Weston weekly leader. [volume] (Weston, Umatilla County, Or.) 1878-189?, 1885-06-26

half proudly. Ihen the next day per.
haps, / would get off with some of the
boys and get into scrape before I knew
it. / don't blame father fer sending me
away. Indeed am rather glad of the
chance to see something Of the world.
But l might have gone away feeling
careless whether l did well or i'll. /
dare not make any premises, but if ever
l return to America man of the right
sort, they May thank and bless you for
it. must say goodnight and good
bye new, for have to see about getting
my luggage to the CITY,"
Ray smiled radiantly at Jack when
he held out his hand.
"Oh, I am so glad, Jack. If what I
have said tonight is any good, I shall
be so happy"
He laughed little at her enthusi-
asm, and said rather awkwardly:
"Miss Ray, may Twill You give me
something to remember you by? A bit
of ribbon"
Ee paused, thinking he had been toe
bold; Int she caught at the idea eager.
ly, and taking tiny coral anchor from
the bunch Of charms at her throat, she
fastened it to the lads watch chain.
He watched her silently, wistful
look gathering in his eyes, and when
the girl lifted her head and met that
gaze, she placed two white hands upon
his shoulders and innocently raised her
mouth to receive wild Jack Grey's ado.
ring, reverential, farewell caress.
Something more than seven years la.
ter, Ray Edmonds, charming women
with shining bralds of hair and sweet
clear eyes, was spending some days of
mid winter at an old fashioned country
house.
Children and grandchildren, uncles,
aunts, nephews and nieces, with few
intimate friends, were gathered under
the nospitalble roef to celebrate the
golden wedding of the aged couple who
had first settled there.
New arrivals came at intervals.
On the evening of the eventful day
Ray swept down into the parlor looking
exquisitely lovely in her soft, trailing
robes, the golden braids crowning right
royalty the small, graceful head.
The children were playing games in
the great kitchen, and bursts Of noisy
merriment came in through the open
dDor.
One of the elders glanced out and
then said with smile:
"The children are playing post
Office" .
A little ripple Of amusement went
around the room as each one recalled
by-gone days when he or she had joined
in the same game.
Presently the postmaster a preco.
cious-looking lad of twelve, peered into
the room.
sis Cousin Ray here?" he asked, and
then as he espled her he announced
with flourish. "a foreign letter in the
Office for Miss Ray Edmonds."
Ray, smiling graciously at the boy q
fun, proceeded to the ''postofice.''
Size opened the door of the little room
taken possession of by the youngsters,
entered and closed it carefully.
Then she saw, not a roguish and smil.
ing little urchin as she had expected,
but tall, broadshouldered, bearded
man, whose dark, eager, questioning
eyes thrilled her strangely.
A faint flush crep. into her fair cheek.
''I do not understand, she began fal
teringly.
He lifted the dark hair from his fore
head with a quick, graceful gesture,
and like flash her thoughts went back
to that August night seven years be
fore, when she had given Jack Grey
her coral anchor.
Instantly her Slender hands went in
to the strong brown ones open to receive
them, and the flush On her cheek deep
ened to crimson.
"Jack! Yeu are my foreign letter."
"Yes, Ray. My chum's invitation t.
come home with him was gladly accept
ed when I learned that you were to b.
among the guests. Ray, the memor,
of your words to me when l was wilt
boy, and this little talisman, have KEEP
: me from the rocks. 1t has been th'
one ambition of my life in these years t.
make myself worthy of your friendship
, and-your love. Will you say some
thing to me, Ray"
, For she had turned her head aside
aud he could see only fair, hushe
;, cheek and one tiny year.
81 AN net ashamed to woo you fo
my wife, Ray. If am too late that
my misfortune and my misery. But
there Is any hope for me, for heaven
: sake give me one little word. l am OF
ly rough sailor, dear, and have BOT th
knack of saying this sort of thing in
"A graceful way. but love you and yo
: are the one woman "a all the world ft
me-"
Then Ray, smiling and blushing still
lifted two lovely, tear-wet eyes to HI
lovers face, and said shyly:
II think you are very interestiu
letter, Jack
What next occurred 1 have no rigl
to tell, but the young postmaster
who was not above peeping, present
announced in disgusted tones that "M
y Grey and Ray Edmonds did not see
to think anybody else wanted to pla
y 'posteffice;' they were having the gan