The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1880-11-26

last Georgie CasterAon saw Of Captain
Day-for a very long time.
It was the fifth OF November. n foggy
wet, miserable afternoon but there was
81 glorious fire In the old achoolroom at
the Parsonage. Esther Casterton sat on
the Iiearshrug in front OF If, reading the
newspaper; George was at the table
painting. A sort OF frame stood before
her. ON which were arranged a wild Eangle
of tie, small tree ivy, sprays ofsplants.
tinted reai By the frost. and few scraps Of
moss. She was copying them with rare
deIicaey and skill.
az wish had few bIackberries. said
she presently.
ssWe could not fimlany this morning, ''re-
turned Esther. looking ap from her paper.
at is too late for them |; .can't you manage
without them ?''
Yes. think CAM said Georgia. CIV
ing few bright touches to the leaves.
How much do you think the man will
give you tor that picture. Georgie ?''
II don't know-fiye dollars. I hope"
Its not half enough-why. it is ex-
quiSitely done know Mr.. Day would
get you twice az much, II you would let
| him. Why don't yoh accept his offer,
and allow him to dispose of your paintings
| for y"H.''
Il like tomanage my own affairs dear. .
laughed Georgie. '.Beside<. il was he
WHO introduced me TO this man. He took
great deal OF trouble Mt first ; and, of
course. camnot troubie him always with
my concerns
.-Of course not. - said Esther tlryly; then
after short tsilence-.-GeOrgie,d do you re-
member that party just two years ago, and
| how you cried over that alpaca drrss2 You
would he able TO appear got mp regardless
| of expense now"
mot quite" returned Georgia. smiling:
1--WE are always so poor, and the money II
80 wanted for things il is hard to be with
ont, that don't tllink I should be more
gos osgr"nsiv arrayed than was the,l.''
Sine sighed little. for the troubles OF
poverty game homo very keenly to her.
aud she knew. though Esther did not. that
halt ar Ieasf Of her pooY little earnings
went into the family exchequer. She
| w",i'd have cared nothing tor the little tri-
| ais aud stings Of her daily life had she
nothing else to hear but tor eighteen
| months she had never seen or heard one
word of Captain Day. afrtl the blank ST.
lencr. was cIunl hardship. The constant
| wearing uncertainty had brought an anx-
| io,ls look to the fair young face. as Of one
waiting am! watching continually. and the
lovely eyes looked sweeter, sadtler, and
moro wistfnl than ever:
Presently Esther put down her paper
and sanntere6 to the window. gazing dis
consalately ont nj the fog and the rain.
-.Oh dear. G"orgie. there he is again.
coming in at the gate" exclaimed she. alb
| rupt'y. ia few minutes.
who 90 asked GeOrgie. al,sently. her
thoughts far away. her fingers busy with
the complicated shades of scrap of faded
moss.
! ''Wiio as if you didn't know" retort-
ell Esther. iucretiulously. mir. Franci.
makes it sufficiently clear who it is be
comes TO see in this liouSt. ~
.'What do you mean. Esther ?' George
asked. aroused.
Mean? Oh. nothing particular ~ re
turned: Esther tlryly. mo .lorlbt he takes
an immense interest in paIa's pet grievan-
ees, and comes to condole with him. Ms
entertaining conversation OF course eoint.
tor n0tl.iisss IN tacf. have ceased TO waste
my eloquence upon him. since found ou
tIIat Mis< Gecrgie Ca4ferfon's silence wal
more appreciated than all my wit and wis
| DOM
George flushed painfully.
..WIlat ilonse.lcp you talk. Esther
When you know how Kind he has been
ord wI,ss. h outle lie has taken about my
drawings. it ia absurd OF yoH to inves
rea>ous TO account fnr sIscll a simple thing
as his coming here sonletimee.s'
'Snmetimss'!!'' eehoel Esther, satiri
cally. Y.
| Georsi.. thrust her hrl,sI, into a pool o
lsentrai tint. AMI stirred it ronisl and rount
sanl round half angrIly. Esfhe:, with !
slmeyvd glance at the crimson face and al
emphatic sl,rrg af the shoulders. httool
her -elt to Ser newspaper agaIn, and begal
to -tuiiy the marriage list.
''Why g"~I gracious. Georgia. . exclaim
.-l she. Ia IA it..w minutes. '.I,is hrull,sr D
narri.ai.'' .
/ '.wiat?'' said George. sharply. -.
He Is. really! You ca, read it yoursel
If ynn like. 80 .'
Size paused. There was dead silence
/ & tIIe r,o,n: the clock ticketi witt, startling
dlisti,retncss. Estistr, staring Mt The pa
per in in4hersurprise. neSer no'ie.-tl her sister
II a.s s,,rprise-i !! Isn't Il atvassge Nj
's5ay l,ever tnll ,us ? | shall go and ask him
what 1t all nIrar<. Here Is the paper, 4,
you;'' and. throwing It on to the table, si.,
left tf.e.roorn witl.olt even gtancIng round
Gt-nrgie drpppctl into . seat stunned
/ turned 70 stniie. She uttered no exclamla
ton. gave 40 sigl. that she had heard wla
had just bees, read She sat pprfei.tly still
grasI,lng tho rail- OF her chair fast witt
both hands. and sqarigg with wlde-opel
startled eyes Ont Of seI1e window