The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-02-11

nh ef'y 'ans "ut w het P"sNi
and sat down comfortably. she was |
plump. wholesome. rcstful woman VIII,
had smiled through married life over
! shadowed by ne'er do well husband
and was smiling still.
Every one liked the placid. omforta
bic. cheerful Lizzie. Every one llkct
the big hearted. generous. joyIal En-
sign. A. result every one was cheer
fully contributing 20 the misery ol
both.
After the last vehicle had passed b.
arose and went about his solitary din
ner. "lt'll come worse than pullln' eye
teeth" be said aloud. But Wilson car
manage II II anybody can"
Wilson Beebe. young scranton law
yer. was EnriTn's Idol and conndant
lie frequently ran up country" for {
day and usually found his uncle hang
Ing over the picket fence In front of ths
house waving his hat la hilarious vel
come. but the following morning when
be arrived he was surprised to fnd ths
fence deserted, the door closed and the
blinds shut. lie travelled the length Of
the house before discovering the dis.
eonsolate householder sitting In q round
ahouldcred heap ON q broken chair
which decorated the back porch.
"fiello. heres' cried Wilson In a ring.
ing. hearty voice. "what are you up
TO back here. should like to known"
WILSON" said Ensign. partially un-
folding as he gripped the others hand.
Il ain't enjoyin myself"
Wilson dropped on the edge Of the
porch and leaned against post. why
notr' be asked brecxlly. "slckw
mo" returned Ensign solemnly--
no. not sick In my bones, only In my
fcelin's."
Wilson whlstied. lie was not nc.
custom-d 10 seeing his favoriie relative
IN this de~pondent condition.
What under the canopy Ia upY' he
demanded.
Everybody ls'-- Enslgn's tone was
rieful. That's the trouble. Every.
body Is up right early attendin' TO my
affairs"
A CLEAN OF understanding shot Into
Wilson's eyes. Its Mira. Grey" he
said simply.
Ensign nodded. Yes. It's Lizzie
Grey"
He extended his feet 10 The edge Of
the porch and clasped his hands over
his vest. announcing darkly: Wilson.
there's goin' 10 be big change here
shprtly-a big change. There's got to
be. I'll leave II 10 you that there's
things man cant stand forever"
For instancef" prompted Wilson.
well. there's church. I've got TO
give II up"
You give up churchr' cried the
other In genuine surprise. why.
uncle, you'd be fsh out Of water
Sundays
"Yes. Stree. I've stood church goln'
now as long ~ can. III leave u 10
you. set right back OF her. II ! look
At her the Idiots up In the choir giggie
and say cant keep my eyes on her.
II don't look at her they say !
daresn't. And either way-I, well. you
know how my faee gets. Wilson. and
me nfty years old"
Wilson nodded and refralned from
smiling.
"In Sunday school It's Just as bad.
Our classes are close together and
facln' each other. with parcel OF
pesky gigglln' girls one side Of u.s."
There was pause and long Sigh.
stlll Wilson faced his uncle soberly.
"And back here home It's Just the
same with her across the road and
some nclghbor or other at every door
aud window around us, watchln' to
see what I'm up TO. II set out in
front. they tell me better not wear
out my own porch 50 long as there's
another waltln' for me. II | set back
here. some one who hasn't got enough
business Of bis own TO attend TO starts
the story that she's give me the init.
ten"
When he spoke again his tones were
unmlstakably stubborn. "lye made
up my mind, Wilson. TO be quit OF this
foolln'. Ill show folks that l'm not
gee-ed and hawcd around MS easy rs
they think for. I'll give en somethln'
to talk about nll their lives, IN be
blamed II DON'T"
When his uncle first unfoded bis
plan Wilson was amused. Later he be-
came alarmed lie argued and remon.
strated In vain. "l'll be quit of their
foolIn', WILL" was all the reply he re.
celved. aud when the stage bore him
away In the afternoon he was pledged
to aid aud abet his unhappy relative.
So quickly did he fulhll his pledge /
that the week was not yet ended when
Ensign received Scranton daily with |
an advertisement heavily marked In
blue pencil. On the margin was scrib-
bled. "Have made inquiries and hear
she Is nm estlmable woman"
The advertisement read;
Wanted. - position as housekeeper or
'ompanion. by competent woman With
rood references. Address sol Irving street.
Scranton, Pa