The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1908-01-16
her the saucy tel
k.--s~.


The others got In an hour ago"
"Just little trouble with the spark
er, and | was afraid to push the ma
chine, but the kiddies all fell asleep
and are finely rested"
Good night, good night Thanksg
shouted the children as they reluctant
ly left the car Mr.. Austin stood hst
IN hand.
Aren't you going to say good night,
too, Miss AnnabelY' he asked and held
out his hand cordially. She never
knew whether her fingers touched his
or not. She only heard him say, May
see you again some timer and then
she shook her head and turned-swiftiy
toward the orphanage door.
She understood now. He had mis-
taken her for one of the lady patron
esses or settlement worker. He did
not dream that all her childhood had
been spent as one of these very Or
phans and that she had been retxined
on small pay as governess.
She had read In books about girls
who had suddenly met twentieth GEN.
tury Prince Charminez, and she had
thought how wonderful such an ex-
perience must be, but today It was
anything but wonderful. She was sor-
ry she had not told him the truth. She
was sorry--no, she was not sorry about
the lunch nor the long. searching
glances she had encountered across the
table nor the sweet, slow trip home,
with the sleeping children piled into
the big seats behind them. But she
must never, never zee him again!
The orphans from the Clareuion
Home were enjoying their second and
last big picnic Of the season. this time
at the city park. They had had q May
queen, though 1t was August, duly
crowning her and showering her with
small attentions. They had much ice
cream and lemonade, and now the long
afternoon was drawing to a drowsy
finish. Annabel had helped to clean up
the lunch tables, had settled half a
dozen childish disputes and was begin
ming to feel a bit flushed and tired
when around the curve of the graveled
road flashed big, dull green car con-
tanning single figure clad In a long
gray coat. The car stopped; the figure
leaned forward, then sprang to the
ground.
II just saw it-about the picnic-in
the afternoon papers. Please come for
little run. You look as IL you had
been working too hard"
Annabel's lips set in firm lines. She
answered quickly:
''Yes; you see must work for my
living. I am one Of the helpers at the
home, and was an orphan there once.
Maybe you thought
II knew-at the beach. But that isn't
what came to tell you. Please come"
Mechanically she stepped into the
cx,- and sat down beside him. Then he
kne W all the time! z
The car moved off slowly. The su-
perrin tendent rose from the bench
where he had been resting for the first
time amce early morning and, shading
his eye $ with his hand, watched It out
OF sight Then he smiled oddly and sat
down "a ain.
The M Ill In the car had something to
say. and he drew his breath sharply
before he spoke.
You IN misunderstood. So did the SUI
perintenth mt, but told him the truth
before asked you to ride with me
again. lbu thought was Mr.. Austin,
but I'm ooly- Ais chauffeur and have
charge Of his car while he Is in Europe.
l take his mother out occasionally, but
most Of the time there Is nothing to do.
It's no disgrace to be chauffeur, but I
am sorry / did not tell you the first
day. / WANT to make and sell automo-
biles some day, and that is why start
ed as Mr.. Austin's chauffeur. When he
comes back I'm going into the factory
where this machine was made-and"--
He stopped abruptly at sight of the
girls radiant face.
"Oh. I'm so glad-you-you, are not
Mr.. Austinw
Light came to the young man.
"Well, I'm giad-that you are glad"
he said simply. MAY I bring my
mother to call on you some evening?"
at the orphanagey" she aslksd fal-
teringly.
"At the orphanage," he answered
firmly. why. Of course. / told her all
about you after that day at the beachg'
The hand that was not on the steer
ing wheel closed firmly over he's, and
Annabel saw the woods and the lake
through a wonderful mist that wss
half tears half golden sunshine.