The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-05-07

! she said.
. Nothing. dent know how to thank
you for this evening that you have Civ
en- me. I'll suppose you are leaving to-
morrow. No one ever stays here. r.
What about the melodiesP'
Il He gave II up. The moon makes pe.,-
pie insaneF' be cried.
III that IL true, then you need not be-
more afraid than |. because people l.
plural. What were you saying about
II had heard them--in my heart.
When heard your voice tonight I
knew that II was you who sang them
there. had been singing them for me al
ways !
| "soT' she cried gayly. "An that de-
bate about pretty speechY Then.
sinking before him IN courtesy. Il sm
beholden to you." she said. 40 you
think no man ever made little fiat.
tery for me before tonlghtT
i At the edge Of the orchard. where
they could keep an Unseen watch On the
garden and the bank OF the creek. Judge
Briscoe and Mr.. Todd were ensconced
under an apple tree. the former still
armed with his shotgun. When the
young people got up from their bench.
the two men rose hastily, then saunter.
Cd slowly toward them. When they
fsst, Harkiess shook each Of them cor
daily By the hand wtthout sesning to
know Il .s
We were coming. TO look for you,~
explained the judge. william was
afraid to go home alone thought some
one might take him for Mr.. Harkless
and shoot him before he got into town
Can you come out with willetts In the
morning. Harkiess,' be went on, "and
go with the young ladies' to see the
psradei And Minnie wants you to stay
to dinner and 90 10 the show with them
In the afternoon"
Harkiess seized his hand and shook II
and then laughed heartily as be accept
ed the invitation.
At the gate Miss Sherwood extended
her hand TO him and said politely,
while mockery shone from her eyes:
Good night. Mr.. Harkless | do not
leave tomorrow. am very glad to have
met you"
"We are going to keep her all sum-
mer. II we can" said Minnie. weaving
her arm about her friends waist
you'll come In the morningY'
Good night, Miss Sherwood" be re-
turned hilariousiy. 1T has been such
a pleasure to meet ron. Thank you 50
much for saving my life. 1t was very
good OF you. indeed Yes: In the morn
ing. Good night. good night" He
shook hands with all OF them, includ-
ing Mr.. Todd. who was going with him.
He laughed all the way home, and VIII
liam walked at his side In amazement.
The Herald building was decrepit
frame structure on Main street. II
had once been a small warehouse and
was now sadly In need OF paint Close
" adjoining 1t. in large. blank looking
yard. stood a low brick cottage, over
which the second story of the old ware
house leaned In an effect OF tipsy af-
fection that had reminded Harkless,
when he first saw II. Of an old Sunday
school book woodcut Of an inebriated
parent under convoy of a devoted child.
The title to these two buildings and
the blank yard had been included in
the purchase Of the Herald, and the
cottage was the editors home.
There was light burning upstairs
In the Herald office. From the street
a broad, tumbledown stairway ran up
on the outside Of the building to the
second floor, and at the stairway rail-
ing John turned and shook his COM
panion warmly by the hand.
Good night. William" be said. at
was plucky Of you to join in that muss
tonight | shan't forget IT,"
Il Jest happened to come along" re-
piled the other awkwardIy. Then,
with a portentous yawn. he asked,
Amt ye goin' to bedr'
mo: Parker wouldn't allow It."
"Well," observed William, with an
>ther yawn, which threatened to ex-
pose the veritable soul Of him, al
i'know how ye stand IT. It's closte ON
i o'clock. Good night"
John went up the steps. singing
loud
For tonight wen merry. merry be.
For tonight well merry, merry be-
md stopped on the sagging platform
It the top Of the stairs and gave the
noon good night with wave Of the
land, and friendly laughter. At this it
uddenly struck him that be was twen-
y-nine years Of age and that he had
aughed a great deal that evening:
aughed and laughed over things not
Q the least humorous, like an excited
choolboy making first formal call;
hat he had shaken hands with Miss
Iriscoe when he left her as If he should
ever see her again; that he had taken
iiss Sherwood's hand twice In one
cry temporary parting; that he had
haken the judges hand FIVE times and
Villains four.
"Idiotp' he cried. 'What has han
ened to meT Then he shook his fist
the moon and went In to work, he
fought.