The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-01-14

view With satisfaction, not handsome,
but clear cut, with kind, steady eyes
and strong white teeth which came 70
gether evenly behind straight firm lips,
Presently hc glanced up at tho mouth
OF a tunnel on tho mountain behind
them. "Ilas Ar struck good ore yetf'
he asked,
''Ilo tells me he's taking out pretty
fair stone; but, good graclous" Miss
Lovllla laid her shuttle In her lap an''
spoke with pleasing brlskncss- -"thc
stun In Il that shines llkc gold nint
gold ut all. just copper, he says, mud J
don't believe IT'S worth digging for
but, then, hos making tho best of It. ]
guess"
unlucky looked Mt her with smile
to which his face was almost n stran'
ger. Then Il died away into an express
sion Of thoughtfulncss, Sometimes,
Miss scanlon, | wonder II this sort Of
life Ia best for any Of us fellows
There's your nephew" The man hes
itatcd and gazcd wistfully across the
canyon at his own little shack. "He
might better be trallIn' good home
somewhere back east--and wife,
Unlucky came 10 mn abrupt stop and
twisted the stems OF the flowers. but
there was an expression In bis eyes
that dcepened the pink In Miss Losil
la's cheeks and caused her TO glance
beyond him,
Immediately her attention was ar
rested by mans head among tho viii
lows across the river Tho head wore
a brown hat and was moving toward
the upper ford, She frowncd as she
recognized Dutch 10, who kept d sa
loon on the Meadows. Unlucky's
glance also followed the progress Of
the brown hat, and when its weareI
had foricd the stream and turned to
ward them he arose, quietly laid the
lowers on tho stone and, with d hrlci
"Good>day, Miss scanlon," departed.
Miss Lovllla glued her eyes ON hel
work, apparently obllvlous OF the pres
ence Of the horseman until he had dis
mounted some distance away, his
broncho refusing TO approach so nn
accustomed nm object as woman
and greeted her with "Gut day. Mees
Scanlon."
Then she arose and laid her work In
her chair. Good morning. Mr.. Sahler
You want to see my nephew, ! pre-
sumo" Her voice savored only oi
business.
"Nein." Dutch Jo covered her with
a covetous albeit respectful eye and
abstractedly fingered the handle OF biz
six shooter, which he could manage
with more dextcrlty than he could III,
English language. SAY Marry INF
me, heinz he finally burst out.
Instinctlyely Miss Loyilla shranl
back and glanced at the flowers. "oh
no." she cried hurriedly, II couldn't
possibly"
The man wasted no further speech
but stepping deliberately on the bou
quet, ground It beneath his heel
mounted his horse and rode of, leav
Ing an indignant woman nursing thu
trampled blossoms. The clock striking
IL aroused her to a sense Of hor house
hold duties. and when her nephew en-
tered the lean.to kitchen she was he
busy. serene self again.
~ declare, Aunt Lo" no exclaime,
merrlly, you are getting nicer ever!
day. don't wonder the boys all wan
to marry you
A half bashful smile touched hi
aunt's lips. "Pshaw, ALI. It's becaus'
I'm the only woman here. Now, J
Abigail and Salina weren't marrie'
and were here you'd see"-
Alfred removed the towel from hi
face and interrupted solemnly. "Aun
Lo, when Gabriel comes down with hi
trumpet / expect to hear you tell hin
that II there happens to be a seat lef
after Abigail and Sallna have beel
ushered to the front pew, why, you'll
take 1t, please, and make the best o
It."
"Alfw Miss Lovllla demonstrated
| Nevertheless she looked pleased
Praise had not come her way back Il
New England.
"And I'm lookin' to Gabe to say" Al
fred continued, that he's reserved
! box seat for the best and sweetest an,
most unselfish little woman on earth
Now, Aunt Lo, don't be shocked, bu
tell me what poor unfortunate strucl
the matrimonial trail today. You look
ed guilty when came In, Who's
horse was 1t saw at the door,"
"That-that Dutchman's from tn
Meadows" returned Miss Lovilla In
tone sayorlng Of the snap Of whip.
| Alfred threw his head back and roai
ed. "Dutch Jop Still laughing, b
entered the living room, raising hi
voice as he continued. "By Jove! He
the thirteenth too. That's unlucky fo
!, himself or some one else. His mar
can't be too crooked either, for
| thoro'a a man fbta aide Of Meeteets