The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-03-10
CHAPTER 1.
\ DRY snow had fallen ,teadlly

i DRY snow had fallen itcndlly
IA throughout the stIll night, NO
\ that when n cold. upper wind
4 l. cleared the sky glorously In
the morning the iucanRruoua Indiana
town ahone Ia white harmony---roof,
ledge and earth as evenly covered M
BY moonlight. 1Jcrc WINS no thaw.
Only whore the line OF factories fol
lowed the big bead OF the frozen river,
their distant chimncys like cxclamn.
ton points on blank page. was there
a first threat against the supreme
whiteness. The wind passed quickly
and Oh high, the shouting OF the school
children had ceascd at . O'Clock with
pitifui suddcnness. 10 sleigh bells
laughed out on the air. aud the muf
ding ot the thoronglfarcs wrought an
unnccustpmed pence Ike that Of sun
dny. This was the phenomenon which
afforded the opening OF the morning
debate of the Hagcs Ia the wide win.
dows VI the National House.
Only such unrortunatcs as aayc 10
far failed % visit Canaan do not know
TINT tho National House IN on the
Main street uiue OF the Courthouse
square aud haa the advantage VI bcta.,
within two minutes walk OF the rail
rond station. which ~ IA PLAZA sight o.
the windows Hu Inestimabie honeil, tl
the con. 'rsa,ion OF the aged men who
occnpi,W These windows on ihiS white
morning even nv they were wont In
summer 10 hold against all comers the
cane seated chairs OH the pavement
outside.
Mall time had come 10 mean that
bright hour when they all 80. tSc.r
feet on the brass rod which protected
the sIlls OF the two big windows. with
the steam radiators sizzling like kettles
against the side wall. Mr. Jonas Tabor,
who had sold his hardware business
magnihcen,ly mot magnihccntly for
his nephew, the purchaser some ten
years before, was usually In spite OF
the fact that he remained a bachelor az
seventy nine. the last 10 settle down
with the others. though often the iirst
70 reach the hotel. which he always en-
tered by side door. because he did
not believe In the treating system And
II was Mr. Eskew Arp. only seventy Ave,
but already thoroughly capable Gym
ic. who almost invariably opened the
argument" and 1t was he who dlscos'
cred the sinister intention behind the
weather OF this particular morning
The maleyolcncc of his voice and
manner when he shook HIS finger AT the
town beyond the windows and cxelaim'
ed. with n bitter laugh. Look NJ IT,
was no surprise 10 his companions
Jest look nj ~ tell you the devil
Is mighty smart! Iia, hal Mighty
smartr'
Through custom II was the duty Of
Squire Bnckalew Justice OF the peace
In 1850 TO he The tlrst 10 take up Mr.
Arp. The others looked TO him for It.
Therefore he asked sharply:
"Whats the devil got TO do with
snow"
Everything to do with it, sir" Mr.
Arp rctortcd. ITS plain as day to
anybody with eyes and sense
"Thcn I wish you'd pint 1t out
said Bucknlew, III you've got either"
! "By the Almighty, squirc'-Mr. Arr
Nturned IN his chair with sudden heat
Nf I'd lived as long as yon"-~
"You have" interrupted the other
stnng. Twelve years ago"
"If I'd lived as long as you" Mr.. Arr
repeated unwlncingly In louder voice
"and had folered Satan's trail as Iona
as you have and yet couldn't recognize
II when see II ia git converted and
vote Prohlbltlonist,"