The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-10-15

Spur father refuses 10 gIye hls coo.
sent, then We VIII eicpe,'
Lucy shook her head III dlshnay.
n couldn't 40 timer, sho cried. ''It
would break fathers heartr
"Better bis heart than yours sug.
Eostcd Ryder soIADhly. Then came
more caresses and pleading, and Sam.
ny, tired Of aneli tax, wfig9Ied softly
through the brush ana beaded eof home
He had been wasting all bis time on
pair Of silly lovers when be might
have been better occupied wish hls
books.
Az he turned Into the yard hls IA.
ther called ID him from The porch,
did you read your chaDter Of Jose.
phusT' IN
Eammy's face grew Iopg with div.
may. JosephuB was dull reading for q
tens senr.old, but II was duty, Ike
watering tho stock and fecding the
chickens. In bis eagerness 10 trail
Ryder he had forgotten ali about II.
"What we're yOu doingp continued
tho old man.
X was down BY the creek explain.
Oh Sammy uncomfortabiy.
AAnd what were you doing down
GhereT came the prompt question.
sammy was no George Washington.
but tho habit Of truth was strong With.
In him.
n wanted TO see what Dave Ryder
was doing down 10 the creek" he OK
planned.
elder.
kissing Lucy" was the startling re-,
sponye, and the old man sprang from
his chair In sudden anger
BIT by BIT he forced the frightened
lad 10 tell All he could remember Of the
conversation. He found relief IL the
statement that Dave wished TO marry
Lucy, but his lips fightened angrily az
Sammy explained that they both feared
to broach the subject 10 him.
ITO nodded apprOyingly over Dawes
reluctance to do his counting clandes.
timely and again at Lucy's refusal 70
consider an elopencnt
Sammy was startled when the inqui,
sltipn was concluded At being released
With only d mild reproof for not having
read his Josephus. He scampcrcd
around the corner Of the house IN a
spirit Of Thanksgiving at getting or so
lightly.
When be had gone Josiah Temple re-
sumed bis seat and the contemplation
Of the dusty road that ran, a river Of
white. between the fields Of grain,
1t was Mrs. Temples fayorite obser.
walton that ',you couldn't count on 10.
slah's moves 40 more'n you could on o
hens." and now this contrarInesa was
working fl Lucy's favor. Had Ryder
boldly demanded Lucy's hand 10 mar.
riagn the refusal would have been
prompt and emphatics
II was because Ryder anticipated q
refusal That Josiah called 70 him az the
young man was plOddlng along the
road. having made bis appearance
through d be of woodland half a mile
beyond the place Of the tryst
Ryder turned ID at the Temple gate
wondering IL perhaps, altar all, Lucy
had spoken - spite Of their deelslon
to let matters rest awhile, ne stood Al
the foot of the steps and doifed bis bat
In respect 70 the others age.
'when / was a lad. said Josiah, with
a twinkln IN his eyes. TT was propertc
call on a young lady. at her folks an
not go sneaking or Into the woods.
You en- como over tonight II you want
to. tll tell her 70 expect ye7
Josiah watched Dave leave tho yard
after an uninteliIgIble tumble Of apollo,
~, thanks aud explanation.
Il fooled yer he cried exultlngly
after the retreating flgure.#
And he laughed as though the joke
tyaa an Vfvdor and TdiCv