The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1911-01-27

lib VIE. surely Luere WOulu De muCL
that was pleasant in an existence
with such a woman by his side
While he was not conceited, he had
little fear that he could win her. They
had been friends, always, and he die
not doubt that he could rouse deeper
| feeling.
He voiced some Of his feeling
when, as they sat down at the table
he said, II wish your face might be
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 / shall not go away" he
said.
She shook her head at him. "Yor
could never stay in one place long,
she said.
Perhaps If there was some one te
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 tc
press his suit, but when he had been
home 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
But she persisted In her refusal
you will want to go with your
ship" she repeated; you will grow
restless, and l 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 hel
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 wei
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 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 future
Of inaction?
Even as he thought of her, she
came and stood beside him on the
dock.
4 want you to go away, Stephen
she said, "and II, when you come back
In two years, you still care for me,
will believe that you know yourself
peIl6I ludu you 10 now.
1t was not easy for him to 60, yet
he realized when he was once on his
journey that 1t would not have been
easy for him to stay. The spell oi
the sea was on him, and he was, be
fore everything else. sailor.
But he realized, as time went on
there was another speu upon him--the
tropic country, the lazy life did not
satisfy. He found himself buying, not
as he had bought before, useless. trink
cts, but things which would beautify
a home, a carved chest, embroideries
and linens--things that a woman
would like. And when he bought a
ring of curious workmanship, of beat
en- gold with dull blue stone, he
knew that he had made up his mind.
He knew, too, that he had made his
last voyage.
On the return trip his heart failed
him. What If Little Anne had not
been true? What If her love were not
waiting for him? other men knew
her charm, and other men had not
sailed away and left her.
She was not on the dock when the
boat came In, and fearing to face the
things he dreaded he took his way to
his mothers cottage. AS he rounded
the jutting rock he looked for the
light And 1t was therel Anne was
waiting!
Il shall never go away again." he
said, as she welcomed him.
But won't you long for the sea? {?
/ am Jealous OF it."
He shook his head. Il know now
that nothing has for me the charm
OF the lights OF home. There is beau.
ty 10 be found elsewhere and wonder
and adventure. but these things do not
count when weighed In the balance
with such women as you. have found
that out, and / know my mind now,
Little Anne"