The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-09-23

oh, shades of solemn stocks ant
bonds! Ii Margaret could have seer
them now, Eloise described com
plete revolution on her rotary stool a
the thought Of it.
And the ride down on the bus, hat
of, with the brisk breeze blowing
through their hair and everywhere tn,
exhilaration as OF holiday abou
them!
II never had so much fun In m,
life,' Rollins exclaimed, with unaf
fected enthusiasm.
ITS because you're playing truant,
Eloise assured him. Aren't you hay
Ing fun?' he asked her
"0f course! could sQueal I'm Sc
happy"
"But you aren't playing ruant
What
I'm just playing" interrupted Eloist
| quickly, "And that's more fun thar
anything else In the world"
Rollins was the first to break the lit
tie conscious silence that followed.
Il was awfully rude to you at the
station, Miss kimball. l hope you'll
forget it, don't know what you
thought of me-"
Margaret had prepared me for the
worst she said
what had she told your" he de
manded. at will probably do me good
to hear"
Eloise let him have the merciless
truth.
And suppose you agree with her?'
he questioned. half in jest. half in ear.
nest.
Margaret doesn't half know how ir.
reclaimable you are" Eloise answered
without perceptible flicker OF mock
cry.
II was with a strangely new sensa.
tion that Curtiss Rollins stood watch
Ing ship sail out to sea long after the
flutter of a certain little handkerchief
had become indistinguishable before
he turned his face toward town again.
which, he had decided. had grown sud.
denly dull and lonely. In the days that
followed he was absorbed and preoccu.
pied to a noticeable degree.
''Curtiss has grown freakier than
ever" wrote Margaret to Eloise in des-
peration. Il did hope the sight of such
a refreshing creature as you, my dear.
would wake him up, and I'm sure he
did enjoy the afternoon he spent with
you. In fact. after | first got home he
spoke of you several times voluntarily
called you intelligent and sympathetic.
which is the very acme Of admiration
from Curtiss.
ION the strength Of this before we
left town told him all about you and
your family (tactfully, of course) and
what a charming summer place Cliff
vile is, adroitly suggesting that he'd
find it an ideal spot to spend his vaca-
ton. But all to no purpose, my dear
Eloise. A telegram has just come
from him saying he's been called away
on an urgent matter and will be gone
indefinitely
'sThat means that when he gets back
he'll plunge into business harder than
ever, and all the romantic influence of
the summer season will have spent
itself In vain, so far as Curtiss is con-
cerned."
This letter Eloisa hugged ardently to
her until the felicitous moment should
come when she could laugh over its
contents with Curtiss.
"You see" she told him when the
moment did come. Il suspected your
motive from the very day Of your ar
rival in Cllffville."
Margaret is most remarkable
girl" Curtiss commented. glancing
again at the letter "She understands
people. have always said So"
Especially irreclaimable Freaks"
Eloise reminded him roguishly.
Curtiss made wry face. then laugh,
ed in spite of himself
what made you think me worth re-
claiming. dearest" he asked her ten
derly.
Three little words" she answered
mysteri0usly.
Curtiss waited to hear them.
"'An irreclaimable freak, but a
dear'-that's what Margaret always
called you"
For moment Curtiss' expression
was as gloomy as the fate his imagi-
nation depicted.
"Just three little wordsw he repeat
ed solemnly. What a narrow escape!
Suppose Margaret had not said them%
Why, | should have discovered
them myself" Eloise answered him.
How wonderfulw exclaimed her
lover. reverently clasping her to him.
VI.