The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-09-25
Al The store aud at your boarlrl

A0Nstu W ihttANsts NNh y NNl'FN'N
that you'd care"
"Gadly." was the smiling response,
while the tired eyes lighted with pleas.
ure. I'm so for my hat"
In ten minutes they were speeding
toward the suburbs, exchanging the
narrow, III smelling streets for the
broader avenues, past the park, with
Its soft green's. into the open country,
with now and then a suburban tract
that In time would be absorbed into
the city proper,
And so they came at last to the real
fields, free from the advertising boards
OF real estate firms and patent medi-
cines, Cornstalks cut the velvet dusk
with faint green swords OF light, and
the smell OF clover and buckwheat and
the fragrant odor of apples fell CRATE
fully upon nostrils long assailed by
musty city streets.
The tense rigidity Of the girls pose
relaxed. She settled back more com.
fortably against the seat. She no long
'er fought with the breeze In its strug-
giles to destroy the prlm severity Of
her hair. which now began to curl In
loving tendrlls about her low white
brow.
tits like a little visit to heaven" !"
she breathed softly. 1T is perfect out
here"
"You should see my home" he an.
swered "It's right on the lake, The
meadows slope down to the water
and just along the beach there's lit
tie growth Of young pines. l tell you
It's fine In the summer to lie on the
pine needles and watch the water
Then you go In and get drink Of
milk and go TO bed. We sleep under
blankets there. II never gets so hot
that we can't sleep.
Back of the house the farms go
clear over to the purple mountains,
miles and miles away. There aren't
any theaters or picture shows, but you
don't need 'em when you have horse
and a boat"
1T must be lovely" cried the girl
There's little lake just of the line
here Some Of the girls went there
for picnic once"
Lets go and see It," suggested
Thearle as the car came to a stop.
The girl sprang from the car and
led the way down the dusty road to
the trolley park, her eyes shining with
delight. As the scene burst upon them
in blaze Of light she gave little
cry Of pleasure and paused that he
might enjoy the scene.
Thearle laid his hand upon hers as
they leaned against the top rail of the
fence.
its pretty" he conceded, "but it's
a city lake. My lake is wide and long
and deep. 1t hasn't any electric lights.
but there's the moon, which Is better
You couldn't see the moon here for
the lights. We don't have lights on
the trees either. It's all soft and cool
and dark and still. It's real country"
I'm sorry" said the. girl gently. 81
thought that you would like 1t. Shall
we go back"
Il do like it." explained Thearle
ITS pretty-for the city. The lights
are like jewels. but don't you see-it
isn't real You've shown me your
lake, and It's like everything else in
town-artificiaI Won't you come with
me and see the life that's realY
II couldn't! Think of the scandalp'
she cried, shocked at the idea.
"Not If we were married" he ex-
planned. "And we'll live there al
ways, except when we come to the
city to see what we have escaped
We've known each other only two
weeks, little girl, but you can trust
me, can't your
For answer she placed her hand in
his.
You asked me to be your fresh air
fund" she said, with a happy little
laugh, "but, after all, you're the fresh
afr fund"