The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-02-17

Hhhatn' WIT until ne IL uulte cor
mltted, then do your best to take hir
away from her, You can do Il, neye
fear He's human. II be is a preachel
and no mere man yet born OF woma
is able to stand against YOU
Thank you again." Jessanilne said
tossing her head. "oh, want tha
clump OF cardinal flower" leaning n
she spoke toward the shelving shore.
| Wills shook his head. "Snakesr' b
said laconically, speaking very loud
then. In low aside: Here's where W,
quarrel, Jess. Insist upon getting out
The bishop TO be Is coming down th,
path"
'oh, Mr.. Beyeridge.. Jessamine call
ed eagerly, do come and pick som,
flowers for me, want to pick them
myself, but I find l am prisoner :
with whitening glance at Wills.
Beveridge ran down to the waters
edge. Wont you let me rescue you p
he cried, holding out his hand. Jump
promise you shall get nothing worse
than pair OF wet feet by It."
"She needn't have even them" Wills
said boorishly. ''lf you'il agree to zee
her to the house I'll be glad enough to
put her ashore, Not In the humor for
walking myself and still less for botan-
king"
Half an hour later Mrs. Brookmere
was surprised and, IL truth must bc
spoken, not wholly pleased TO see Jes.
samine sauntering home. her hands full
OF scarlet bloom, with the Rev. Bewly
Beyeridge at her elbow, Now the min
lister had been madam's own compau.
lon all through the earlier afternoon.
and, though he had not said much
quite too little TO make madam aware
of her own state Of mlnd--he had look,
ed unutterably things. She had found
the looking pleasant-she was OF tho
women made to be married, childless,
although she had buried three hus,
bands, and still possessed Of an alert
and lively vanity. She liked to see her
name at the head Of lists Of patron.
esses, especially missionary and rescue
bands. Further, iattery was meat her
soul loved TO feed on. The Rev. Bewiy
had found that out at about the second
minute and acted upon the knowledge.
Indeed, his mind was pretty well made
up to marry her before the interview
ended. But then he had not seen Jes-
,amine In this mood. Jessamine upset
his calculations: she fairly swept him
,ff his feet.
Madam was sadly puzzled through |
tut the next week. Wills haunted the !,
louse as much as ever. though Jessa-
aine openly aouted him. at the same
fme smiling shy propitiation at the
bishop To be. He also was In maze.
encouragement was too
lusive to warrant giving over his pur-
nit Of madam. yet sufficiently unset
ling to make him at times distrait.
Wills glared at him and ostentatiously
ynored him. II was that which gave
i'm the strongest hope. Wills must
g jealous-madly jealous. II only
:eyeridge had never begun TO court
hat old woman! She was in the be-
inning eager to play fairy Eodmother.
was sickening TO feel that he had
isturbed this plous purpose. making
he lady feel that she was not too old
, inspire grand passion number four.
Presently he began to see light He
ould have 1t out with Jessamine- ask
r. plumply to be Mrs. Beveridge, and,
she said yes" go to madam for her
essing, along with an apocryphal tale
distant wooer rendy to sue for her
and. He could make 1t appear he
I'd been finding ont her mind toward
fourth marriage. II would 90 hard
tth him, but that somewhere he
ould find man to make good. In
ed, providentially he already knew
e mana college president, poor and
Gus entitled to write half the alpha
t after his name in honorary distinc-
lns, with children all safely married,
ID much in want Of good home. 50
, went straight to Jessamine, begging
r TO sing to him. The music room
rs at the very end of the house, thus
ell apart There was small chance
interruption. All the rest were busy
lth games or flirting or walking In
Q flower garden under white moon.
Jessamine went with him, walking
gh headed and Joyous. At the door
the parlors she waved him forward,
inning back herself upon some er.
nd he did not understand. What
er it was, she did It very quickly.
! had hardly found the songs he
inted when she was beside him, smil-
: at him In the most bewildering
'hion. As she reached for the music
: hand, apparently by chance, fell
htly upon his. He tried to hold II,
t she snatched it away, turned from
n and began to sing very softly. He
tched her with burning eyes, his
,ath coming hard and fast As she
de to rise he put his arms about
: and gathered her to his breast, say
! hoarsely: "Jessamine, darling, won't
! make music for me always7 Tn.
5 you do my life will be wasted" .
You-you are not in earnestw Jessa.
ne said, slipping from his arms and