The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-05-14

a ~ AIt htAt ~ IiyiEnhHbIdJ way AZ
all. and | don't want 10 be moIested.
I've connected myself with an oil com.
pany. and I'm down here TO lock over
the ground II beats poker and fantan
all hollow. though there amt as many
chances III favor OF the dealer. and In
oil It's the farmer that gets the rakeoff.
I've come back. but In an enterprisIng
spirit tlEs time, to open up a new field
and shed light and money In Carlow.
They told me never TO show my face
here again, but II you say I stay ]
| guess | can. always was sure there
was oil In the county. and I want to
prove II for everybody's benefit 10 II
aii nghtT'
my dear fellow" laughed the y6sing
man. shaking the gamblers hand again,
1T IL all right. ! have always been
sorry had to act against You Every
thing is all right. Stay and bore to
Korea. II you like. Did ever you zee
such glorious weather.
"Tll let you In on some shares" Watts
called after him as be turned away.
The other nodded In reply and was
leaving the room when Cynthia detain.
ed him by flourish Of her fly brush.
Say" she said--she always called him
"Say'-"you've forgot yer flower"
He came back and thanked her. "Will
you pin II on for me. CharmionY'
II don't know what call you got to
speak to me out Of my name" she re
sponded, looking at the floor moodily.
"WhyT' he asked, surprised.
II don't see why You want TO make
fun OF me-"
81 beg your pardon, Cynthia" he said
gravely, II didn't mean to do that I
haven't been considerate. didn't think
you'd be displeased. I'm very sorry.
Won't you pin 1t on my coatT'
Her face was lifted in grateful pleas
ure, and she began to pin the rose to his
lapel. Her hands were large and red
and trembled. She dropped the flower
and, saying huskily, II don't know as
could do 1t right" seized violently upon
pile of dishes and hurried from the
room.
HAIRLESS rescued the rose. pinned II
on his coat himself, with the internal
observation that the red haired wait
ress was the queerest creature In the
village, and set forth upon his holiday.
Mr. Lige Willetts. staiwart bach
elor, the most eligible in Carlow, and
habitual devotee OF Minnie Briscoe.
was seated on the veranda when Hark-
less turned in at the gate OF the brick
house. ''The ladies will be down right
off," he said, greeting the, editors cool
fnery with a perceptible agitation and
the editor himself with friendly shake
OF the. hand. "Mildy says to wait out
here"
There was a faint rustiing within the
house. the swish of draperies on the
stairs, a delicious whispering, when
light feet descend, tapping, to hearts
that beat an answer. the telegraphic
message: 1--WE come! We come! We
are nearl We are neary' Lige Will
let's stared at Harkless. He had, never
thought the latter was good looking un-
ill he saw him step TO the door to take
Helen Sherwood's hand and say. In
strange, low, tense voice, Good morn
ing" as II he were announcing, at the
least: Every one in the world, except
us two, died last night. 1t Is solemn
thing, but am very happy"
They walked, Minnie and Mr.. VIII
let's, little distance in front Of the
others. Harkless could not have told,
afterward whether they rode or walked
or fioated on an airship to the court
house. All he knew distinctly was
that a divinity in a pink shirt waist.
and hat that was woven OF gauzy
cloud by mocking fairies to make him
stoop hideously to see under II dwell
for the time, on earth and was at his
side, dazzling him In the morning sun
shine. Last night the moon had lent
her a silvery glamour. She had some
thing of the ethereal whiteness Of
night dews in that watery hight. a
nymph to laugh from a sparkling fOun-
tain at the moon. or. as he thought. re-
membering her courtesy for bis pretty
speech, perhaps a little lady OF King
Louis court wandering down the years
from Fontainebleau and appearing to
clumsy mortals sometimes Of a summer
night when the moon was In their
heads.
But today she was Of the daintiest
color, a pretty girl whose gray eyes
twinkled to his In gay companionship.
lie marked how the sunshine danced
across the shadows Of her fair hair
and seemed itself to catch 'luster
rather than impart 1t, and the light Of
the June day drlfted through the gauzy,
hat to her face, touching 1t with deli
cate and tender flush that came and
went like the vibrating pink of early.
dawn. She had the diyinest straight
nose, tip tilted faint, allurlng trihe.
and dimple cleft her chin, ''the dead
liest maelstrom in the worldr' He
thrilled through and through. He had
been only vaguely conscious of the
dimple in the night 1t was not until
he saw her by daylight that he really
knew 1t was there.
The village hummed with life before
fham Thev valked throu0h shimmpr-