Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1908-10-09

lOlu MIN, ana IN not sure tndl great
ly admire their spirit, nor the views of
the writer. He makes a statement, for
instance, that women are incapable of the
finer senses of friendship; that women
cannot adhere through severe tests"
Miss Stansbury was to encounter,
few days later, stirring cause to remem-
Der these words and Constable's reply,
which is neither here nor there, ethical
niceties not being his speciality.
"The man is an arrant fool, and prob
ably couldn't get a woman to live with
him." he said with fnality.
The ponies were ascending the rise in
Rue Victor Hugo, at the southern end
of the city. The porteuses, coming down
from the hill-trails, the lithest, hardest
women of the occident, bore a pitiable
look of fatigue in their faces. The pres
sure of the heat, and the dispiriting con-
dtion of the atmosphere, were revealed
in the distended eyelids and colorless,
twisted lips of the burden bearers. As
Miss Stansbury looked out toward the
harbor for Uncle Joey's boat, Constable
regarded her profile. The delicacy OF
color and contour brought to him an i'm
perious realization of her fairness. 1t
appeared that in his absence the rarest
touches of perfection had been set.
"You haven't changed much," she said
laughingly "You were always willing
to agree that l was right, and all men,
yourself most of all, deeply in the wrong.
Don't you remember how l used to preach
to YOU about a mans need of doing some
thing emphatic?'
Indeed / remember. Your lessons
made deep impression"
"At least, you bore very gracefully with
an oppressive companion she declared
Just as if you didn't know best how to
dispose of your time and talents J"
"On the contrary, you were more near
" right than you knew. l was in need
of lust such moral stimulus. The sorry
part, Miss Stansbury, is that don't
bring you admirably invested talents even
now."
She glanced at him quickly. Il believe
I understand better some of the difficult
ties YOU have had to contend with" she
said. "We all read how you kidnapped
the entire New York newsboys' assoca-
tion-how you fed the grimy little chaps
oceans of charlotte russo and mountains
of plum-duff, giving them Sunday af-
ternoon at sea, and presents to remem-
ber. That was fine."
"I forgot to tell Breen about that" +"
he remarked, smiling at the recollection.
"Breen is a friend of mine, who was
good enough to come along. He's rare
fellow, and you'll like him."
"You make people find out by them
selves so much about you," she observed.
"Think how you let me believe you were
absolutely without interests or ambitions
even last year, while you were making
daily visits to the jaws of Pelee. 1t was
months afterward that / learned what
those journeys meant-and then through
the press. We all read the paper you
delivered before the geological society on
Antillean formations. Think how l felt
while recalling some of my lectures on
YOUR careless attitude toward life. You
might have told me-"
"I failed to discover the secret, Miss
Stansbury," he said quickly. "Old Pc
lee has big story for the right man,
but was unable to drag it forth. l had
nothing to be proud of to tell you"
The ponies had gained the emnence of
the Morne d'Orange. Ahead was the
broad, white plantation house, where the
Stansburys and Constabes uncle lived.
To the right was the dazzling, sapphire
bay, where the Madame was moored
among the shipping; behind and below,
the red-tiled roofs of Saint Pierre, and
behind the city, back of all, La Montague
Pelee, hung like an emperor of the Rom
ans, paled in the intense light Of morn
ing, and wearing delicate white ruching
of cloud about his crown.
at is different with most. people," she
replied. "They have so much to tell of
little things. The silent men who are
dreaming Of big things all the time
think of conversation like this when the
island is glowing like a brazer!"
What is the meaning of this terrific
sultriness and the white scum in the gut
ters?" he asked suddenly.
"Why, supposed you understood
Understood what, Miss StansburyT
"Why, old Pelee has been showering us
with ash from time to time during the
past ten days. 1t is the taint Of sulphur
that spoils the air. The city would have
been white now, except for the heavy rain
that washed the ashes away just before
dawn"
Constable turned appraehnsively to-
ward the volcano. He had come into an
inheritance of winged thoughts in the
presence Of the woman, but the news OF
Pelee's activity disordered the very root
of things. Mrs. Stansbury was standing
on the porch of the great house, whose
walls, verandas and portcullises were
cooled and perfumed by embroidering
vines. The driveway was bordered by
Rose Of Sharon hedges, and the gardens
famed with poisettias and roses. There
was cool grove Of mango and India
trees at the end Of the lawn, edged with
moon-fowerets and oleanders. Back OF
the plantation house waved the sloping
seas of cane. In front thu Caribbean