The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-05-25
how unchanged II az waa.

how unchanged II az waJ.
II came over him with a start that
tho ylllngc was empty. Then no re.
mefnbered II was Sunday. and they
were MI at church. Thank God. there
wns none TO watch him. No prying.
curious eyes 10 disturb his thoughts.
But they would soon be out again, and
II beho0ved him 10 make the best use
OF hs solitude while hc might. He
struck inland, his heart beating with
curious expectancy. Al every sound
he held his breath. and he would turn
quickly and look back with haunting
sense that Tehca was near him; that
perhaps she was gazing Mt him through
the trees, He approached his old home
through ovcrgrown plantations. II
awed him TO part the branches and TO
feel himself drawing near at every step
TO the only house he had ever called his
own. Az he heard the spIashlng water.
fall no stopped. not daring for the mo.
ment TO 20 on. When at last he did 80
and mounted the little hill be found no
house at all. Nothing but ferns and
weeds, man high. He moved about
here and there. up to the armpits In
verdure. In CONSERVATION at discover.
Ing II gone.
His foot struck against bowlder.
He had forgotten that there were rocks
on the hill. He moved along and his
foot struck again. He pressed the
weeds back aud looked down.
He saw n tomb OF crumblIng cement.
green with age and buried out OF sight
under tho tangle
II had never occurred 10 him before
that Tehea might be dead.
He held back the underground again
and pcercd into the depths. Yes. II was
the grave OF Il chief or n woman OF
rank. He laid both hands on the thick
stem Of shrub and tore I, out Of the
ground. He seized another and drag.
gcd II out with the same fcrocity. II
was lntolcrable that she should suf-
focate under all this warm. wet jungle
that Intrudei itself. like q horrible
canaille, where there was none TO
drive II back He would give her air
and sunshine. she that had loved them
both. He would uncover the poor
stones that marked her last resting
place. lie would lay bare the earth
that wrapped her dead beauty.
He worked with desperation until his
hands were bleeding. until his eyes
were stung and blinded with steaming
sweat Dizzy with the heat. parched
with thirst and sick with the steam
that rose from the damp ground. he
was forced again and again to desist
and rest, He cut his waistcoat into
slips and bound them round his bloody
hands. He broke the blades OF his pen,
knife on recalcitraDt roots that detled
the strength of his arms. He labored
with fury TO complete the task he had
oct before him. Here he stood within |
four walls Of vegetation. the sky above |
hln, the cracked aud rotted tomb be- |
low satisfied at last by the accomplish
mcnt Of his duty
He called her aloud by name. He
bent down and kissed her messy bed.
He whispered with strange convlc.
ton that she could hear him, that he
had kept his promise TO return.
Then. rising to his feet, he turned to-
ward the sen and retraced his steps.
The people were still in church, and the
village was deserted as before. He
walked swiftly lest they might come
Docking out before he could reach his
boat TO torture him with recognition,
with the questions they would ask, with