Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1909-11-11

II, but fellow from town got II. He
bid In way that you could see he'd
keep bidding till Kingdom come. so
Austin finally quit"
What sort of II looking man was
hc:' asked Ethel.
"OA. Il far, pudGy, homcly man.
"prohably some secondhand dealer,
"Muybe: and he bought all the best
thingS-all your parlor ana bedroom
things, all the very things you would
have chosen"
Il am glad a stranger GOT them. 1t
would make me feel queer to 20 in to
call on the neighbors and see them
/ using our things,
| Early the next morning Mr., Sturgis
! went 10 town. He came back looking
/ more cheerful over his purchases than
/ he bad looked in months. Ethel was
left alone very often during the next
week. Mrs. Lake taking advantage of
having some one to leave in charge of
the house. One afternoon Mr.. Sturgls
asked Ethel TO go over 10 the forty
and select Il site for their cabin. He
declined 10 accompany her. as he had
10 30 to town. Mrs. Lake was in the
midst of breadmaking. so Ethel sad
died a horse and rode toward the
forty" Suddenly diSagreeaole
thought struck her
"lf Mrs. Lake has sent Austin over
here to see me I'll never forgive her.
She rode slowly. with her eyes glued
to the horses name wonderiu" if she
had been wise TO reject AuStin,s love
and protection. She didn't raise her
eyes until she turned in IT the forty.
Then she stared in amaZemeut. Here
stood trim little house With neat,
broad porch and blinds.
This is what Mrs. Lake and father
have been so mysterious over" she
thought. with sudden enlightenment.
"Rut how could it have been built in
so short time*'
She dismounted and went up the
steps. \ card lay on the steps and
some advertising matter. "Oh. see
one of those portable houses. l Won
der if the door is open"
1t was. and with its opening came
another surprise Here We're all her
household goods arranged as they had
been in the old house. She passed
through the living room. dining room.
kitchen and then into her fathers
bedroom. She opened the last door.
All her personal things were here and
many more beautiful new furnishings.
What did it mean? Then she grew
fofr hn nc f,,f ho
dared? She could not take them un-
less
She heard a knock at the door. and
she felt that it was the decision Of her
life awaiting her. Could she? A mo-
ment elapsed before she summoned
courage to open the door.
On the threshold stood tall, 1.-THE
limbed man.
Will" she said family.
He clasped her to him.
.It took you two years TO forgive"
she murmured reproachfully.
Dearest. l got your note only ten
days ago. 1t was in the secret drawer
to your desk You forgot to mail it,"
"How could l. But how did you
come ny II
81 am the new auctioneer. I didn't
know you lived in these parts till Mrs.
Lake took me to tag your things. She
told me how you would miss your
desk. and | made up my mind to bid
it in Casually opened secret draw
er and found the letter. I had all the
things bid in. The next day your fa-
ther came to see me, and we fixed up
this surprise"
Then these things are yours:"
"No-ours. We are going to live here
with your father"
"Will. did Mrs. Lake know too"
"Yes: she was our right hand man."
II have misjudged her. never
dreamed she could keep a secret"