The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-10-13

for a long time, but you wouldn't let
me, Then John told me that you would
probably stop hero today
~Ah, yes, John" said the squire In
an altered tone. "For the moment |
had forgotten John. II Is to him, then,
that am indebted for this pleasure =
his stubborn mouth wrinkllng into a
sudden sarcasm.
Mrs, wetherby regarded him with q
level glance.
Eyes, II Ia john" sho said steadily.
"Tor my own sake I should never have
pleaded. That you chose to take 40
serious q bit Of girlish folly, child
ish piQue which one kind word from
you would have melted, for oil that
let It 80. The past is past. But John.
my boy--must his life, too, be spoiled?
He loves your daughter, She loves
him." unheeding the squire's angry
flush. "Must they lose their youth and
let life's sweetest years be sacrificed
merely to satisfy dislike OF me, Lem
uely' A passionate energy inspired
her eager words.
"Dislike, repeated the squire thought
fully. Dislike. Was It really thatT'
Whatever his faults. the squire was
truthful. But Hetty." sudden
warmth breaking into his own voice,
"HetU. you said-you said spoiled
too Do you mean that you caredY
Did you, Hettyf" with compelling eyes
on hers.
Yes" said Mrs. Wetherby simply,
'1 cared. And you went away, you
never wrote, and SCAT last--I married
Johnson Wetherby. He was good
husband" A sudden impulse Of 10y.
atty toward the dead surged within
her
"And married Susan Martin,
mused the squire aloud, but he was
conscious Of what he was saying. A
great wonder held him fast. Was this
the quiet, self repressed woman who
all these years had sat across the aisle
from him every Sunday morning in
church, this slender, vibrant creature
trembling In the might of her demand
for happiness of her son? Was this
the woman whom he had believed with
out feeling? In a sudden flash Of In
sight he caught himself, man cherish
ing the hidden resentment which yeaI
by year hardened character and face
while She 4 tender reverence slow
ly crept into the stern old eyes.
Come" he said gently, well have
some dinner, and then we can talA
about John"
| When, a week later, the squire's bug
gy pulled up before the honeysuckl'
laden porch of home, the owner
brows were drawn together into sem
blance of its former frown. The moutl
held its accustomed lines. Only In tn
deep set blue eyes a new light gleamet
irrepressibly. But Susie did not see
The girl came slowly to the door. Clos
behind followed tall, slim young fel
low with steady brown eyes. TIL
squire stared.
Father" announced Susie, pale, bu
resolute, II want to tell you at ono
that I'm married to John. The blanl
licenses for any one needing them wer
on your desk already signed. 1t wa
only necessary to fill in the names
IL hope you forgive me- But II yo'
don't" as her father still stared witt
features unrelaxed, I'm ready to &c
couldn't leave the house alone, though
And, besides, / wanted to tell you my
SELF We were married this morning.
The squire's own defiant will beanie
from her blue eyes. She was his owl
child, all right, the squire recognized
with an amused recollection Of his fol
mer thought, and he could hardly su
himself for issuing license to mino
without her parents consent, his ow
name being signed to the document.
The squire threw down his reins.
"Well," he capitulated, III it's dom
It's done. And we were planning
give you such a fine wedding too!
Then as an amazed 1--WE" broke frol
the startled girl Squire Godfrey leane
over and patted the curly head.
"Tm not going to scold," he declare
heartily. Fact Is, I'm married mysel
My wife's waiting now at the hotel fl
you to come; said must tell you m.
self first. So run and get on your ha
john" while a long, searching loo
passed between the two men as the
hands met, you've got to be doubly
son to me now. Your mother has tai