The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-01-05
THE OTHER GIRL
Continued from Page 81

The woman sobbed afresh, He
can't go to Hanfori tonight" she beg
ged. "Oh. Judith he canN He's the
only one who can quiet tho baby when
the pain comes ON. Judy, J can't let
him GO
As II I'm added protest the child be
gan to wall. nor would he be comfor-
ted until the father held him against
his breast
with an inspiration, Judith caught
up the drivers hat, She pushed her
hair under il and pulled the hrim on a
level with her hrows, For a moment
she stood shoulder to shoulder with
the man. measuring her height with
his own, then her words came rapidly.
why. Judy" he exclaimed, staring
at her "you couldn't, or course YOU
know the road every inch Of IT, I'd
sooner trust you with the team than
any one, but No, no, You can't do it,
Again the child cried. Outdoors the
stableboy was whistling; the reflection
from his lantern glowed on the win
dows as he passed toward the barn.
A man shuftled out from the office and
q gaunt mail bag thugged on the
porch Judith was pulling of the dri-
vers greatcoat
mo, no." he persisted letting her
take it from him. The father heart
was warning with his sense of right.
A spasm OF pain shook the bundle.
and when It had passed. Morrison and
his wife looked into each others faces.
The girl and the hat and the great
coat were gone.
Judith was waiting in the shadow Of
up from the barn. She swung herself
to the seat with as much OF Morrison's
manner as she could command.
The stableboy narrowed his eyes
prophetically at the glowering sky.
You're in for a drench, Tom" ne re-
marked. as he handed up the lines,
On the steps of the roadhouse Judith
could see the big outlines Of Farroll.
etI tfyhf
and he was gazing back For a NOM
ent her courage faltered. "A thorough
bred out Of draft horse'" Her own
words rang in her ears. She longed
to drop off the seat and run to him.
The doors to the bar swung open.
Her father hurried out, bristling with
importance and comments on the wea,
ther. He handed up the mail bag and
some commissions for Hanford. Ju-
dith. her hat pulled low took them ST.
lently. and buttoned up the boot ;.
With one final look into the hall,
Farroll turned, stood for a moment on
the upper step, then strode over and
peered in at the parlor window. The
room was empty. He came slowly
back fastening up his coat. Judith
heard him sigh as he climbed to the
rear seat, and her heart hardened. 1t
was for the girl, she argued. With a |
sudden vigor she uncoiled the lash and
sent it cutting the air above the lead
ers. The coach Iurched forward
Farroll. on the last seat. pulled the
rug to his chin and tried to think His
mind was like a mosaic. Even in the
dark he could feel the bigness of his
hands. He had always known that
they were big. but the knowledge had
not tempered the edge Of her words. !
He had worked a year, God knew how
hard, to make himself fit for her. and
What made her turn red and white
she-she had called him draft horse
when she saw him? He had blunder-
ed in telling her about the girl. but Of
course she understood. At any rate
the Trail was safe It was the rich
est trail in the county, and Judith
He thrust the big hands dotarminedly
into his pockets and began castle
building He had two hundred doll
lars in the bank. With it he would
work the mine. He would b. ricn.
very rich. He would make Judy proud |
of him! Sometimes one may be even
proud Of a draft horse!
The wind had massed the scudding
clouds; they lay like black feather
bed on the tamarack tops, Judith
drew the collar of the great coat hign, |
Stacked the lines for the up grade and |
mentally looked herself in the face. |
She was on top Of the Hanford stage
the man she loved was on the inside. |
In her anxiety for Morrison and the |
baby, she had overlooked possible com
plications. Now they arose, shadowy, |