The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-12-08


I'll amused laugh.
81 didn't know that II was bad form
to keep from trying" he explained,
with assumed contrltlon. Surely,
now. II you would be cruel and fool
ish enough TO disregard the last call
you wouldn't expect me never TO looh
at another glrlf To me at present you
seem the one woman In the world
II YOU elect to remain so, shall indeed
be honored, II not
An expressive shrug. glance al
once tender and mocklng, tlnlehed the
sentence, and Ethel felt as II some
thing that she had never appreciated
was slipping away from her just as
she was learning TO value Il.
The rhythmic rumbling Of tho
wheels. the whirllng lights outside
where the dusk had deepencd into vel
vety blackness, the cheerful bright
ness Of the Cur, all seemed unreal.
She had boarded the train at Jersey
City like n queen with faithful, hum
BILE servant In tow. servant whom
In her heart Of hearts she valued. but
OF whose devotion she was so sure that
her estimate OF him was disparaging
for that very reason. And now-two
hours later everything had changedl
Even now, out Of the tail Of his eye,
she could see that he was regarding
the handsome, well set head Of a girl
who occupied chair n few rows ahead
OF them with the interest OF man
who realizes that you never know
when or how you may meet-IIcr!
For the time being he actually seem.
ed to have forgotten her royal self
completely. II was all very well to
pretend TO give her the choice allow.
ing her to abdicate, as Il were. In
reality. she was convinced that she
was dethroned.
Handsome girl up there. isn't shei'
he observed with enthusiasm, turning
toward her Mt last with the furtlvely
apologetic air OF man who has mo-
mentarily forgotten himself 80 well
set up! Look at those shoulders and
the polse OF that head. Regular Junow
Ethel Plxley assented stliiiy. You
have not always admired that type.
though" she added dehantly. "You
used to say you thought girls like that
masculine"
what blind idiot must have
been," was the placid reJoinder. "and
how ones standard of feminine beauty
changes
From chapter to chapterl' she I'm.
ished sarcastically, and at the look OF
hot scorn that accompanied the words
he had a gloating Idea that the day
was won.
At this Juncture picturesque figure
appeared at the end of the car, above
whose snowy garments head that
looked as II II were finely turned
bronze rose superbly.
Last call for dinner In the dining
carr called musical voice as he
lounged down the aisle with the gait
OF man who has his sea legs on.
DINNER now ready In the dining carr
There was a brief pause when he
passed them and disappeared at the
other end Of the car, but his voice
6oated back to them. barely audible
above the rumble OF the wheels and
freIghted with lingering omlnous
warning.
Last call!'
A strange thrill ran through Ethel
Pixley, and she turned toward the man
beside her, II was only by an effort
that she kept from holding out her
hands to him. His face was grave nj.
most to sternness, and under his mas.
terful glance her own eyes fell. and
she wondered In sort Of desperation
whether her lips were qulverIng.
"As he says, Ethel, It's the last call.
and I'm waiting for your answer"
Her only reply was a swift uplifting
Of the eyes that he remembered for
years afterward as the sweetest thing
he had ever witnessed In the way Of
April showers, and later on, when they
had responded to the last call for din.
ner, the waiter wondered and chuc.
kled, too, as he tucked into his pocket
the crisp two dollar bill that he re-
81 ~ Af.n H.