The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1909-02-09

y IAthN WY ihuo WV pNflOF tne Uutlcf hn
disappeared, aupposIng that he woul
not be required further. To ring 10
!. him now would only make a scnnda
among the servants. Perhaps her IA
thor would come down In a few min
utNa.
He usunlly spent the evening IN III,
library when ho aid not 10 10 tho club
and it either event he must pass Ii,
open door, II the worst came ah,
could call for the butler, but mean
!. while perhaps Hhe could induce Cor
don 10 leave quietly, She took thG
chair Indicated, sitting neryously OF
|, the edge, ready 10 spring mp and run
should occasion demand.
III doesn't cost any more to have d
whole chair" reminded Gordon as ho
sank into, a seat between her and the
door ~ want you to put mo wise 10
some things What's your crouch
against meT'
n have no Crouch" protested Maud
eagerly, Indeed, like you very
much" w
Il never saw you on the front steps
waiting for me" said Gordon grImly.
sLet Il come out with 4 rush I'm In
wrong. How can | square myaelf7'
ssThere is nothing 10 be squared" IN.
sisted Maud. 4 don't see how you can
imagine such n thing"
Naughty. raukhtyr' reproved Cor.
don. shaking his forcnnger at her ad.
moniHhingly. Look here, kiddo, put
me nextl You don't like me. and l
like you. I can't help II n i've got a
frozen face. II was wished on ma, and
tie none Of my doings. Tell me how I
can loosen up 80 you'll have yin for
me- ssi #hs M
"A yiny' repeated Maud uncertainty.
This was word not In Jimmio's vo,
cabulnry.
"A yln-a yearning," explained Cor.
don. Il want you 10 think that I'm
the whole works. and you won't even
let me DO the second hand. Fix me up
70 | can como into the big tent and
be a part Of the program. I'm the
what is ~ out In tho freak tent. and
| don't like the Job. ] may not be
quite your style. but can learn, I'm
the star pupil in the little red school.
house. and f'li always be at the head
Of tho class II youil be the teacher. !
love 70 love my teacher"
Maud sprang 70 her feet, her eyes
blazing
'Mr, Gordon" she said coldly. Il win
not proiong this interview. I DO not
know what Il the matter I DO not
want to know. but you must 90, please
l cannot listen to yon when you talk
this way"
Gordon had sprung 10 his feet when
Maud rose and now he smiled down
into the flushed angry face.
ut seems" he said a little sadly.
'that my latest effort ~ no more sue
cessful than the earlier attempts. They
nay that imitation IN the sIncerest
form Of hattery. and yet you are not
pleased"
"what do you uieanr' gaBped Maud
IN astonlshment
"you learned slang for my benefit.
he reminded. "when l do the same
thing you object OF course my slang
Is more pronounced than your own
but then yen have only Jimmie, while
| havo the valuable assistance of sev.
erai elevator boys, my office boy and
the jnnitor's son, who qualities az an
expert You use slang to disgust me-
with yourself, am using Il to disgust
you-wlth slang"
"And you knowY" gasped Maud.
"JImmle has toldT
ano It said to his credit that the
temptation was great" said Gordon
gently no not blame the lad He
meant well in giving me my last
chance to win you, He saw beaeNth
The eurface and was sorry for his
part. foolishiy imagined that II !
could excel you In the use Of slang
might startle you into an interest that
! see now you never ean feel, It was
d foolish experiment, Miss Tolliyer
and ak your pardon for havinF
bored and then frightened you, II was
my Inst chance, and hoped that II
might succeed.
II gather from Jimmie's remarks
that You fear paternal pressure viii be
brought TO bear on you. | beg to as
sure you that l will 50 eontriye the
situation as not to involve you. ! am
sorry that--the last chance-failed,"
The little pauses in his speech were
CS6rdon's only evidences Of emotion.
They were only little halts in the
evannesa of his soft even voice, but
they slowed the strength Of feeling,
and It touched Maud With a sudden
emotion, ,,.,5,.arss
"Don't 60" she said softly, laying a
detaininy hand upon hia arm, per
haps the last chance has not-l
mean But she could say no more
Gordon's arms were outstretched, and
III hls face. no longer expressionless,
there was look Of such appeal that
she suffered herself to be drawn with
IN their protecting circle. The last
chance had wen.
III -s~-------.-----------