The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-02-08

uis sicas ola AIRS. Nss:sc. ~ wseSs ssv~
mafe Suen fun Ana then, when !. was
bctter. he came hack and climbed into the
house by a window and opened the door
TO me 50 that no one should know, He
promised he would not tell so did Mrs.
Martin IL James heard think he would
KIN me"
When after a long silence Mrs. scdden
looked ur. Miss winthrop was gone.
for a taement she stood in the passage
outside the door. her heart throbblng
Presently she stole down :he stairs. paus
ing halfway to peep into the halt The
dining room door was shut Rrlnton stood
hags stood beside him Miss Winthrop
thought there was grim hook about his
face.
"Mr. Brlnton" she called.
lie looked up and saw her leaning over
the balustrase, and the blood rushed into
his face, Deliberately putting down his
coat and the hat which he was brushing.
he came and stood beneath her.
Il heard what they were sayins IN tho
dining room" she remarked,
He hesitated
III dare say you are glad at this con.
nrmation OF Your = er = geod opinion Of
me-"
''where wsse you has, nish,s' she asked
slowly.
THAT was precisely What seaden want.
ed TO know"
Il promise you | win never tell any
one"
''oh. lady's promise
Milne" Miss Winthrop replied. betray.
ed into asperity, lis sscredi But-but
won't You tell me. II might make a-a
difference"
He continued to smile. but she neticed
still more grim lock about hts Java
II regret" he said. with what seemed
TO her calm insolence. that even that
supreme indueement cannot unseai my
lips on that point"
II was Miss winthrops turn to hest
tate.
"fye just been talking 10 Mra ssd-
den." she said desperately.
She looked at him with eyes 20 shy and
tender that an answering spark came into
his. and he made a quick movement to-
ward her.
Listen. Miss winthrop" he said eager
ly. "Wingfoot has not been poisoned. I
saw him run today No one can fool me
much about horses. lie has a cold. II |
has been coming on for several days. I
saw Il and warned them. They didn't |
think SO. They laughed at me. tried |
TO warn Sedden. but yesterday he angered |
me by saying something about-about
some one I know. | made up my mind 10 |
have done with him. lie is-he Is really |
rather common. don't YOU think. In some |
ways: And told the other men. but they |
woaldn't listen. and. then. I'm not very |
Navts1ur NsfNft Th.4ss-. he's fhlaE ha- 4
cause | so often win. suppose. that-that |
try TO keep myself on the outside. but |
II isn't that really do They never hedge |
bets, you know. and do. I'm very ex-
travagant sometimes. and sometimes
have to. ! hedged on wlngfoot. you
know. l felt sure. ! felt almost sure. l.
had staked every penny could rake
and scrape on the horse III wanted 10
10 something that would cost-oh. such q
lot OF money. | mean | wanted to get to-
gether lot OF capital. you see.
"s was about-about girl. ! rather
ike her. And she has money. and there's
4 story got about somehow that It's her /
money I'm after. not her. Can't you sect I
20 hedged- And was out. you see. last
night between l. and 4 and IL didn't /
want to explain. although I'm not asham-
ID of what | was doing. and-and-well.
really. Il made IL rather dlfhcult. But
wanted you'll mean her--I mean I want.
ID the girl Of whom l have spoken TO
<now that ] am not the sort OF chap at
leart she takes me for. and I dare say I
I'M boring you terribly. but I wanted
'ome one TO speak TO about Il. and. you
Zee. I'm not really what you might call
sst at all. only. only : well. I hardly
lnow how to explain all this 10 you. Niles
You see. I've been extrsva-
Iant and all that. yet-and. upon my soul.
don't know what IT'S got to do with
That I've Just said-yet. a. I say. III
ouldn't explain 10 those men. and never
hail TO any enc. about m: absence last
light. and-and''-
Miss Winthrop interrupted him. She
ras never afterward able to say whether
{ that moment she had been laughing or
rying.
II told you that I've just been talking
0 Mrs. Sedden" she said. carefully enun-
iating each syllable.
81 think I ought to apologize to you"-l
he began hurriedly.
A radiant change came over Brinton a.
e looked into the girls eyes. lie lapsed
ack into the drawl as he interrupted:
"You are so charming when you are
ontrite that you--er-tcmpt me TO forget
hat las you once sal ,s-insuit you by
boxing At YOU" He held W his hand at
light Of her ciouding eyes II YVES Jest
az" he added. Had you not better
before carry my insults far
herr"
Miss Winthrop knew what he mesat.
he leaned over the banisters to him ~
10 stretched out his arms.