The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1909-03-09
aAown Nls place in hcr regard at every

shown his place In her regard at every
opportunity.
II angercd hOv 60 note her Inability
70 40 faster Surely no need not take
such strides, The going was becpmlng
more fatlgulng.
Edwinas toes ached, her fingers
were numb; she kept slipping. tbs
snow slfted down her neck and blew
In her eyes. Her knees commenced e
wahble, Knight plowM ahead, occa
slonalT haltlng for the tagging feet
then stridhg on,
"Mr. Knightr Edwlna was three
yards IN the rear and breathing fast
He did not seem TO hear
"HAm,"
The man stopped. She caught NJ
and smiled dolefHlly.
Getting tiredg' he pufted. "it's q
tribe rough and we are among some
mean rocks declare, Edwlna, I'm
puExled!"
NNN~NNt AuNAS
"oh. MOI | don't know where I am,
that's ALL It's nothing. Wen land
somewhere. Say, your teeth arc chat
terlng, 1t can't be you mind this little
tramp Brace a biz, and well get
over that bowlder,"
"Ham-I-never can climb H. l.
I've sort Of given out This-thls hor.
rid snow The words taltcred 10 a
shaking whisper and broke In sob,
Curse my carelessnessw cried the
man. selxing her hands. why, you
are half frozen. child, I'm warm
enough. IN have to set you right and
be quick about It," He dragged or
her damp gloves
Edwina was conscious of being rub.
bed. kneaded. shaken, jounced, Rugged,
slapped and generally stirred In an
agitating process that presently sent
glow Of warmth through every vein.
she did not protest In fact, her
submission 10 this treatment was
amazingly traetahle. Circulation seem,
cd more important than dignity, and,
after all. II was only Ham.
But when he exclaimed. There,
how's thatY' and kissed her she shrank
away In indignant remonstraDce,
"How dare your Ii was mean ad.
vantage"
Il forgot. Naturally when chap
has been engaged to girl for months
he forge.s,r Ills reply was not apollo.
getIc. Edwina frowued severely,
"Al that "a past" she said, "I'll
thank you 70 recover your bearings"
"Up we 20, then, 70 the top ot this
rock and try for a glimpse over the
trees. It's pretty steep. but not bad
footing. Give me your little tist."
A scramble. a haul. and they stood
on a level stone backed by hump OF
granite, Knight steadled her as the
snow eddied about their heads, mock.
ing their stralnIng eyes
''No use" observed Hamilton. at.
tempting a laugh. "The best l can do
Is to wrap you up In my coat, leave
you in a snug corner and dig directly
down to.-somewhere" He began un-
buttonlng hts heavy REFER, adding;
"Pll fnd a house. get help and be right
back. Answer my calls and be brave
girl"
Edwina stared at him In silent dis.
may.
Before start, dear" he said husk.
fly, I'm going to break a solemn prom,
ise. Next week." he hesitated, then
went on lmpulslyely-"next Wednesday
I could tell. Lillian Carey Is engaged
to my brother Observation-Disclosures
why I've had some tough days, Ed
wilma"
The girls arms reached for him. She
cried out wildly. He cIasped her close.
his face bent to the nesting head, and
for a long minute both forgot the peril.
the estrangement, everything save the
sudden Joy Of understanding.
A rift broke in the clouds. The snow
ceased. A streak Of blue sky widened.
Below their perch, only hundred
yards distant, the highway showed
clearly in a growing light. with dot
ting houses lifting shining white roofs.
Edwina raised here eyes and bllnked
in a dazzling shaft Of radiance.
HAM she cried joyously. "Quick!
Look, dear. The sun has come out"