The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-01-31

shamefaced and apologetic. spran
from the seat.
"0h, say" he began.
''well, what have you to sayT' sal
Beatrice, turning on him wrathfully.
William coughed In embarrassment
I'VE haven't any time to lose" b
urged. "Jump in, and I'll try to ex
plain on the way out"
''0ut where?" she said coldiy.
why, out to the track, Of course"
mo, thanks" said Beatrice. ''Th,
last few races are always tame af
rairs. I'm not going"
mot going?" he questioned in dis
may. You said
Il said at half past 2"
William stared at her blankly; ther
his face frightened
May I stay here with you, then p
he asked.
Il was inst starting for the links, "
said she.
But you'n let me explain, won't
your
Beatrice shrugged her shoulders.
IF 1t won't take too long" she said.
william hitched the cobs and came
up the veranda steps.
Look here" he said contritely, I'm
horribly sorry about this, but-but'-
But you forgot as usual" said
Beatrice.
"Well," he said, "Barrows and Nor
ton came in to talk up that lumber
deal
Just say you forgot" said Beatrice
wearily. @It's the only explanation"
Il did remember 1t, though, at g." be
said hopefully.
$50 like you to shut the stable door
after the horse has gone," she said
savagely.
William looked panied. He said moth
ing.
IF this were the first offense might
overlook it." continued the girl. But
it's been like this four times out OF ey-
cry five. The exact number Of times
I've spent waiting for you to fulfill
overdue appointments is simply appall-
Ing"
Still William said nothing. He looked
across the trim lawn with its winding
driveway aud its tiourishing shrubs.
"And 80. hereafter she went on,
you need make no appointments with
me"
You don't mean he began in ex-
pcstulation.
II do mean just that" said she.
This is about the last straw. don't
intend to be subjected to such heed |
lens annoyance again"
you won't go anywhere with meT
he asked.
II shall make no appointments to go
anywhere with you. If we go, 1t will
be on the spur of the moment, and
even then / shall not be surprised IL
your treacherous memory allows me to
come home alone, as did the day Of
the river carnival"
William thought deeply for mo.
ment.
perhaps you're right" he said at
length. Il haven't fully realized until
now what l have inflicted upon you.
I'll stay away as much as possible un-
I'll can educate my memory into some
thing like normal condition. I won't
bother you any longer now. You said
you were going over to the links, l be-
heye. Pm really more sorry about all
this than can make you understand.
Goodby."
He ran down the steps, and mo-
ment later the cobs whirled down the
driveway in cloud Of dust.
Beatrice sat on the veranda lost In
thought. She knew she had burt him
deeply. But he deserved it, she told
herself grimly. Still, she was rather
sorry she had been so disagreeabIe
about 1t. He was SO big and good ma
tured and SO absurdly helpless.
She was aroused by the clatter of
hoofs on the driveway. The cobs were
again pulled up before her, and vii.
nam ran up the steps.
"See here, Beatrice" he said hurried
", Il came here this afternoon with a
firm determination to tell you some
thing important, but In the confusion
Of being late and all that, you know
"You forgot it Of course" she laugh
ed.
at the sound Of her laughter William
was evidently relieved.
Exactly" he said. Il meant to tell
you that the deal in Lakeside real es-
tate has been closed and that I've made
a tidy bit out of it. / meant to ask
you-hang 1t! 1t sounds cold blooded,
but don't mean it so-if you'd marry
me-"
The girl gasped. She looked at him
steadily for several moments.
"oh, William, William, you ineorrigi-
BILE manp' she said.
"Will your said he eagerly. Marry
me, you known
She laughed nervously.
You'd forget" she declared, "and
marry some one else within a month"
II know I've no right to ask you" he
Iaid humbly.
Beatrice was absorbed in a bit Of
Wy she was aasidnously picking into