The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-08-18

- N3
into the ta.ib5i. .c, Standing beside
Mathcr we're three young Fellows. evi-
IDENTIFY the worse for liquor. As Sister
Ruth approached them one Of the three
lifnd his foot ana kicked the tam
BOURNE smariiy.
Little b-hlglser, GertIc Gin kick
higher n th-that,r he hIccoughed famIl
larry.
Mather's hand fell Oh the fellows
coat collar with a "trip Of iron.
apologize for thatl Hear me? Apol-
ognizcr he said In voice shaking
with anger.
sEh? WhatT sall the other He
looked up at Mather Aathcr lowered
| inches above him. There was, more
over, something very sinister In hls
eyes.
4 'pologized,' began the captive has
tily.
Matber felt light touch on his arm.
lie turned TO find Sister Ruth standing
beside him.
Don't hurt him, please don't" she
begged.
Mather smiled g~lElly.
TITS Just as you say.v said he. 'tT'.
kill him II yon say So"
LET him 20. please" she said, and
Mather pushed tie Elan away.
Thank yOu," she said. Her eyes
met bis squarely; she blushed and hesi-
tated moment "Thank you," she
said again and was gone. That night
Mather walked home on air.
Mather climbed the dingy stairs to
\ the little hall at the corps barracks.
1t was Sunday evening. Outside the
rain was falling dismaIIy and the gut
tiers ran rivers Of mud. He sat down
quite alone on one Of the rear settees.
A handful Of people nearer the plat
form were the only others In the bare,
cheerless place.
There were hymns and prayers and
testimony quite as usual, and during Ii
all Mather sat back in the shadows
feasting his eyes on the outlines Of Il
pretty face beneath a poke bonnet at
one side Of the platform.
Presently during the singing of a
hymn Mather saw her coming down
! the aisle toward him, ana his heart
stood STILL She stopped beside him.
/ and her face flushed
"Were ron looking for-for saliva
tion?" she faltered.
mo" said he quietly, II was Iook-
Ing for-you."
She looked a trife frightened. He
saw the color suddenly leave her
cheeks.
"Please sit Gown for a minute" big
begged. She hesitated, then reluctant
ly complied. The hymn stlll went on
strldently. Mather looked thoughtfully
at the uRshaded gas jets above tia
platform for time.
II need you more than the army
does he said at length. II want you
to leave It."
"ohr she gnsped, drawing away
from him.
Il realize You know nothing about
me" he went on hurrIedly. I'm fore
man In machine shop. I make good
wages. So far I've lived life I'm not
ashamed of. But / want you to satisfy
| yourself as to the truth of all this, of
course"
She looked at him curiously.
"What do you know of met" she
asked.
''That / love you said he stoutly.
as that enough?"
''Yes, that's enough he declared.
She turned away from him for mo-
ment When he saw her face again
her eyes were filed with tears.
This work is very dear to me-" she
said.
He was si!cnt.
"But of all men you are the one {
should trust"
"And lover he asked breathlessly.
There was long pause.
"And love-" she said very softly.
They were starting the last verse Of
the hymn. but Mather heard nothing
OF 1T. The bare, bleak room had sud-
denly become glorious paradise. The
yellow gas jets were glittering stars
In blue velvet sky. Sister Ruth's
hand wos in his.