The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-01-08

should have come upon her Ike this
ps II some subtle influence had turned
her thoughts Into the same channel
with his own. Decidedly, things were
comfig his way. He felt exhllarated,
triumphant, boyish. Miss Grant laugh.
cd rather foollshly as she greeted him.
Il was playing game that has been
favorite OF mine since | was Il small
girl" she explained ms they turned
away from the window together. "a
game of make believe in which ar.
range everything In life 10 suit myself.
Nettie aud lNettle was my best
friend. you know-used to spend hours
describing our husbands, houses and
children to each other, II was great
fun, | can tell you. and we entered into
details until Il actually seemed real
She paused and glanced up ut him to
see II he understood and then contin.
ued, when you came up was just
furnishing love Of house In thought,
selecting the color scheme for my
walls. you know"
Mowbray listened. almost too rapt TO
speak, There was something thrilling
In the knowledge that her thoughts
had been the very complement OF his,
A strange. strong happiness and Ger.
tainty possessed him.
would you mind telling me whether
the husband that you planned bore any
resemblance TO me?" he questioned
daringly.
She regarded him critically, then
shook her head. Don't think me rude.
she murmured; but, to tell you the
truth, he was always six feet tall and
blond. Once remember when we had
reached the end OF game-that Is
seen our daughters grow UP and marry
we began all over again, ana for II
change | chose Il dark. cold man who
filled me with delicious fear. but | |
was always forgetting ana barking |
back to my favorte type, so at last
gave up"
Too bad. too bad" murmurcd her
but his tone implied that
his pity was for her disappointment
rather than his own. They walked
along in silence for awhile, absorbed In
their thoughts and the lively scene
about them, yet strangely conscious of
each other. At last Mowbray spoke.
II don't see how the thing Is coming
out" he began, with fciGncd bewllder.
ment. ''for when the sights and sounds
Of early spring suddenly made me
homeslck for the thing I've never had
u home
His voice grew low, and he paused n
second, as II the thought were too sa.
red TO be mentioned lightly, Elinor's
heart went out to him. though she
kept her glance fixed indif.
'erently on the crowd about them.
1T was your face that rose before
ne instantly; your eyes that looked
nto mine: your dear presence that !
'elt in the house that planned, like a
caress. You were the
ipirit OF the place. Its queen, the gra.
'ious woman to whom | fancied my.
Ielf coming home each night with
leeper. fuller love"
A needless pedestrian jostled them. L
III unconscious OF the fact that in do
ng so he had rudely brushed against .
he sweetest thing In the world-a love
tory. They continued their way. al
most In silence, until the bewldering
reenery Of the park turned by spring
nagic into fairyland confronted them.
In a fash Elinor seemed to see her
fe stretching away into the future,
into n beauty as match
,ss as that before her. by love.
She laid her hand upon Mowbray's
rm and gazed at him for moment
nth her soul IN her eyes.
After ALL" she said very softly, II Q
elIeve tsat yOn dreamed truev"