The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-08-21

| Ga,s oA Gil lsgnt."
"rhankM Miss Josie, There's com,
fort IN them words, an'"-- Jake's
mouth hing open aud his eyes wild.
ened az he tore out the door. One
look AZ the river whispering, bubbllnG
and creeping visihly up the bank
"She's here, Hustle with rour traps
D ISIS Josie. There ain't no time to
hsc," And he fell to work.
As an example OF muscular Chris.
tlanity the parson was no laggard and
the gospel of works was fully demon.
strated that March Sunday when he
laid down rod and stan to help Jake
Alders rescue cattle and hogs.
The sun was climbing over the cy.
press brakes when they arrived At
Jake's cabin. The children, breakfast.
less and forlorn, were huddled upon
the doorstep, At sight of Miss Josie
and her leather trunk on Jake's shoul.
der they came swarming about her
skirts. "0h, goody, she's goln' to stayg
announced Jemlna, jake's eldest as
she planted the baby In Miss Josle's
arms with a gesture OF hnality.
All day long the muddy tide crept
over the land. II entered the dusty
road ln thin streams. widening until
road and dooryard, barnyard and pas.
ture disappeared. Jake stood eyIng
the pile OF lumber ~ the water sucked
aud gurgled beneath him. The parson
squared bis shoulders Yes, Brother
Alders. there In no time like the pres.
ent" and the sound of hammer aud
saw rang over the rippllng tide as the
parson wrought for these sheep OF his
pasture. Ten O'Clock saw the last nail
as the high March wind sent the first
wave over the cabin sill. Miss Josie
settled the children and the household
belongings with some degree Of COM
fort. but the parson aud Jake could
not stand upright under the low raft.
ers.
The irregular beat OF dugout pad
dies came around the bend, and the
parson stepped outside, while Jake
stood lingering his hat and glancing
sldewise at Miss Josie where she sat
In the low rocker. bending over the
drowsy baby. The other children slept
upon the mattress. She lifted her head
as the parson paused In the doorway.
bit of yellow paper between his I'm
gers, and behind him, peering over
his shoulder, the station agent and
Jake's young brother Lem.
Brother Alders. the clerk wires me
that he has issued the license"
Miss Josie arose, the sleeping baby
against her shoulder. The warm III.
tie body Nesting there in drowsy help
lessness stirred and woke the primal
woman, virginia. and shy. that slept
below the crest OF years. Her keen
gray eyes softened with new light
above the sallow cheek. where the
long banished bushes burned beneath
Jakes ardent brown gaze. At her
feet his children slept.
The parson raised bis hand, and
Jake blundered to Miss Josie's side,
his tall head STOPPING to avoid the
rafters. Over the lap-lap OF the waves
beneath them. over the keening OF the
wind in the cypress brakes, the par
sons voice rose In solemn sentences,
and then he was saying goodby. and
the faces were gone from the doorway.
Miss Josie took refuge behind the
sleeping baby as she knelt to place 1t
with the other children, and down the
road she heard the parson singing as
he padded into the night.
And when the long May days came
10 the Barraclaw, newly risen from
he chrlsm Of the waters and teeming |
with the gifts of Father Messasabe.
he first Mrs. Alders received due need |
If song and service, thoroughly or
Tered by Mrs. Alders the second.