The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-03-18

wander TO the beautiful scenery
around him and he would breathe d
sigh Of regret.
Three months after this, Robert
Page stood on the platform Of the
little depot at Bismark, bidding fare
well TO his old friends and partner.
Jim Boadie. Jim was little and dried
up, and had complexion like the
desert Jim was now sole owner Of
Satan and Patience, as present from
Page, who was going back to bis old
home.
Page had $4,000 TO his credit in a
San Francisco bank. and more COM
ing from the Mountain Lion" Mine
he located.
i don't envy you much" Jim was
saying. you'll 90 back there and
get old and fat and married. You'll
look back on this life here and wish
you could come back for breath OF
the desert and mountains, and your
wife won't let you. You'll want to
prospect again, just for the pure love
Of the game, and your wife won't let
you. You'll want some SOW bosom
for breakfast. and your wife will call
you q hcathern But good luck to
you, though ! do hate 10 see you
throw your life away like this"
"But III come back some time"
Page protested. as his eyes rovcd
hungrily over desert and mountain.
mo, you won't, not II you get mar
ried.' said Jim. with smile. Your
wife won't let YOU"
II was six weeks after this that one
day i'm Boadie, who happened to be
again In Bismark after supplies saw
Robert Page alight from the west
bound passenger train, suitcase in
hand and a broad smile on his face.
Jim looked as though he saw a ghost
when Page walked up to him with
outstretched hand
"But-but where's the wife" Jim
blurted out, looking over Pages
shoulder as though trying to see an :.
other ghost.
Where's Satan2 asked Page in
return.
"Over there" said Jim. pointing a
shaking finger at the cat, who was
sitting on the depot platform regard
ing the station agent dcftly rolling big
trunks aboard the baggage car.
COME here, you devil you'll" called
Page, and Satan, recognizing him,
suitcase, store clothes and all, ran for
ward and sprang lightly to Pages
shoulder, where he sat and affection
ately tapped the ear nearest him with
a soft paw, purring loudly the while
"But your wife. where is shel" de-
manded Jim, still in some trepidation.
Wife repeated Page, with a
sheepish grn. "Why, | wouldn't give
Satan here for the best wife in the
world. I'm not marrying man,
Jim"
"And you've come back to stayi"
gaspcd Jim, seizing the Others hand.
Sure" affirmed Page. did you
think could stay away from this
country long? Oh, love it ALL" he
cried passionately, as he scanned the
scene before him.
did you turn her DOWN." asked
Jim, still in some doubt as to the lady.
Page shook his head, "I'lI tell you
how it was" he said ~ went back
there, and everything was changed
for me. ! lived there twenty-four
years, then came here and lived for
two, and the two years here knocked
all the civilization out of me.
"rhe girl wasn't the same either.
We were both disappointed, guess.
She thought, somehow. I'd be the
same, and | thought she'd be the
same, but the two years had changed
us both a lot. We didn't know each
other when we met | think when
! left there she pitied me, and wasn't
really in love. / was in love with
her then, but not with her as she is
now,
There was another fellow, too,
who was trying to monopolize her
some, and one night at a big affair
they were having, he and | tangled.
II wasn't my fault, though, for I was
only too willing that he should have
her, but ! wasn't feeling good that
night. ! had to wear a dress suit
that almost cut me in two every time
| bowed, and strangled me every time
] turned my head | used to wear
these things when l was a younger
and more foolish, but it's lost art