The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-02-15

Miss Blake tilted her little nose up'
ward until she looked almoSt dignited,
But she's quite quite another sort
that Livingston yirlg she replied aia>
lly. She's hot
Not
"Your style" Huished Miss Blake
promptly. "lou know there are ga,s
and girls,
yes" agreed Dick redectivey.
Down the roadway carriage Wheels
began TO crunch the sandy ground,
Here comes Aunt Martha" annonne-
el Miss Blake. I'm u bit sorry let
her call for me tonight, Dick, cause
I'd have liked awfully much TO have
YOU SEE me home. Then could have
talked TO you sensihly and convinced
yuu OF this proplnauity' business
"Of course | didn't mean to martyr
you.r said Dick grimly as he led her
down 10 the carriage.
Now. don't he silly" admontshed
Miss Blake with exasperatlng serenity
Just forget everything you've said to
night, like good boy, aud we'll 70 on
as we've always done. being jolly goc'
friends ELI. nlckiei"
After he had shaken hands with Aunt
Martha aud the carriage had ssarted
of Miss Blake called back gayly over
her shoulder;
"Tn be coming home In another fort
night myself. you know"
Dick stood for awhile OH the yerands
ss,ar tie sound Of the wheels had died
sway. He was a substantial chap with
brains, and he reasoned with himself
seriously. she isn't niriing," he so
llloquIred. but she's wild and dcesn''
want to be tanned. However--now fo'
4 new game"
Some weeks later. after Miss Blake
had returned to town. Dick began to
drop In at the Blake home again. u
was only Internationally, though, and DC
was not confidential as TO where he
speut the numerous evenings he did
not drop In. Miss Blake would sooner
have had one OF her fetching dimples
spirlt.4l away than ask him. but her
curiosity changed from annoyance tc
worry.
al say. MollIe," observed Dick casu
ally one evening. lighting his pipe and
looking absentm!ndedly at the sweet
meas Miss Blake wore. that propln
| 0uitv theory Of yours isn't such run
| one. after all. Since I've been bach
/ Tve seen an awful lot Of that Living
stou girl. and, do you know, she's jolly
nice, mighty good company and tha'
| sort o thing. | dare say It's being will
| her so much that
/ Miss Blake half jumped to her fee
from the deep armchair in which DicS
/. had piled up for her Il sea Of pillows
And 30 II was that Livingston girl!
/ Hello. A wasp" inquired Dick, set
ting down his pipe lelsurely and refer
ring to the jump,
No answer. The lamps hadn't ye
been lighted, and 1t was the dark enc
OF twilight. 10 he couldn't see her fac
very clearly. But as he piled the tw'
pillows which had slipped to the foo
behind the demure little hgure with tn
sweet peas again he caught a tremu
lous intskiug Of breath. As a matte
Of fact, the girl in the deep chair wa
struggling desperately with aggregate
emotions Of the past month and tear
weren't very far away.
"Why-wby, Mollle" Dick exciaime'
In some alarm. Then with very res
tenderness he put both Arm hands ur
der the dimpled chin and turned th
little face toward him.
"Oh, Dick, 1--we been so miserable.
stammered she family.
1--WE been miserable, too, sweetheart,
whispered he, settling himself on tn
arm OF the chair. And then, somehow
those pretty sweet peas got b
crushed.
And you don't really care for thu
Livingston gIrlT murmured Moll
presently, pnching his cheek.
THAT Livingston girl? Humph