Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1907-12-27

~ NEE III livery, Tom sat no more
Mt his masters table. He had,
however, to insist on waiting
at 1t instead and to make him.
self the servant he had been hitherto
In name only. Daintree would have
let the old arrangement continue. but
the new one was q boon to Tom. 1t
gave him freedom and independence
and occupation, and SO helped him
wonderfully upon the upward road.
One evening when q ship had come
In aud Daintree had driven into Sgd
ney for his letters he returned In such
extraordinary spirits that he could
hardly touch his dinner; he must gloat
over a crinkling sheet Of paper. while
the soup grew cold In the very spoon.
md Tom could only suppose that his
masters family had come round at
last. AS a rule. he talked necessarily
to Tom while the latter waited, but
this evening his letter absorbed his
whole attention. At last. however, hs
booked up. and his saturnine counte-
nance was redeemed and TRANSPORTED
by a perfectly startling radiance and
Joy.
Thomas" he said. ''you must marry
a wifey'
The CHEEKY tone was rs new In him
as the delighted look. Tom was so
astonished he had to think what the
words meant before shaking his head.
'Why not. my good fellowY cried
Daintree.
"Why should you want me tor re-
torted Tom.
Because I am about to marry one
myself"
Had he said he was about to bury
one Tom could not have been more
startled and amazed. Somehow he had
never conceived Of Daintree as q mar
ried man. That solitary spirit CEN
tered and immersed In self and con-
sciously wallOwing In its own solitude
and gloom, had forbidden such a
thought the more easily since Tom had
himself abandoned every aspiration Of
the kind. A twinge Of jealousy sue
ceeded his first surprise. but In another
moment his heart dilated with unself-
ish pleasure. and his congratulations
were no less sincere than vociferous.
IF you knew her." said Daintree,
"you would congratulate me even
more" And he proceeded to praise bis
choice as he could have praised moth
Ing that was not In some sense his.
and yet his passion was convincing
His voice shook with 1t as his face
shOne.
"A Sydney lady" Tom ventured to
inquire.
Good heavens. no! II she only were
as near as that! She Is on her way
out to marry me. This letter was writ
ten n month before she sailed"
From EnglandT'
Eyes"
You will see her In another month"
perhaps before. You never know
how long or how short the voyage will
be. Mine was 1876 days. and that was
long. l kept a chart Of it-stop; I'm
going to fetch 1t! Clear away. I've
had dinner enough"
He rushed from the table. to return
presently with a mariners chart Of the
world, upon which he had neatly mark
ed out the daily courses Of his recent
voyage. 1t was q chain Of many links
from England to the Cape and chain
Of longer links from the Cape to Aus
tralia.
Now. then" cried Daintree. arraHS.
ing the chart under the lamp and seat.
ing himself delightedly at the table.
Now we'll see where they've got to.
Hello! Where's my letterf
1t was on the floor, and Tom picked
It up. averting his eyes 50 that be
should see nothing while Daintree re-
ferred to the contents.
''Ha! Here we have it." and the let.
ter was thrust into his pocket 'They
were to sail on the 23d Of June. How
many days ago Is that1 This Is Sep
TENDER the 18th. Seven-thirty-one-
thirty-one and twelve. How much Il
thatr'
"Eighty-one." said Tom.
"Only eighty-one! Then you're right"
s!ghed Daintree. "and they won't b