The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-07-28

Y We woke to the chlmlng of bells,
II and as his eyes slowly opened
the sorrowful people OF a
a \ dream, who seemed TO be
bending over him. weeping. swan back
into the darkness Of the night whence
they had come and returned to the i'm
perceptlble, leaving their shadows In
his heart. Slowly he rose, stumbled
into the outer room and released the
huttering shade, but the sunshine.
springing like golden lover through
the open window, only dazzled him and
found no answering gladness to greet
1t or Joy In the royal day II heralded
II would be an hour at least before
time to start to church. when Ariel ex.
pected him. He stared absently up the
street, then down and, after that, be-
gan slowly to walk In the latter direc-
ton with no very active consciousness
or care Of where be went He had
fallen into a profound reverle, so deep
that when he had crossed the bridge
and turned into dusty road which
ran along the river bank he stopped
mechanically beside the trunk Of a fall
en- sycamore and, lifting bis head for
the first time since he had set out,
looked about him with a melancholy
perplexlty, little surprised 10 find
himself there.
For this was the spot where he bad
first seen the new Ariel, and on that
fallen sycamore they had sat together.
Remember, across Main street bridge
at noon" And Joe's cheeks burned
as he recalled why he had not under
stood the clear voice that had haunted
him. But that shame had fallen from
him; she had changed all that, as she
had changed so many things. He sank
down in the long grass, with hs back
against the log, and stared out over the
fields of tall corn shaking In steady
wind all the way to the horizon.
Changed so many thingsY he said,
half aloud. Everything" All, yes,
she had changed the whole world for
Joseph Loudcn-at his first sight Of
her! And now it seemed to him that
he was to lose her, but not in the
way he had thought.
Almost from the very first he had
the feeling that nothing 50 beautiful
as that she should stay In Canaan
could happen to him. He was sure
that she was but for the little while,
that her coming was like the flying
petals Of which he had told her.
Changed so many thingsY
The bars that had been between him
and half Of his world were down, shat
tered, never more to be replaced, and
the ban Of Canaan was lifted. Could
this have been save for her? And upon
that thought he got to his feet, utter
ing an exclamation Of bitter self re-
proach, asking himself angrlly what he
was doing. He knew how much she
gave him, what full measure of her af-
fection. Was not that enough? Out
upon you, D0uden! Are you to sulk In
your tent, dour in the gloom, or to play
a mans part, and If she be happy turn
a CHEEKY face upon her JOY?
And thus this pilgrim recrossed the
bridge, emerging to the street with his
head up, smiling, and his shoulders
thrown back, so that none might see
the burden he carried.
Ariel was waiting on the porch for
him. She wore the same dress she had
worn that Sunday Of their tryst-t that
exquisite dress, with the faint lavender
overtlnt, like the tender colors of the
beautiful day he made his own. She
had not worn 1t since, and he was far
distant when he caught the first flick
ering glimpse Of her through the lower