The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-12-17

laughed merrny. aud Roger Joined her
with faint heart,
II came here expecting TO meet
frlend hoped would be on your train,
he admitted soherly, Your appear
ance deceived me; you are much aliNe,
u was the only passenger she said
sympathctlcally, Il hope your--your
frlend win come tomorrow, Where can
my cousins carriage hoy
They were sitting IN the buckhoard
IN front Of the station, and the agent
was trundllng two trunks toward them,
"Seen team from WaylandsT
asked Roger Blake,
'Nope. Want these on the wagonI
''Tco heavy. wayland viii send for
them II his outfit arrives toll them
I'VE carried the young lady over TO his
place"
IL hope I'm not taking you out q
your way" she protested, u can wait
sent letter
THAT'S all right, | guess your letter
went astray the Same as the one
should have had, I've got plenty o.
time 10 SPARE" he added grlmly y
was going to be married this morning
| "oh | see, am very sorry" she
said sincerely, Then she maintained
sympathctic silence while Roger drove
/ her over the long read across the prai
rie to the Waylara farm, which al
Joined his own on q north. .
''How long are ~ going to stay Z
querled Roger just before their journey
ended.
"weeks or months perhaps | hav'
4 no near relatives and have been teach
ing school My cousins have asked M
to come here and enjoy long rest.
hope your trip 10 the station tomorrow
win be more successful one-an'
thank YOU" she said, with a triendl,
smile. as they parted
Ten days afterward Roger met ne
riding out Of the canyon. Her rae
was prettlly tanned, and her broa'
brlmmed hat made an effective fram
IL her lovely face.
MAY congratulate you today I
she asked brightly.
ROGER shook his head slowly, AM
for the frst time she noted the tense
drawn look abolt his pleasant mout
aud the misery OF his haggard eyes
"You have heard--I hope II Is no
had newsy she said. with that fran
friendlmess he had found so atsra'
tive in her before.
He drew a letter from his pockt
and extracted a newspaper clippinl
THAT'S all the explanation rye had'
he said bitterly.
"Alarried-to some one else-t
James Farnham-how very strange
she said in a low, agitated voice.
"Why is 1t strange? Do you kno'
the manT" demanded Roger eagerly
The girls face whltened, and loe
Of distress came into her eyes.
"Don't tell me anything II 1t pan
you" said Roger gently
~ must. You see, | was engaged
him and he jIlted me for another 81
/ didn't know her name until no
| couldn't stand 1t, and so ran ava
but now She paused and dream
; contentment replaced the pain In D
face.
, "NowT
"Of course he couldn't be worth |
ing very sorry about after all! Al
life is so good here-so clean ana TN
4 I love It." 80.
|. 80 do L." said Roger sincerely "A
about that other, don't believe II
A worthy of great sorrow. Shall we g
a lopT'
+ Months afterward Elizabeth came
q reign as mistress Of Rogers home. I
e II was not Elizabeth Atwood.
d 1t was that other Elizabeth "
r came to him In his great trouble a
who, forgetting her own sorrow sous
J. to comfort him. And in the end ea
lie found a loyal, deep loving heart, a
d the home in the wilderness shelter
II .hor, no tba man who buIlded IL