The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1907-01-14

BOWED along through the leafy avenue
Castron, all unconscious Of the tumult
In her mind, wherein pride and affec-
ton waged war, sat in silent anger re-
four hours.
At Christmas Edith had given him a.
locket inclosing her picture. Yester-
day she had opened the case and had
found therein another picture and a
lock Of hair that in no way suggested
her own chestnut curls.
Before he could explain she had run
into the house, and no amount Of en-
treaty could induce her to listen to his
explanation.
For two miles no one spoke. George
wriggled uneasily on the back seat
hoofs beating on the smooth road
seemed to Castron to count the lost
seconds.
At last. in desperation. he felt in his
pocket. There was bill he had slip
ped into his change pocket to avoid
book in the station. Gently he with
drew the bill and for an instant held
it behind his back; then, certain that
George had seen it. he released his
hold and let it fiutter to the road.
Quickly the boy slipped off the tall
CastrOn turned to Ethel.
I'VE are almost in town." he said.
81 insist upon being given the right to
explain"
"Hush!' she warned. George will
hear"
mot unless he has exceptional ears"
he smiled. George is about half q
mile back"
Ethel half turned in her seat to con-
vince herself, then turned to him
again.
II suppose you bought him off" she
said scOrnfully. You told me You
were aware of his price. l suppose l
shall have to listen since 1 cannot
drive and stoD up my ears too"
I'll drive" he volunteered, 'if you
want to stop up your ears"
what is it you wish to say?' she
demanded, ignoring his generous offer.
"Just this" he said eagerly. THAT
is not my lOcket at ALL"
"As though 1 did not recognize it!'
she scOffed.
1T fooled me-" he argued. You see.
l haven't looked inside since I've been
up here because I've had the original
of the picture TO look at. l never no
ticed that l picked up Frank Comp
tons lOcket by mistake You were so
pro,s. of the uniQueness Of the locket
that l h2ted to tell you that my room
mate had one just like it. From the
similarity of the engraving l fancy it
came from the same store.
when 1 picked up the chain 1 got
Franks and never found it out until
you opened it. That girl in this locket
is Franks fiancee."
For a moment the horses trOtted
along in silence broken only by their
hoof beats: then she turned to him
with moist eyes.
what can you think of me?" she
cried penitently.
"That you are the dearest little wo-
man in the world" he said promptly.
Her hand stole into his.
'1'll never be so foolish again." she
said. I'm so glad You persisted,
DEAR
"Me, too" he agreed.
A couple of days later CastrOn was
smiling over a scrawly letter that had
Just come. 1t read:
Dear Fred-Here's yer S. 1t amt fair
to take 1t, because l didn't drop or that
wagon because of the five. but because L
want you to be my brother-in-law some
day. heard what sis said. 1 guess she
wanted me to- too, because she gave me
the gun and cried over me. It's funny to
have a girl cry over you. Did you ever
have one cry over you? Come up soon.
Yer brother-in-law to be, GEORGE.
Castron smiled reminiscently, recall
inc tho last ride to town.