The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-07-12
/ wildered face 70 'hef astonlsnsd mon.

wildered face 70 nor hsfonished motf
| or.
"why. Molly What ID ltf" Mrs
Briggs cried. somewhat alarmed.
Tho young man took on his nat ant
tossed bnck bis hair with pccuIia
gesture, and With shrlek Mary Jerket
np Dobhln, plunged out over The wheel
dartcd to~tiie barbed wire fence, drop
pod fiat, rolled smoothly under II ani
few, still shriekingiacr the meadow
i'araiyxed with dreadful fear. Mrs
Briggs ghzct heipieasly. There coult
be but ono hldeo.ia explanation OF III,
astounding scene Mary was suddenly
seized with mental arrangement -sb'
had taken that miserable affair 4,
heart; slie had brooded over her trou
bio; her whole expression showed TINT
and now. having II all brought ~
again Oh. horrible! II was her owl
mother who had
"0h. lordy, lordyW Mrs. Briggs
moaned, backing clumslly out OF thi
buggy and iintterlng along the fenc,
Ike hen nj the garden pickctg. bu
she could not roll her plump figure ,in
dcrncatb. She would haye to 10 around
and that poor child running hcadlong
perfectly Wild. she was now disap
pearing In Tho grove In her frenz,
sbe would rush on down the hill be
yond, and the creek was high.
"Johnl JohngF Mrs. Briggs screamed
frnntIcaliy. "catch her, joint"
John apparently understood and dis
appeared In the trees. while Mrs
Briggs. shaking with aoba, scrambled
into the buggy and lashcd DobbIn into
run with suddcnncss that flung BIZ
heels 10 the top Of the dashboard. She
slid 10 her knees In the box and piled
The whip. walllng aloud At every jumT
OF the horse. Al the pasture lane she
turned NO sharply that the buggy tilted
against the post. nearly tipping hei
out, but she only urged the nstonished
Dobbip on, her Imagination plcturing
her darling already at the bottom oi
the swirling stream. She dashed
through the open gate Of tho potato
field.
She could not wait 10 take down th,
bars Of the small oat patch that inter
yened, but squeezed through and ran
painting brcathlcssly. too exhausted Il
call, Soon she caught sight Of John
He had Mary safe. Her abused kncci
weakened at that, but she struggled Il
them, John elasped Mary close IN hi'
arms. aud she was laughing shrilly
crying Historically, "oh, II N Allen: II
In Aiicui''
Yes. honey; yes" Mrs. Briggs qua
vcred. "oh. loriy, iordy! Come TO the
house with mother. deary. Don't let &c
OF her for your life. John. I've been
wicked cruel 20 her Yea. honey; yes
lie Allen"
TITS Allen. Alienl' Mary reiterated
her face on the young mans breast.
"oh, lordy. lordyw moaned Mrs
Briggs, the tears streaming. "Humoi
her., John. Help me get her to the
house, then bring the doctors. Yes
hohoney; it--it's Ai.Alien."
Mrs. Briggs" = John patted her
shoulder comfortingly-'you needn't b
frightened. Mary Is all right. II ID
Allen--John Allen Smithera. instead Of
John Smith. | wanted to prove 10 you
that wasn't mere good for nothing
Mrs. Briggs sat down suddenly-"and
| hope you have changed your opinion
OF me and will accept me as your son
in.iaw."
For III never. never have anything
10 do with the judges nephewi" Mary
declared aggressiveiy.
Mrs Briggs started. then burst into
peals OF fearful, choking laughter. y
guess we'd better stop and see where
we're at," she gasped. I'm the only
ono that's crazy. 1t seems. Who wants
you to have anything to do with the
judges nephew, missiei So. you young
scamp, you're Allen. are your And
you've worked o slick game on me. but
I'm suited, Why. it's the very thing
rye been planning for weeks!"
Then, with fresh shrieks, Mary fell
upon her mother, and they kissed and
cried and laughed together, while John
Allen looked on. grInninR foolishiy.