The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1909-01-03
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But You must not speak 70 ms Ok kfilH.8
"Tho question must remain" be said,
with touch of frmnesS. III would
not be right, II would not bo honest, 70
ignore r."
"T.et II be 30" said she. "and WIN
answer
"whenf"
awlthin the year." said she, and
looked for him " plead for q much
briefcr time, but he said grayely:
"within this yeaFT' And she an
awered, Yes"
The absurd fellow accepted these
terms AZ II his honor wore IN pledge
for their fultillment They met a.
friends thereafter. and Clifford was
often very charming and loyable, but
bis lips were sealed. There were times
when Dorothy could have beaten him.
He was aware In bis foolish way
Of her displeaaure. and he read bis
doom IN II. The days passed, and she
gave him no answer, and Of course be
didn't ask her for IL He didn't know
enough. H0 relied upon her promise
(tho itiotD 10 answer him within the
year. and now Il was half past 10 %
tho evening Of tho BiHt Of December.
and she had not answered.
Ho could not believe that she would
b false 70 her promise, but ho had
long since ceased 20 have the smallest
hope Of amy favorable word. within
the last month no had seen her rarely;
within the last week he had decided
that no would 80 away. Hc had re-
signed his position with the bridge
company and was considering several
offers of work Ia the far parts Of the
earth, An agent Of the British GOV.
arnmenl had offered him especial In
ducenenia 10 go 10 Pretoria for a year,
aud he viewed the proposition fayora.
bly, because tho place was so remote
He bad. ia fact, accepted, with the sin
gle proylso that he should be permitted
10 change his mind at any moment
within the year,
Several times during that last even.
ing ho had resolved 10 telephone TO
SIC JamOs Knowlt0n, the English rep
reaentatiye In this negotiation. that he
might consider the matter settled, and
lhen he had clung 10 the dwindling
possibility that Dorothy might yet
communicate with him.
Al half past 10 ho had foolish Idea.
Perhaps Dorothy had sent some word
and 10 had not received It. Would II
be breach Of bis word 70 ask heri
He sat with his head 10 bis hands and
debated this question. and at last, like
q duh, dishonest schoolboy who knows
the answer Of the problem and shapes
his figuring 70 ft II, Clifford shaped
his reasoning to suit his desire and
| dragged himself to the telephone.
Dorothy did not give him any time
to ask her anything; she had her own
way with the conversation.
what are you dolngr she asked.
"Nothlngf You're all aione1 Wen,
that won't do at all on New Years eve.
Come right over here. Father Is enter
| tainlng a few sedate graybeards. and
no one is entertaining me. II had
dreamed that you were disengaged ]
should have summoned you"
That was very friendly-far, far too
much 90. A young lady who felt her.
self bound 10 answer a young mans
ofEer OF marriage within en- hour and
half would hardly address him In a
style 30 unconatramed. The inevitable
inference was that Dorothy considered
the matter settled already, the mo-
tacitIy given and understood, the love
episode at an end.
II IL said that a poet has died young
IN every one Of us, He was not quite
| dead In clifford, and he was really
able bard. Dorothy had heard him
sling once; she was now to hear him
sing again, and in a most moving
strain.
cliiford's mood was ideal FOR the per
formance, and bis theme, the exile's
farewell, has always been a fayorite.
Moreover, be had the advantage Of I'M
yelling a complete surprise, and DorO-
thy listened with q feeling Of great
grief and loss that did not lack an ele.
mont Of pleasure.
Clifford said not a word about her
part In this upheayal Of his life. The
cause Of his expatrlatlon seemed to lie
with the gods, like the issues Of Greek
tragedy, though the king OF England
and some other earthly potentates dig
nifed the tale with their presence and
could not escape the feminine eye,
There was no suggestion Of reproaeh
or bitterness, but there was an under
tone OF simple, unaffected broken
heartedness deeply touching.
II think Il was unkind to so 80 far
in this said she, without word to
me. | would have tried to dissuade
you. Is II even now too later
clifford glanced at the clock.
II have stlll ten minutes," said he,
If Sir James does not hear from me
before midnight am pledged, honor
and bond, to CO."
"And why midnightH II Is q strange
hour"
"Can you not guessT
'sWhatr she cried, as If surprised,
"You were waiting for my answer, and
you ana not tell meH"
eTell you, DorothyT be echoed
"How could tell your had prom