The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-04-01
WHERE LOVE
MA y B E

. q cork on their giant boSoms, polse
her there for a moment and then wen
sliding landward. Far away on tin
black dot OF an island sleepy llttl
lighthouse blinked with lazy regularity
now white, now red.
In the cabin the plano tinkled mer
rily. and snatches Of ragtime and ex
cerpts from the latest musical fare,
were greeted with much laughter ant
noisy applause.
= There was not even catspaw o.
wind. The yacht lay becalmed, riding
over the swells like great white ses
bird with folded wings.
In two chairs near the wheel sat Q
man and a girl The girl was dressed
in white. Her face was hard and set
Her eyes were fixed on the distant
point where the breaking waves out
lined the shore In frothing white. The
mans eyes were regarding the girl
| gravely. His mouth was set tightly
so tightly that harsh lines appeared and
gave his usual careless, jovial face a
new and far less attractive express
sion. But presently the harsh lines re.
laxed somewhat, and the man smiled
a rather artificial smile and fraught
with much cynicism He leaned toward
the girl.
AT least" he said slowly, II have
been thoroughly honest for once"
The girl did not move, and for some
time she did not speak. When she did
1t was one questioning word in a color
less voice:
"Why?"
The man laughed. as IL he were III at
ease.
Why" He repeated her question.
I'm sure don't know, Believe me,
seldom am guilty of the weakness Of
telling the truth-the whole truth. You
are the only one who has ever heard 1t
from my lips, although voice
hardened-"current gossip would give
you the story somewhat ampllfed and
with host of narrowing details"
81 thought the girl began.
THAT really was possessed of the
money my appearance and bearing
seem to indicated" he finished quickly.
"They all think that 1t has been
amusing generally. Well, the fact is /
haven't sou. I'm punctured balloon,
a social confidence man. rank-par-
don the phraseology-four tiusher; but,
please heaven, with you | am honest"
The girl turned her eyes and looked
at him steadily. In the moonlight her
beauty made him faint and sick at
heart with hopelessness.
"Why?" she asked again simply
"Because-because," he stammered, !
there was something about you differ
ent from the rest OF womankind-
something that touched my respect |
and pride and-and"-
He looked at her and smiled. The !
girl bit her lips.
Il wanted you to know what manner
of man l was" he went on. II had to |
tell you even at the imminent risk
Of losing - oh, everything" he ended
vaguely.
"Is poverty such a dlsgraceT she
asked.
YES" he said slowly. "It is blight
ing, beilttling, mean"
as poverty never anything but lgno-
blef she persisted.
"Neverr he replied.
"And you say you've told me the
whole truth?' she still questioned.
he nodded. The girl rose. Her eyes
flashed.
"You haven't" she said, with spirit.
'You haven't said a word about why
you are poor. You haven't mentioned
to me that it was because you shoul-
1ered your fathers obligations, which
you might quite as well have evaded
lad you been so minded"
''The cause is immaterial. 1t Is the
effect that counts" said he.
you shall not say that" she said
lotly.
For a moment he was tempted to
AXE her in his arms and tell her that
nothing should matter, nor height nor
iepth nor powers nor principalties
de was a starving wanderer, and here
vas food. Then cool, calm judgment
Exit your pictured hero" he said
'venly SLOW curtain, red slide on the
alcium light, creepy music You have
'verdrawn him somewhat"
They stood facing each other. The
moonlight gllnted on the polished brass
work Of the rail and pinnacle. The
leepy little lighthouse blinked its red
nd white with stole regularity. The
inkling plano was accompanied by
oices raised in gay snatches of song.
The girls fingers worked nervously.
The tears oyerflowed her eyes and ran
down her face. The man
tared helplessly. In the cabin the song
anne to an end amid much laughter
nd clapplng Of hands.
The man came close to the girl. He
Intended to relieve the tension Of the
ituation by bit Of felcitous chaff.
instead he found her hand in his and
lis eyes very close to hers. 1t was :
like a groan that escaped
i'm {