Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1910-09-22

you've lived-like mani I've
known you seven years. About nine
teen, were you, when"
When l played fool? Twenty
I've never touched a. drop Of liquor
since, Judge Varney!"
"And the girl"
"She was the daughter OF one OF
the professors Seventeen then, and
| know, now that I'm older, that she
cared for me- But ! was an 'unde-
sirable from the first, and never
had a second alone with her-she
was 80 Internally well chaperoned!
Her mother meant her to make a
great match. The girl gave promise
OF wonderful beauty, and for some
reason the professor hated me as the
devil hates holy waterl"
Mn" murmured the Judge
thoughtfully, Il think can account
for your expulsion!"
Il was as proud as was foolish
! made no attempt at justification,
perhaps If had-Oh, what's the
use? It's past and gonei Let the
dead past bury its dead"
That's right" the Judge agreed
heartily, you've shown your worth
here In Wyoming. You've lived white
playing the game Of life like man.
You've made good with the money
you were told to die on. You'll be a
rich man before you are forty. Now
II you'd only forget that girl"
Fairfield raised an impatiently in
terrupting hand. You mean well,
Varney, and I'm not wearing my
heart where the DAVIS can get at 1t,
but-there'll never be another girl for
me. knew 1t when | was boy.
I know It now"
Suppose" unused the Judge, in a
voice Of unwonted gentleness. Sup
pose you were to meet her again.
Suppose you found you were right in
believing she loved you long ago.
Suppose she still cares"
Fairfleld's tanned face paled, and
his strong. brown hand pulled impet-
uousIy at his collar.
Don't, Judge, you only open an
old wound! We won't mention It
again. don't know what possessed
me to speak of It now-even to you!"
But If you should meet her." the
Judge persisted. "and could get
chance to see her alone?"
Great Heavens, mani" cried the
other, roughly, I'm no longer boy.
wouldn't wait to see her alone! One
look into her eyes would tell me all
l want to know and I'd take her into
my arms If all the world stood star
ing"
Checking himself abruptly. he
walked toward the window, asking
in an altered tone: "Will you go to
lunch with me, Varney?"
''If you'll wait about ten minutes;
must sign some letters first"
Fairfield answered absently, look
saw nothing Of the familiar scene be-
fore him. He heard the door open
from the outer ONCE; he was con-
scious that the Judge was speaking
TO some one. He did not turn-his
thoughts were back in the past he had
tried to forget He seemed to see
again the shy little girl whose eyes
had answered the words he could
not speak. whose sorrowful face had
ooked down at him from her window
when he, defiant and reckless, had
urned to shake q boyish fist at the
college walls he was leaving in dis
yrace.
A gentle hand touched his arm and
! sweet voice said Dexter, l hope
'ou haven't forgotten?"
"Grace!"
1t was the cry Of a strong man with
mpty arms and yearning heart a cry
hat was answered by clinging arms
I'm not conducting a matrimonial
'ureau exactly" the Judge explained
ater. 'but when this young lady ad-
ressed the district Judge asking as
istance In locating a certain Dexter
'. Windsor, but only in case the said
Windsor is not married, my suspi-
ions were aroused, and l wrote to
er to come on and help me identify
he-the chump!" be finished fondly,
is hand on the young mans shoul-
er.