The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-10-11
The Lady in the Case.
By Virginia Leila Vents. Copyright sos by Virginia

II think you'll have to retain you
knife aud fork for several othe
courses" said the Hon. Joseph Brew
ster In matter Of fact way. II wal
during a table t'hote dinner on /
Rhine boat, and he addressed the stran
ger who at arst glance shortly aftel
they had steamed out OF Cologne h'
had decided was llkable fellow.
"Ycs. reailyf" answered the youni
man. ITS a biz dlfiieult 10 be sure o.
ones etiquette ON foreign shores"
"Oh, | felt sure you were nm Amer
ican!" cried the elder man dcllghiedly
And spoke TO you because ! wal
rather homeslck for the voice Of one
Of my countrymen today
Just here there twanged from across
the table the voice Of Chicago butch
er:
Like 'cm 10 sec I mean business. y
He winked 10 nobody IN particular and
20 everybody In general as he poured
into the hand Of the surprised waiter
interrupted In his duties. a quantity
OF small change.
The ilknble stranger looked at Judge
Brewster and murmured humorously
as he caught the elder mans smile:
"wcll, there's another one Of our
countrymen. One gets bit ashamed
Of the species though gh-ehy
They went on deck together shortly
after they left Coblenz. The younger
fellow. whose name was Gale, told
stories OF the Philippines. where he had
been for ave years. lie had important
business In Germany and had come
home that way--for the United States
was home TO him. lie had interesting
tales of tho Philippine Islands, OF the
great things that had been done during
the American occupation and Of the
many things that were yet TO do. He
had something TO say OF the wealth Of
virgin material In the country; also be
had something TO say OF tho trials and
dcsolatIon.
Obviously. the judge concluded. this
ilkable chap had experienced tho trag'
edy as well as the comedy Of life. II
was true be had a good. honest laugh
and certain merry way OF saying
things, but. also. In rcposc there was a
stern sadness about the mouth ns OF
one who has suffered oyermuch. The
kindly Judge found himself wishing he
knew more about him. Perhaps he
was hunting for leader when, as the
twilight was coming on. he remarked:
Strange man who's M fond OF the
States NJ you are should have left
them for ave years especially as you
don't belong to tho army"
Perhaps twas for this comprehen.
slvs reason that ninety. y.nine men oft
OF hundred do anything-a woman"
"Ah, there was lady In the caser
The young fellows eyes were turned
rather gravely toward the grim. gaun..
massive skeleton Of departed prowess.
heaped high above ~. Gaur.
That's Rheinfcls," volunteered the
Judge. But his companion seemed not
70 hear
"You see," he breathcd. half TO him.
self, II loved her too much TO stay. so
determined to bury myself some
where. The Philippines were as good
as any other place"
80 she was married. then-thats
why you couldn't stayr'
"she was married to a drunken
wretch who ought 10 have been horse.
whipped all over the states. lie gam
bled; he raced; he made her life un.
bearabie."
How hard that must have been for
you. And she loved your"
The Judge spoke with genuine sym
pathy. II was the sort Of night which
Induces confidence peaceful river,
the little sleepy village. the quiet glld.
Ing OF the boat
"Yes, she loved me. II was my
knowledge of that which In the end
gave me the pluck TO tear myself away.
out there in the Philippines don't
suppose there's been an hour In all
these Ave years that I've forgotten II.
why"-his firm, manly voice broke a
llttle-"if I hadn't remembered that
she was still loving me. praying for
me. believing In me, life would not
have been possible, that's all!'
"Where IN she now?" asked the Judge
at last, breaking long silence.
"Shes at WIesbaden just at present.
She's spending the season there with
her younger sister, who's been perfect.
Ing herself In muslc--in Munich. !
could tell you tales that would make
even a heart Of stone love her-tales OF
her devotion to Rose CHATS her little
sister, Of the sacrifices she has en-.
dured, the deprivations she has under.
gone, IN order that Rose might have
the very best musical education. oh,
] swear she's woman In mIllionF'
The Judge notlced-he could not help
but notice-that bis young friends deep
chest was swelling deeply with unaf.
fected pride. that his eyes were fash
ing and that a ruddy color had crept
into the brown Of his chin. by Jove.
he's a handsome chapr he commented
TO himself.
Gale consulted his watch.