The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-12-10

No wonder that she listened. It's q
positive Joy 90 rest ones eyes upon
such uglincss after all this binding
beauty Absolutely I've been lighting
the heOrtache- wrestling with n deslr,
60 moan aud weep"
And yet you screamed at the sigh
OF It."
The words In themselves We're In
nocent enough, but the tone wa'
thoughtful and Dinsmore's long
searching look gave them slgnlu
cance that caused her to feel conscious
and then redden with annoyance be
cause she had done so. To divine that
underneath his words might lie I'm i'm
pllcatlon that her efforts to discourage
his suit meant no more than her star
tied cry at the appearance OF the slug
was womanly intuition, Hut to show
that she had OWNED II was a very
different matter, break more worthy
Of some rustic schoolgirl than of
Elolse Chestcrton. He continued to
gaze at her until she felt like an in
sect lmpaled upon pin point for the
benefit OF an interested student. Al
last she could endure II no longer,
Probably Eve screamed, too. just at
first sight Of the serpent" she remark
I'd desperately. Then. with an inward
groan. she wished she had not spoken.
Dlnsmore laughed out. n little note
Of triumph In his voice,
\ IF you think no. I'm sure that she
did, was his reply, Thank you for
settling point that was puzzling
me-"
Defiance sparkled In Miss Chester
tons eyes.
Reading between the llnes," she OBJ
served. with much dellberation and ap.
parent irrelevauce. ''is misleading
habit For instance. take my own case,
| mean what say and nothing more.
You can't read between the lines, be
cause there is never anything TO read"
At the words the slug crawled a
little farther along the arm OF the
chair, as II something had made II un
easy.
"incredulity~ calculated Dlnsmore
In n suppressed voice, his head thrown
back upon his chair and his eyes lifted
to the passion flowers.
His companion sat upright, looking
at him with fiery scorn. lie met her
eyes braZenly. Never had he seen her
appear so superbly beautiful. But he
only said:
Don't sit up like that lp Hongkong
chair; it's inartlstic Moreover, It's un.
gracious, and n woman should never
be ungraciousr'
You're horrid. Ralph Dlnsmore," was
the only reply she youehsafed him, but
he noticed that she sank slowly back
upon the cushions, One couldn't af'
ford TO look awkward In the eyes OF
cry man. even a man that one fully
intends to refuse.
The warm gold OF the afternoon sun
light was gradually paling, and chill
was creeping stealthily into the suave
air, Dinsmore. recognizing the signs
of late afternoon. looked at his watch.
Just half hour until the o'clock
boat would bear him away from this
corner In paradise back to San Fran.
cisco.
He drew a small case from his pock-
ct and calmly handed II to Miss Ches
terton.
you like old jewels. See what you
think Of IT," was his matter Of fact
She obeyed him, drawing from the
case ring Of quaint workmanship In
which two beautiful pearls were I'm.
bedded.
"Beautlfulv she exclaimed enthusl.
astlcally. "ExqulsItew But she did |
not look toward him. what II is for
md where did you get III" she added.
TO appear natural
For an answer he leaned toward her
and took 1t gently from her clasp.
Then he lifted her left hand and calm.
y placed II on the third finger, holding
he hand firmly in his while he said
luthoritatlvely:
'"rhat is what It Is for. As for the
est, II has been In the Dinsmore fam
ly for 200 years. worn always by the
Iweetheart and wife of the eldest SON."
But you haven't asked me-" object.
ID faint voice.
"one doesn't bother about those de-
ails In paradise, beloved" he mur.
nured happily. adam knew that Eve
vas his, and by the same token I know
hat you were made for me-"
The slug was squirming slowly to-
yard the garden again.