The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-06-02


ing upon tlptoe turned out the gas
NO" she continued, seated again aud
looking across the desk at him. u
wanted to see you az the first possible
opportunity, but what I have to say
"walt," he Interrupted. 'Let mo tel
you why l did not come yesterday"
"You need not tell me, | know
She glanced mt the chair which had
been occupied by Mrs. Fear. II knew
last night that they had sent for you."
"You didw he exclaimed. "Ah, un
derstandl sam Warden must have told
you."
YES" she said. ut was he. And
have been wondering ever since how
he heard Of Il He knew last night
but there was nothing In the papers
this morning, and until came here !
heard no one else speak Of It. Yet Ca
naan Is not large"
Joe laughed. TT wouldn't seem
strange II you lived with the Canaan
that I DO. sam had been downtown
during the afternoon and had me,
friends. The colored people are a good
deal like freemasonry, you know. A
great many knew last night all about
what had happened and had their theo.
ries about what might happen today In
case the two men met. Still, you see,
those who knew also knew just what
people not TO tell. The Tocsin IA the
only newspaper worth the name here.
But even II the Tocsin had known Of
the trouble Il wouldn't have been like
ly to mention II. That's thing I
don't understand. He frowned and
rubbed the back Of bis head. There's
something underneath II. For more
than year tho Tocsin hasn't spoken
of Beaver Beach. I'd like to know
why"
"Joe," abe said slowly. tell me some
thing truly. A man said to me yes.
terday that he found life here insuffer.
able. Do you find It soY'
"Why. nor he answered, surprised.
do you hate Canaani'
"Certainly notF'
"you don't flnd II dull, provincial. un-
sympatheticf"
He laughed cheerily. WELL there's
thls," he explained: Il have an adyan-
tage over your friend. ! see more In
teresting side OF things probably. The
people l live among are pretty thor
ough cosmopolites In a way. and the
life I Lead
'T think begin to understand a lit
tie about the life you lead" she inter
rupted. 'Then you don't complain Of
CanaanT
aOf course not
She threw him a quick, bright, happy
look, then glanced again at the chair
In which Mrs. Fear had sat "Joe." she
said, 'last night | heard the people
singing In the houses, the old Sunday
evening way. 1t took me back sol"
sYes, II would. And something else.
There's one hymn they sing more than
any other. It's Canaan's favorite. Do
You know what II Isl"
'Ts II Rescue the Perishlngr"
THAT'S It Rescue the Perishlngg I"
he cried and. repeating the words
again, gave forth peal OF laughter so
hearty that 1t brought tears to his eyes
"'Rescue the Perishingr"
At first she did not understand his
laughter, but after a moment she did
and Joined her own to II, though with
a certain tremulousness
ut is funny. isn't iti" said Joe, wip-
Ing the moisture from his eyes. Then
all trace of mlrth left him. rs It really
you. sitting here and laughing with
me, ArielT'
1T seems to be-" she answered In o
low voice. "I'm not at all sure"
"You didn't think yesterday after.
noon," he began almost in whisper
you didn't think that / had failed to
come because r. He grew very red
and shifted the sentence awkwardly.
II was afraid you might think that l
was-that didn't come because !
might have been the same way again
that | was when-when met you at
the stationT
"oh, mol" she answered gently. mo.
knew better"
"And do you know" be faltered,
''that that 10 all overf That 1t can
never happen againr'
"Yes, know It," she returned quick
ly.
'Then you know little Of what I
owe you"
mo. no." she protested.
"Yes." be said. you've made that
change in me already. It wasn't hard
1T won't be-though 1t might have
been if--lf you hadn't come soon."
TEL me something" she demanded.
III these people had not sent for you
yesterday, would you have come to
Judge Pixies house to see mef You
said you would try" She laughed q
little and looked away from him. Il
want to know II you would have
come"
There was a silence, and In spite Of
har averfod 0Ianca ahe knav that ha