The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-01-15

The wall. and among them grew poison
oak; In one corner masses of blooming
sstchny and IN the center six dands-
lion stems
Rich man. poor man. beggar man.
chief: doctor. lawyer chanted Hal
lie. bending over them. TEL my for
tune dandelions. pray you" She
puffed out her pretty red lips and blew
desperately az each one. but their time
was not yet ended They refused to b
blown away. Laughing. she went over
to the catchny corner aud sat down on
q stone
.rell me about II. DAN" abe COM
manded. beginning to gather the scar
let blossoms,
MANY years aeo q good deacon own
ed a gold mine" began. looking down
at her gloomlly. "and In the foollshness
Of his heart be thought the yield would
never grow less, lie said: 4 viii not
live in houses like other men. ! will
build me castle such rs this country
has never beheld.' 80 hls workers laid
these foundations and built these walls.
Then one day the deacon went TO bis
mine, but there was no more gold. His
castle was never completed; his foun-
tslns never splsshed In the sunlight
nor did his electric lights ever shine
dowa on the town below, He died. but
his folly remains, II has many appli'
cations. You. Halle are. sQnandsrins
| the gold of an honest mans love. You
are buildm. for yourself . castle Of
fame. Beware. lest II crumbls In ruins
about your feet"
you are tragic tonight. DAN" abe
remarked Is she 6nished her bright
hued crown and placed II on her dark
hair.
.-rhe sun 10 setting" I said. turning
angrily away from her beauty. "Yeu
have no business to be working ansng
men anyway. You are too pretty"
II was 4 scornful glance she threw
back at me as she climbed the rock pile
to look toward the west.
Il didn't think that Of you," she said
quietly, but her tone made me nush
with shame.
Forgive me. HALLE" cried, spring
ing up beside her. Il don't know what
I'm saying"
Dear old Dan" she whispered. with
half sob. don't forget me quite when
I'm gone"
Forget her. The sun disappeared be-
hind the fringe OF pines. and the ca.
thedral tell began TO ring slowly. each
chime kneil to my dead hopes. Hal
lie shivered
I'VE had better 20. II viii be dark
now when we get back"
I pleaded for Ave minutes more so
that l might say my real goodby to
scarlet crowned, red Tipped. misty eyed
Halle; then. hand In hand, we went
down the hill. along the country road.
through lovers lane and back TO the
town again.
! II was summer when Halle went
away, and II was summer again when
she came back. One evening was
passing the house which she had glori-
ned for 80 short time, when her aunt
beckoped 10 me.
Go to the east porch" she whispered
as I went up the walk.
thought OF the time Halle bad
shown me her castle from the east
porch, and my heart was like lead as I
went round the house and looked up to
see HALLE. Not round and rosy as she
had been. but white. with great eyes
unnaturally bright; Halle, with her
pale lips trembling and her thin little
arms outstretched toward me.
what have they done to my dar.
lIngY' cried hoarsely as sprang for.
ward.
I'm tired. Dan" she whispered, lay.
ing her dear head on my shoulder.
"You said no one could serve two mas
tiers, and have failed In serving one.
I went out one stormy night TO get
details Of a horrible murder case. ]
caught cold and couldn't seem to get
over II. They said ! must come back
10 California. And, Dan. was glad,
for California held you. My castle has
fallen. as you said Il might, but ! don't
seem to care"
HALLE I answered Joyously, "loye
Is better than fame and quletness far
more to be desired than great riches.
After you left | bought the pear or
chard. and often have ! sat among the
castle ruins longing for my little girl
Tomorrow | will begin to build our
house, and when II Is 6nisked ] shall
take you there. The pure winds and
the balm OF the pines will give you
ho,t, vaur haalfb Nh Hatifp Haitipr