The Newport miner. [volume] (Newport, Wash.) 1899-current, 1908-08-13
HUMOR AND
ROMANCE.
BY w. F. BRYAN.
Copyrighted, 1908, by Associated
Literary Press

> Copyrighted 1908, by Associated 8
Literary Press. <
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william Thomas Osbon" WAS the
way the name was written In the big
family Bible, but since he had grad
uated from curls and short skirts and
willie he had been "Bill'' to all the
boys and "Wilr', to all the girls. Only
the occasional appearance OF letter
addressed in full reminded him that
his name was both sonorous and i'm.
pressive
Like Peter Pan, Osbon never had
grown up. He had arrived at the dig
nifty OF Il mustache. and since his ia
theirs retirement he had more than
doubled the capacity and capital Of
Osbon i Son. yet he was still the
same light hearted, apparently care
free Bill Osbon that he had been In
his boyh6od and his college days.
Therein lay the source OF his great
trouble. -
From the time she first could toddle
about until he had left for college Bet
ty Durand had been his almost con-
slant companion. About the same time
she had gone to a finishing school, and
when they had returned Osbon found
that there had arisen great barrier
between them.
Betty had developed ideals. and her
boyish sweetheart-boyish still-did
not measure up to, her romantic stand
ards. She still liked Osbon except
when he spoke of love, but Osbon was
too genuinely light hearted to play the
lovesick swain. and when he spoke of
love with smile upon his lips Betty
was wont to frown.
It's utterly absurd to ask me to mar
~ you," she had declared. Il like you
awfully Well, win, but l must respect
and look up to the man l marry"
Il see" was the light hearted re-
Spouse. You want to be miserable
though married" 4
Betty frowned again. at this exhibit
ton Of levity at SO important mo-
ment and assured herself that she was
right in her refusal to marry Osbon.
Augustus Esterbrobke seemed to an
swer to Betty's description Of an ideal.
He was tall, dark, mysterious and
handsome in Il saturnine way. No one
ever dreamed OF addressing him as
Gus" and he moved majestically in
little world OF his own, where the
cares and worries Of everyday exist
ence were not permitted to intrude.
Esterbrooke had inherited wealth and
estates, wherefore he despised the lit
tie things Of prosaic everyday life.
1t was characteristic Of Osbon that
he smiled as he saw the majestic Es-
terbrooke escorting Betty down the
dock at the end Of which lay the little
steamer chartered for the Sunday
school excursion down the lake.
Osbon was keenly conscious that he
wanted Betty to be his companion, as
she had always been IN those early
years when they had eaten mixture
Of cake and sandwiches and devled
eggs out Of the same shoe box and had
been supremely content.
It was all different now. Ester
brookes man solemnly bore an Eng
ltsh lunch hamper and rugs and wraps
enough for score. : -.
Betty smiled in friendly fashion
upon Osbon. who was darting from
crowd to crowd, exchanging a jest
here, giving word Of greeting there
and doing his best to inspire the holi-
day spirit.
He paused for moment to exchange
Il wcrd with Betty: then Esterbrooke
led her OF to the upper deck, where
they could make themselves comfort
able In the shade Of the pilothouse.
Passengers were not allowed on the
upper deck. but Esterbrooke held a
block Of stock in the transportation
company owning the fleet Of three
steamers plying the lake. and he was
IA privileged person. :
The pair were not again visible to
the rest OF the picnickers until the
grove was reached; then the servant
spread the rugs, made coffee by the
aid Of an alcohol stove and served the
lunch.
Esterbrooke and Betty wandered
away to escape the crowd, and they
did not reappear until the boat was
ready to leave. Esterbrooke hated
crowds. and he had come merely be-
cause Betty insisted. He. argued to
himself that there would be time
enough after marriage to bend her to
his ways. =t<.,,
When they reached the upper deck
he directed the captain to- take the
back channel on the way home.
It's a beastly bore to repeat the
scenery" he offered in explanation.
The back channel will be little diff
ferent"
The lake is at a pretty low stage"
objected the captain. There are
some pretty nasty rocks in the chan
mel, Mr. Esterbrooke."
"Of course If you are afraid he
began and smiled softly to himself as
the captain brought his teeth together
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