The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-04-28
C,iApfEK X.

eteeplo across the square. ringing out
u assured righteousness n susiinoning
DE good peorle who maintained them
" come aud vi beneath them or be
taken 10 task aud they fell 10 dismal
iy upon Joe'B war that hp hea,lrfed him.
self and rose. % the delight of bis mon
Rxel. who ierDed upoa him joyfully.
IN hour late OF thcrenboui the pair
smerged from the narrow stairway and
sfood Tor a t,omeui. blinking 10 the
fnir sunshine apparently undecided
which wny 10 40, The church bells
I&ere silent There was no brecxe, The
Dir trembicd little with the deep pip.
ings OF tho orgaa across tho square
and, save for that. the town was very
quiet. Tho latln which crossed the
courthouse ytrd were fccked with
steady shados, the strong young foil
age OF tho mr plea not moving. having
no air Of obsNYing the Sabbath with
propricty. TIE organ ceased 10 stir
she air. aud Ill was IN quiet. yet
qulet which for L0uden was not peace
He looked nc his watch and. without
lntending II. spoke the hour aloud. "A
quarter past H." Tho sound Of bis
own voice gfve him n little shock,
Hs rose without knowing why. and ~
hs did 10 II seemed 10 him that hs
beard close TO his ear another voice, Q
woman's. troubled and laaistcnt, but
clear and sweet, saying
Remember. Across Main street
bridge az noon"
IL was NO distinct that he started and
booked round Theu he laughed. "fll
BIZ seeing circus paradea next" Ills
laughter fed. for. louder than tho ring
Ing In his ears. Enthusiastically came the
strains Of faraway hlTlss bend which
had 40 existence on land or sea or IN
the waters under the earth.
''Here!r he said TO the mongrel. I'VE
need walk. think. Let's you and
mo move on before the camels turn
the corner"
The music followed him 10 the street.
where he turned westward toward the
river. and presently as be walked on.
tanning himself with bis straw hat, II
faded and was gone. But the voice he
had heard returned
"Rememberl Across Main street
bridge at noonr' Il said again close to
bis ear.
This time he did not start. "All
right" he answered. wipng his fore
head. III you'll let me alone, Ill be
there"
At dlngy saloon corner near the
river a shabby little man greeted him
heartily and petted the mongrcl, "i'm
mighty glad you didn't 80. after all,
toe." he added. with brightehlng
face.
go where. HappyT
Mfr. Fear Looked grave. Don't you
rec'lect meotin' me last nlghtT
Louden shock his head. mo. Did
IT
The others jaw fell. and his brow
corrugated with self reproach. "well,
II that don't show what thick head !
ami thought 70 was all right or I'd
gone on with ye Nobody cd a. walk
\ ca straighter ner talked straighter
said 20 was goln' to leave Canaan fer
good and didn't want nobody to know
Il. Said ye was goins TO take the 'leyen
o'clock through train fer the west and
told me couldn't come TO the deepo
with 70. Said ye'd had enough o Gu
naan and of everything follered ye
part way to the deepo, but 70 turned
and made a motion fer me to 20 back,
and done II because ye seemed TO be
kind OF in trouble, and thought ye'd
ruther be by yerself Well, sir. It's
one on me-"
mot at all" said Joe. u was all
right"
aWaa YER returned the other. "Do
remember. do yey'
Almost Joe smiled family.
"Almost." echoed Happy, shaking his
head seriously. Il tell ye, Joe, Of was
you he began slowly, then paused
and shook his head again. He seemed
ON the point of delivering some advice,
but evidently percelving the snobbish'
ness Of such proceeding, or else con-
vinced by his own experience OF the
futility OF H. he sweryed to cheerful
ness:
II hear the boys Is all goln' to work
hard. fer the primaries. Mike says 20
got some chances ye don't know about,
He swears yen be tho next mayor Of
Canaan"
''Nonsense Folly and nonsense, Hap
py! That's the kind Of thing ! used to
think when | was boy. But now
pshawr' Joe broke OFF with n tired
laugh Tell them not to waste their
time Are you going out to the Beach
this afternoon
The little man lowered his eyes
moodlly. 'l'll be near there" be said,
scraplng his patched shoe up and down
the curbstone. THAT fellers In town
agin."
"What fellow|
"'Nashvllle' they call him. Eds tho
name he give the hospital Cory-hn
that | soaked the night you come back
to Canaan. He's after Claudine to g.
his evens with me, He's made q raise