The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-02-12

4 came to tell sgd that could not go"
) "But you We're willing to sneak ava
Z like a couple of thieves and be ma
\ ried secretly" taunted Cyrus, II SUI
Z pose that the plan was yours and yo
y entangled this boy"
Y THAT is not So" said Sydney hotl,
K ut has taken me a year and more
\ persuade Eunice to elope, We kne,
that there was no use asking either he
father or mine. and we did not SO
why your absurd stubbornness shout
spoil our happiness"
Cyrus stared at his son. Like mos
men Of dominant personality, he secret
Q ly admired spirit In others. 1t was tn,
a first time that Sydney had ever takel
: so bold stand against parental edict
and he felt thrill OF satisfaction ever
while he spoke.
Il guess you'll find happiness withou
having to so to Josh Whitehead's
daughter for It," he said harshly. 81
want girl can recognize as my
daughter, not the child Of banb
wrecker."
Eunice sprang forward at the taunt
You are a nasty, wicked old manp
she cried. "You know that you are
saying what is not true. believe that
You started this run because you knew
that most OF the country banks had
sent their surplus to the city to take
advantage Of the money market. 1t is
you who are bank wrecker. hate
| your
She stamped her foot to emphasize
her words. and something In the ges-
ture brought back to Cyrus memory a
far earlier day when these same words
We're spoken. He and Josh and Nellie
had been out uutting-three children
with no thought of marriage.
He had killed a bird with stone
and had brought 1t to Nellie. proud Of
his prowess Instead OF the praise he
had expected. she turned on him and
scolded him for bis wanton act
Eunice In her anger was very like her
mother. and the whole scene came back
to him as vividly as though 1t had been
an occurrence Of the very day instead
Of a reminiscence Of forty years and
more.
He looked into the eyes that were so
like those he had loved in the long ago
and partly turned away. For the first
time he realized why Whitehead had
won. Nellie had admired his gentle
ness even while she feared Cyrus
roughness. Perhaps. after all, be, Cyrus,
bad been more to blame for his loss
than had his old playfellow.
You two go on with your spooning."
he said gruffiy, and they could not see
that the shrewd gray eyes were filed
with tears.
Cyrus stumbled blindly along the
half defined path that led to the road.
He was living over again his boyhood
days, and he found therein much to re-
gret.
There was bowling mob about the
bank. The employees of half a dozen
big mills had taken the day of to res
,ue their money from the fancied dan
ger, and they clamored about the doors.
as fast as those In the bank obtained
heir money they were let out and
'thers were admitted. The tellers were
aging out as slowly as possible In the
lope Of being able to tide over the day.
IN the morrow they might expect help
rom the city.
Cyrus Ware stamped his way up the /.
teps, the crowd giving way before
i'm. The watchman at the door let
i'm In at once, and, without explana. ,
ION, Ware pushed his way into the
residents office, where Whitehead
uzzled over long columns of figures.
He did not hear Wares entrance, and
OF until Cyrus hand fell upon his
houlder did he look up.
Josh" he said thickly, 1--WE been
lamed fool for more years than care
remember, but that's no sign I've !.
ot to keep on to the end of my days. .
We got about 100000 out there in my
agon want to open an account"
For u moment Whitehead glanced
to the other mans face and saw in
s eyes the mute appeal for reconcile
ion which Cyrus could not frame in
ords. Their hands met in clasp K
at wiped away the memory of bitter F
ars, and together they went out Of =
e office to where a guard of men =
ood over the boxes Already the =
ws that Cyrus Ware was going to \,
posit had broken the rush, and the
ovid had materially lessened.
The two men stood on the step SUI
the removal of the cur.
1cy. Cyrus passed Whitehead a ci-
r. I'm glad I've squared up old
counts in opening a new one," he
ID, with ponderous effort at care -
sness. You see, our young people pl
planning to get married" in