The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-06-04

gave the impression Of riches. not
only by the hnc texture and fashionlng |
OF her garments. but one felt that lux
urIes had wrapped her from her birth. |
lie had not had much time 10 wonder |
what she did In Plattyille. II had oc-
Cured TO him that II was a little odd
that she could plan to spend any extent
OF time there, egen II she had liked
Minnie Briscoe &C school He felt that
she must have been sheltered and pet
ted and waited on all her life. One
could not help yearnlng TO wait on her.
He answered inarticulateiy, "Oh.
some day" In reply to her question and
then fell into outright laughter.
"I might have known You wouldn't
take me seriously" she said. with no
Indignation. only sort OF wistfulness.
II am well used 10 IL think 1t Is be-
cause am not tall. People take big
girls with more gravity. Big people
are nearly always listened TO-"
Listened tor be said. and felt that
he must throw himself at her feet.
"You oughtn't TO mind being Titania.
She was listened to. YOU
She sprang to her feet. and her eyes
flashed. "Do you think personal com
ment is ever In good tastef" she cried
Gercely. and In bis surprise he almost
fell on the bench. "if there Ii one
thing | cannot bear. X is 10 be told that
am 'smallr am not. Every one who
isn't a giantess isn't small detest
personalities. I am q great deal over
nve feet. a great deal more than that
-
"Piease, please" he said. Il didn't
Don't say you are sorry" she inter.
rupted, and in spite Of his contrtion
he found her angry voice delicious. II
was still 10 sweet, hot with indigna-
ton, but ringing. not harsh. Don't
say you didn't mean II, because you
did! You can't unsay It. you canset
alter II, and this IL the way must re-
member you! Abr She drew In her
breath with a sharp sigh and. cover
ing her face with her hands. sank back
upon the bench. II will not cry" she
said, not 30 firmly as she thought she
| did.
"My blessed chIldr' he cried In great
distress and perturbation. What have
I done1 IL
"Cali me small all you like" she
answered. II don't care. II isn't that.
You mustn't think me such an i'm
becile." She dropped her hands from
| her face and shook the tears from her
eyes with a mournful little laugh. He
saw that her fingers were clinched
tightly and her lip trembled. Il VIII
not cry" she said again.
Somebody ought to murder me. l
ought to have NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
are hideous"-
Don't! II wasn't that"
IL ought to be shot
"Ah, please don't say that" she said.
ahuddering. please don't not even a.
q Joke, after last nightf'
"But ought to be for hurting you.
Indeed
She laughed sadly again. ''It wasn't
that. don't care what you call me. ]
am small. You'll try to forgive me for
being such q baby? didn't mean any
thing said. l haven't acted so badly
since was q child"
"Its my fault, all Of it I've tired
you out, and let you get crushed at
the circus. and
''Thatg' she said. ~ don't think
would have missed the circus"
He had q thrilling hope that she
meant the tent pole. She looked as II
she meant that, but he dared not LEI
himself believe II.
"No," he continued. 81 have been SO
madly happy In being with you thai
rye fairly worn out your patience. I've
haunted you all day, and l have
"All that has nothing TO do with II, !"
abe said. with gentle motion Of her
hand to bid him listen. Just after you
left this afternoon found that could
not stay here. Ny people are going
abroad at once, and must 60 with
them. That's what Is almost making
me cry. ! leave here tomorrow morn.
Ing"
He felt something strike at his heart,
In the sudden sense Of dearth he had
no astonishment that she should be-
tray such agitation over her departure
from a place she had known 80 little
and friends who certainly were not
part Of her life. He rose to his feet,
and, resting his arm against a syca'
more. stood staring away from her at
nothing She did not move. There
was long silence. He had wakened
suddenly. The skies had been sap.
phire. the sward emerald, Plattvllle a
Camelot of romance, city of enchant.
ment, and now, like a meteor burned
out In a breath, the uecromancy fell
away and he gazed into desolate years,
The thought of the square, his dusty
office, the bleak length Of Main street,
as they would appear tomorrow gave
him faint physical sickness. Today
II had all been touched to beauty. He
had felt tit to live and work here a
thousand years-a fools dream, and
| the waking was In arid amntinesa He