fell with her tumultuous breathing. She could not wait till the laggard step reached the landing. "MR. LOUDEN!" she called, suddenly. Joe's voice came from the stairway. "It's all right, Claudine. It's all fixed up. Don't worry." Mrs.
Louden looked at him out of small implacable eyes, the steady hostility of which only his wife or the imperious Martin Pike, his employer, could quell. He shook his head. "I don't see any use in it," he answered. "It wouldn't mean anything. All my life I've been a hard-working man and an abiding man.
"You'll want me to walk over with you and come for you afterwards, I expect." "Only to take me. It may be late when I come away if a good many SHOULD ask me to dance, for once! Of course I could come home alone. But Joe Louden is going to sort of hang around outside, and he'll meet me at the gate and see me safe home." "Oh!" he exclaimed, blankly. "Isn't it all right?" she asked.
"I meant young folks don't remember as well as older people do," continued the Squire. "I don't see what's so remarkable in her comin' back and walkin' up-street with Joe Louden. She used to go kitin' round with him all the time, before she left here. And yet everybody talks as if they never HEARD of sech a thing!" "It seems to me," said Colonel Flitcroft, hesitatingly, "that she did right.
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