The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-03-27

an tine time was on the stage ssid
rcproachfully.
Eifrida looked penltcnt..
.yt was mean of me-" she admitted,
but you did look 30 funnyw She gig.
gled again at the recollection.
made no reply In words, but lot
her see that forgave her
where did You come frcmf How
did you get herey Why haven't you
written 70 me IN all these weeksT
asked as soon as felt sure she thor
oughly understood my mental attitude
regarding her.
"Mme. Brcnners. New Haven. Skip.
ned with the show saturday night.
Couldn't write. Watched every min
ute,n she answered with unwomaniy
lucidity and hreyity,
Elfrida always was different from
other girls, This was why l made
such a fool OF myself over her last
summer after my junior year that the
governor was afraid I never would
stand for the senior grind at Harvard.
n he had remembered that I was on
the crew. he wouldn't have been 10
scared. Il could not love thee, dear, so
much loved I not honor more" | had
quoted solemnly to Elfrida the night
we said goodby.
That was why she was packed or to
that beast OF q Brenner when she
should have been queening It In Al
bany society. She was SO original that
when there was no immediate danger
of her clipping with me her father was
afraid that she might take up slum-
ming or typing or insist on going to
the Philippines to nurse the soldiers,
Brenner had doubtless been apprised
OF these contingencies, but apparently
the possibility OF Elfrida succumblng
10 the ordinary schoolgirl variety OF
stage fever had occurred to no one,
| Consequently with her power OF re-
i source II was mere child's play for her
to "break JAIL" as she expressed 1t,
during the relaxed vigilance Of the Sat
uriay evening recreation hour and
subsequently to coax her way to the
managers presence. AS far as he was
concerned, to see was to engage. Did
mention that Elfrida was ripping
tearing beauty? Well, such Is the
case, and she confided to me that she
was paying for her own costumes.
"You must 60 back at once" ! said
sternly as soon as we had compared
notes ON the numerous exciting events
which had occurred since our parting.
! "And give up earning my own liv'
| ing" demanded Elfrida Indignantly
"just when have proved how easily
can do it?"
You've only been at 1t two days."
remarked, '.and as 1t Is the 4th OF the
month I suppose you still have most
| of your allowance"
Instantly saw my mistake. Elfrida
| turned her back ON me. and for fully
| two minutes every one Of my usual
| methods OF effecting RECOMMENDATION
failed utterly. At length a brilliant
| idea came 10 me.
aIf you win leave the company to-
night, wir.' l said In the tone Of one
making the sacrifice Of lifetime.
Elfrida displayed signs of interest
She didn't Of course know that my en-
gagement, like that Of dozen otheI
| fellows who were members OF the
| queens guard. was only for the eur
rent week. ~5ys st6
'You are willing, then, to forego tht
pursuit. OF the queenr inquired I'll
! frida, quoting from the play with moci
intensity. detected, however. an un
4 dercurrent Of real anxiety in her voic'
and hastened to reassure her.
! Anything that I gave up for you
sake would be the next moment for
gotten | replied dramatically.
She allowed me to kiss her.
II will do IT," she said after mo
ments deliberation. But we will boti
4 have TO forfeit our salaries