The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-07-30

plan
1T Is a glorious idea" said Mr
BeDce. THE name OF Hairless
keating drowned the orntory. "But
that isn't all. That little girl wants Il
to succeed, and that settles 1t. lie
goes"
! That night SIR. Parker, at work in
the printing Office, perceived the figure
Of Mr. Tlpworthy beckoning him mys.
teriously from the pavement.
What's the matter. BuddieT'
Listen, She's singin' over her work. .
Parker stepped outside. On the pave.
ment people had stopped to listen.
They stood in the shadow. looking up
with parted lips at the open. lighted
windows whence came clear, soft,
reaching voice, lifted Ineffabiy In song.
Now II swelled louder unconsciously
now It's volume was more slender. and
II melted LOUDLY into the night; again
II trembled aud rose and dwelt IN the
ear. strong and pure, and hearing II
ygu sighed with unknown longings II
was tho Angels serenade."
Bud Tipworthy's sister, Cynthia. was
with him. and Parker saw that she
turned from the window and that she
was crying quietly. She put her hand
on the boys shoulder and patted il
with a forlorn gesture which TO the
foreman's eye was as graceful az II
was sud lie moved closer to Bud, and
bis big hand fell on Cynthia's brothers
other shoulder aA be realized that red
hair could look pretty sometimes. and
he wondered why the EDITORS singing
made Cynthia CRY. and at the same
time he decided 10 be mighty good to
Bud henceforth. The spell OF night and
song was on him; that and something
more, for II IL strange, inexplIcable
fact that the most practical chief ever
Known TO the Herald had singularly
sentimental influence over her subordi-
mates from the moment OF her arrival.
Under Harkless' domination there had
been no more steadfast bachelors In
Carlow than Ross Scho6eld and Caleb
Parker, and, like timorous youths in a
graveyard. daring and mocking the
ghosts In order 10 assuage their own
fears. they bad so gibed and jeered at
the married state that there was talk
or urging the minister TO preach at
them. but now LEI II be recorded that at
the moment Caleb laid his hand on
Buds other shoulder his associate, Mr..
Schoheld, was enjoying a walk in the
far end OF town with widow. and II is
not to be doubted that Mr.. Tipworthy's
heart also was no longer In his possess
sion, though, as II was after 8 o'clock.
the damsel OF his desire had probably
long since retired 10 her couch.
For a faint light on the cause Of
these spells we must turn to a COM
ment made by the invaluable Mr.. Mar
tin some time afterward. Referring to
the lady TO whose voice he was now
listening In silence, which shows how
great the enthralling Of her voice was,
he said. when you saw her or heard
her or managed to be around anywhere
she was, why, II you couldn't git up no
hope OF marryin' her you wanted to
marry somebody"
Mr. Lige Willetts. riding idly by,
drew rein In front Of the lighted win.
dows and listened with the others.
Presently he leaned from his horse
and whispered to a man near him, II
know that song"
'Do your" whispered the other.
'YeS He and | heard her sing ii the
night he was shot. We stood outside
Briscoe's and listened"
so"
"'Its a seraphic song he said" con-
tinued Lige.
"Nor' exclaimed his friend. Then,
shaking his head, he sighed, well, it's
mighty sweet"
The song was suddenly woven into
laughter In the unseen chamber, and
the lights In the windows went out,
and small lady and tall lady and
thin old man. all three laughing and
talking happily, came down and drove
or In the Briscoe blackboard. William
Todd took his courage between his
teeth and, the song ringing in his ears,
made a desperate resolve to call upon
Miss Bardlock that. evening in spite Of
its being week day, and Caleb Parker
gently and stammeringly asked Gym
thia II she would wait till he shut up
the shop and let him walk home with
her and Bud.
Soon the square was quiet as before,
and there was naught but peace under
the big stars OF July.
That day the news had come that
Harkless, after weeks of alternate inn
provement and relapse, hazardously
lingering in the borderland Of shadows,
had passed the crucial point and was
His recovery was as
sured But from their first word OF
him, from the message that he was
found and was alive, none of the peo-
Pile Of Carlow had really doubted
They are simple country people, and
they know that God is good.
CHAPTER XII.
n N Indiana town may lie asleep |
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