The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-08-25
Romance OF An Automobile.


that q mere aimless and almost forgot
ten Irritation could have any serious
Vcaning In Il,
The letter written, abe showed It TO
her stepmother, and neither argument
nor entreaty availed to make her alter
it, and from that day her attitude to-
ward her little world underwear change,
She offered no resistance TO any plans
for tho future which her stepmothcr
timidly brought forth. She would
make her home In whatever spot Mrs,
Winchester might elect to live, The only
thing she asked was TO he let alone and
that she should not be compelled to make
decisions, Therefore their sudden change
OF rsidence to the little Southern town
OF liilldon was entirely one Of Mrs,
Wmchester's whims carried with little
or no help from Elizabeth,
1t was, childishly obvious, however,
that u large college situated not far
from the town had been motive power
IL her choice, The GIRLS acceptance OF
this fact was eloquent with seorn.
"Please understand she said when
they had been in Hilldon a short time,
II do ont intend TO meet any OF these
college students Then with sudden
breaking down OF her almost unnatural
reserve, she said, II don't understand
you, really don'tl How can you be so
indelicatel'
AN attractive girl like you should not
be hidden away from anyone, Elizabeth.
You are frightfully impossible dear You
have never credited me with kindly
thought Tor you since the day | married
your father I've been very patient about
Iit, | thinkr And as the habyish blue
eyes overtlowed and the thin voice threa'
tened to break down altogether, the girl
slipped away drcading scene.
However. even when young hearts
think they are broken, and when keen
young vitality voluntarily makes itself
as passive quality as possible, sooner
or later the reaction sets in, and so Eli
zabeth came finally to feel that she must
have some outlet from these thoughts OF
Heron kirke that saddened her days.
A careful survey of her own affairs OF.
fered her the only solution. She had
thousand dollars OF her mothers one.
time fortune to do with as she pleased
SO she tucked this nice little sum into
her pocket and went away to the nearest
city, where she spent couple OF days
much to the horror OF Mrs. Winchester,
When she returned there was fine new
interest in her eyes, high color In her
cheeks, and an increased disregard for
the opinions Of her stepmother that
made that poor lady absolutely trcmble
for the future; but beside all that, she
also brought with her an automobile.
Miss Elizabeth Winchester sat In her
great, clumsy automobile at the station
OF Hildron and waited for the train to
come in. Already her little business
venture was thriving splendidly With.
out fail the auto with its pretty chauf.
feur in her severe shirt waist and straw
hat and huge gloves met the trains, and
without fail the professors, teachers and
students OF the college, which was about
a mile away from Hilldron, rode to their
destination in the machine in preference
to the slow little street cars which the
town provided
Elizabeth had though her little bust.
ness scheme out well. Charging ten
cents fare, and carrying six or eight
passengers trip, she could, by working
ten or twelve hours day, contrive at
least to add little to the fortunes OF
the family. OF course. with big ma.
chine reduction from this sum would
have to be made for accidents and loss
Of time.
Hilldon, though called college town,
was, after all, lively place, with con.
siderable manufacturing and other bust
ness
Beside Miss Winchester on the front
seat always rode DinKy, the small col.
ored boy who always acted as a cross be-
tween conductor and little black god OF
The car.
Elizabeths attitude as chaffeur was
one of unrelenting silence. Dinky
made the arrangements and Dinky did
all the talking greatly to his Joy. About
IS much as any one ever saw OF the dri.
yer was a knot Of tan hair and pair Of
tan ears somewhere in the mazes OF
huge brown automobile veil.
On the platform, waiting for the train,
that was now late, was group of girls.
She knew them by sight as three Of the
bellies Of Hilldron, much admired by
certain class of students. They were
standing not far off, and she could hear
'natches Of their talk and up in the au- |
,omobile Miss Elizabeth smiled sad lit.
lie smile, and turned to her small con.
luctor. "Dinky," she said Suppose we
70 to meet the train, and race it to the
station. What do you sayf'
And the next moment the big machine |
vas rolling feetly down the road be.
ide the track. They had not far to 90, |
or the engine whistled suddenly and |
hey turned about and the two started, |
leck and neck for the station, 1t was