Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1910-12-08

no COulu make nlmHeH hettle uoWl
in some quiet place with this girl Al
his wife. Surely there would be muci
that was pleasant in an existenc,
with such woman by his side
While he was not conceited, he haC
little fear that he could win her. They
had been friends. always, and he diC
not doubt that he could rouse deeper
feeling.
He voiced some OF his feeling
when, as they sat down at the table
he said, Il wish your face might bC
always opposite me. Anne"
She was pouring his tea and she
smiled at him brightly. you mus
stay with father and me until you &C
away again"
Perhaps l shall not go away" he
said.
She shook her head at him. you
could never stay in one place long.
she said.
Perhaps If there was some one tc
keep me-" he said, significantly
But she refused to take his mean
ing. "You could never settle down"
she insisted.
1t was not the time or the place to
press his suit, but when he had been
home a week he asked her to marry
him, and she refused.
THE spirit of the wanderer will
come upon you," she said. Your ship
sails next week, you will want to go
with 1t, and | could never live the life
that your mother lived. waiting with
the candle In the window"
Il would stay with you," he said
ardently. you would hold any man. Z"
But she persisted in her refusal
You will want to go with your
ship" she repeated; you will grow
restless, and | shall feel that ! am
second In your thoughts"
Il shall not want to CO." he de-
clared, but, when the time for sailing
came, he found himself drawn IRE.
sistibly to the dock. The great steam
er was ready for her voyage. fresh
with paint; and there was about her
the atmosphere of mystery which be-
longs to vessels that sail the tropic
seas. The other end of her voyage
would find her where dark-skinned
people stood on white sands to well
come her. Back Of them would be
waving palms, where bright-hued birds
made their nests-a land of Incidence
and allurement
: He realized that his love Of Little
Anne was q thing of recent growth,
while, all his life, his passion for the
sea had held him. Was there any
thing about this fair-haired girl which
would keep him contented in a future
Of inaction?
Even as he thought of her, she
came and stood beside him on the
dock.
Il want you to go away, Stephen"
she said, "and if, when you come back
IN two years, you still care for me,
will believe that you know yourself
1etter than you do now"
1t was not easy for him to go, yet
le realized when he was once on his
Quincy that it would not have been
'asy for him to stay. The spell Of
he sea was on him, and he was, be-
ore everything else, sailor.
But he realized, as time went on,
here was another spell upon him-the
ropic country. the lazy life did not
atisfy. He found himself buying. not
s he had bought before, useless trtnk-
is, but things which would beautify
home, a carved chest, embroideries
nd slinens--things that a woman
,ould like. And when he bought
Ing Of curious workmanship, Of beat
n gold with a dull blue stone, he
new that he had made up his mind.
lie knew. too. that he had made his
lst voyage.
On the return trip his heart failed
i'm. What if Little Anne had not
cen true? What If her love were not
aiting for him? Other men knew
er charm, and other men had not
allied away and left her.
She. was not on the dock when the
Dat came in, and fearing to face the ,
lings he dreaded he took his way TO ,
IS mothers cottage. AS he rounded
le jutting rock he looked for the
ght. And 1t was there! Anne was
aiting!
Il shall never go away again." he t
lid, as she welcomed him.
But won't you long for the sea? L
am jealous of it,"
He shook his head. Il know now k
at nothing has for me the charm
the lights Of home. There is beau /
to be found elsewhere and wonder
i'd adventure, but these things do not Il
'unt when weighed in the balance
Ith such women as you. l have found =
at out. and know my mind now, q
tile Anne"