The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-01-10

she wondered who hc might be fonng
mon at rlnecroft at this season wcr''
n rarity,
"Iooks stck." she muttercd, "or lit
tle daily" She was getting into the
cart when quiot II beg your pardon"
caused her TO wheel around, The
strange ynuug man. hat In hand. was
certainly speaking TO her, She merely
looked her surprise.
Are you not Miss Vaughn. and
weren't You expecting mel" ilcr blue
eyes widcned Into II positive stare Of
anagomcnt
II nm MadRo Vaughn, but YOU
you must be mistaken" she said
Il am Or, North Tom North, my
mother wrote" ilr WIS hlnshlng al
little at the quecrncss OF her reception.
You you arr little TommySI
why She began to laugh mcrrlly,
and the young man laughed, too, II bit
Stltly, for he did not understand the
Joke, You have the advantage OF mo,
he said
Madge Sohcrcd at his tone aud real
ixed that she was not displaying any
marked hospitality, she held out u,
rcpentant hand, which tho young man
took eagerly, We're sort of cousins.
| guess" she said, ANYWAY, II you
arc Tommy North we've been looking
for you. 40 get In. aud we'll start"
Il can gn away II Il II not conscu
lent" protested the man
Convenient, After I've worked for
three days getting picture books ant
Kites aud little blue overals ready for
your No, sir; you will have TO use all
those things"
You Sec" she explained AS she
drove along. 1--WE got the impression
from some one that you were about
eight years old, Your mother never
mentioned your age or height, and 80
We got ready Tor small boy, and and
hero are some cookies | brought along
SO that you would not ask questions ou
the way home" She thrust paper
bag into his hands,
They were both laughing like chill
drcn ny they drove in at the gate, and
by the time explanations were made
10 Mrs Vaughn the Young man WIS
thankful that The sn prise had hap
pencd. He felt that II had been
good thing To take Mulge by surprise
for when two people have laughed Ia
gether they have rapidly progressed In
their acquaintance,
On the very first day Mrs, Vaughn
had looked AT the two with compre
hcnslon In her eyes and nv the weeks
grew into mouths she felt reasonably
sure that Mpdgc would never 20 back
10 the office
"Why should she" whispered the old
er womau 10 hesar!t, when a prosper
ous young physician In not only Will
Ing. but obviously anxious, TO monop.
ollie her."
The day before he was scheduled 20
80 back to the city new man by
reason of rlnecroft nlr aud agreeable
companlonship they took the big red
and blue Kite to the top ot nearby
hlll To hy Il II SCARED clear above
the trees MS tho man slowly unwound
the long yellow string. The girl watch
cd II rather sudly, for ms yet there had
been no word Of love between them
and she realized that she had grown
10 care SO much that II was hard not
to let him see It. She fel; glad. though.
that she had not let him see II, be
cause there might DC another girl In
the city 10 whom he was bound. aud
She well she hnd her work at the
Office, The tears had come into her
eyes, aud now they splashcd over.
The young man looked up just In time
10 catch sight OF them, and, letting
the string go, he turned and caught
her In his arms
Dear" he whispered. what Is IT.
She did not speak, but she did not try
to get away either. and after mo
ment he said;
rs It because am going away-is
II, MadgeT' She shook her head
{ "Why, then" be urged, tell me-"
Suddenly she began to laugh--a soft
little laugh that made the man hold
her closer.
81 was only wondering" she said.
whether or not there was girl
/ "You bet there is," he interrupted,
"and I've got her right where want
her" Which sentence, slangy MS 1t
was, seemed to be wholly satisfactory
to Madge.