The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1909-01-20


her eyes "No-no, II you knew how
unhappy my mother was my father
was cruel
lie dropped her hands "And you
think," he hogan, "that might heY
''0h, no. nor she protested. "llnt
You would have the right to say what
/ should do. You would hc-niy mas.
ter
.IittIo child" he commanded, Took
at me"
And when her eyes met his wen
deringly ho said slowly; Love Ike
mine asks nothing but your happiness,
AS my wife you would hc free for,
after all, that woman Is the frecst who
lives within the circle Of her husbands
love"
But she shook her head, II can't
feel that way" she murmured. Il
wish could"
The next night as Ieslies horse pick
ell lts way carefully down the winding
road Il reared a little when a white
figure came out OF the bushes,
II couldn't bear to wave goodby 40
far away" tho girl faltered as he dis
mounted and stood beside her Her
face was very pale In the moonlight,
and her hair shone like gold. And
then there Is something that l want TO
say"
A light came into his eyes as he
bent over her. "rell me-" he whia-
pered.
II love you" she said simply, but
shook her head at his eager exelama-
tion. "But cannot marry you-not
now. II would not be rlght-not while
/ have this fear u the city. But !
want 10 ask if--lf some day feel
differently-If should send for you
would you comes"
From the ends Of the earth," he do
clared. But II II could only BE- now,
dear heart"
The tears were on her cheeks. u
can't promise" she sohbed. Some
thing seems to hold me back, But !
could not let you 80 without telling
You that cared"
All that winter Leslie waited for bis
summons, so secure was he In her ulti'
mate need Of him. But the winter
passed and the spring, and the sum
mer came again and the fall, and once
more the woods were red and gold and
green, aud still he had heard nothing
from her
And one day he said TO himself: Il
must 10 to her, Surely II she loves
me she will say Yes.'"
II was raining as he ascended the
mountain, and the leaves were sodden
under the horses feet Fear seemed to
clutch at his heart az he came to the
bungalow, where a single spot Of light
shone out through the gathering dark.
ness.
He crept to the window and gazed
In and saw her sitting before her big
fire alone, q little wasted figure in a
white gown.
II seemed MS II his heart stopped
beating as he hurried through the hall
and came into the room where she sat
Dear" he said, and she stood up,
with a little cry. and then his arms
were about her. and she was sobhIng
wildly.
'aThen why didn't you send for mef'
he demanded
Because couldn't ask you to marry
me when was III and ugly, when !
would not when was well, could IT.
she asked. "I took cold last winter.
and then there was pneumonia, and
now they keep me shut In. All sum
mer and all the spring and fan I have
watched from the windows. knew II
you came you would set me free, but !
couldn't write and burden you with
my woes"
"In sickness and In health,' be quot
ed isn't that what they say in the
marriage service, dear2 And now lis
ten. You are to get well at once. We
will 60 to the desert, and we will live
| in the sunshine. and we win start To-
morrow
She smiled up ut him. How good It
seems" she said, ito hear you say II 80
masterfullyl If you knew how ! have
longed for some one TO carry me or"
And month later as she sat In front
of her tent on the dry plain and the
wind rufTied her hair and brought the
pink Of returning health to her cheeks
her husband said. 80 the little Wild
bird came back to her cage"
She shook her head and reached out
her hand to him. "Ah, no." she said,
and her voice thrilled with the won
der Of her happiness "Ah, no, but the
little Wild bird found her mate"
EnuIish az She Ia Uttered.