The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-10-05

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learns more about his view OF life. He
has an astonishing familiarity with the
most wretched experiences Of his fel
low creatures, and he relates them
with an awful indifference.
Aud yet ] have known Allen 10 act
with great kindness aud delIcncy. I
have seen him express by deeds a sym.
paihy which he seems entirely incapa.
BILE OF feeling, ! have reason 10 DO
grateful TO him. but when be has done
me a favor I have been well assured
that II tho circumstances bad been a
little different he would have shot me
with the same frozen placidlty.
lie has an unsymmctrieai face. the
left side being 20 much better than the
right that even q photographer could
hardly fall 70 prefer II. His forehead
Ii rather low and narrow at the top;
his eyes are leadcn gray; bis cheek
bones are too high and prominent and
bis lips are hard and thin.
II win puzzle q physiognomist 10 Do.
: eide why d man who answers 10 such
u description is often called handsome
|perhaps his graceful figure and the
elegance OF his attire may explain the
riddle. or II may be that his perfectly
unaffected manner attracts.
Allen has been reporter for dozen
years. though he enjoys IN income
from property In trust that would On.
able him TO live without wort. He II
valuable TO newspaper because be II
never mlsled by enthusiasm or de-.
ceiyed by faisehood.
II was In tho way Of bis profession
that he met Kitty Maginiey. Kitty
was a very pretty young woman who
worked In candy store for % a week.
she had only one dress for summer
aud one for winter. but she knew how
10 wear them and how to adorn her.
self with 10 cents worth Of ribbon.
Shc lived with her father. who was
depravcd and drunken rascal. and with
two little sisters.
One day Maginley went into the
store where Kitty worked and asked
her for some money. Except In one
particular stage Of intoxication. he
knew better than 10 do this. but the
fates conspircd. and he did Il. Kitty
had no money and 10 her father picked
up a great bar Of nut candy on the
counter and threw II at her. II struck
one OF the glass doors protecting the
shelves along the wall and there was n
terrible shatserins crash. Kitty faint.
ed away. and while abe lay upon the
floor behind the counter the hand OF
the law was laid upon her parent.
Alien bad been passing the store nt
the time Of this occurrence. He went
In with the crowd and remained from
professional considerations.
The frst thing that Kitty said on
being restored 10 consciousness was
that she would pay for the broken
glass. This variation Of the conven.
tionai where am IT. % amused Allen
that be gave the storckeeper si5 and
received in return receipt In full for
aii damages and promise not to prose
cute Maginley or discharge Kitty. The
poor girI sobbed with gratitude. being
unable to express II In any other way,
but this was cQmmsn. and Allen ceased
TO pay any attention 10 her
lie called the next day, however. to
assure himself that the candy man had
kept his word. He had. But he con.
flded TO Allen that be was afraid Ma.
ginley would come In again and make
more trouble. Az result OF this init.
nation Allen fell into u habit OF visit.
ing the store four or Ave times a week.
\ As 70 what occurred In the shop. I
Save obtained my facts from the puo.
prietor. little. womanish man with
an ear for everything. II appears that
Kitty's colleague. an experienced young
woman who had been married and dc.
serted, told Kitty one day that Allen
was mashed" Kitty rejected the sug
gestion as wild absurdity.
''0f course he ls," said the grass
widow. "Whst does he come In here
Tor every day buying candyf DO you
suppose he eats itf why, I've seen
him throw II Into the ash can outside
the door. He comes here 10 see you"
kitty did not believe 1t, but the next
time Allen came IN she was so nervous
that she spilled candy all over the
floor, and when he had gone she was
Obliged 20 sit down IN corner aud fun
herslf, whereat the woman Of expert
ence laughed.
One day when Allen called Kitty had
q large piece OF court plaster on the
side OF her forehead. She was 20 pain
fully ashamed Of II that there could be
no doubt about the cause OF the injury,
ti,oslgh she tried 20 tell Allen that she
had,bumped her head against door.
h a singular coincidence. when Kit.
" left the store that afternoon n o
O'Clock she met Allen on the nearest
eo~ner. He said that he happened to
Be passing, and II she didn't mind
waking a little way Why, Of course.
1t all looked perfectly natural to the
ezass widow, who was witness Of the
occurrence.
I'm afraid your father hurt you
psetty badly" said Allen. And Kitty
a.. A..