Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1912-01-16

third day, travelling with the current
and shooting the rapids, the expedi
tion arrived at Berande. Joan, with
a sigh. unbuckled her revolver belt and
hung it on the nail in the living room
while Sheldon, who had been lurking
about for the sheer joy of seeing her
perform that particular homecoming
act. sighed, too, with satisfaction. But
the Homecoming was not all joy to
4 him, for Joan set about nursing Tudor
and spent much time on the veranda
when be lay in the hammock under the
mosquito netting.
The ten days of Tudor's GONZALES
cence that followed were peaceful
DAYS on Berande. The work of the
plantation went on like clockwork.
With the crushing of the premature
outbreak of Gogoomy and his follow
ing all INSTRUMENTATION seemed to have
vanished. Twenty more of the old
time boys, their term of service up.
were carried away by the Martha,
and the fresh stock Of labor, treated
fairly, was proving of excellent quail
ity. AS Sheldon rode about the plan
tation acknowledging to himself the
comfort and convenience of a horse
and wondering why he had not thought
of getting one himself, he pondered
the various improvements for which
Joan was responsible.
There wele times when he was dizzy
with thought of her and love of her,
when he would stop his horse and with
closed eyes picture her as he had seen
her that first day in the stern sneets
of the whaleboat, dashlng madly in to
shore and marching beligerently along
his veranda to remark that it was
pretty hospitality. this letting stran-
gers sink or swim in his front yard.
1t was patent to Sheldon that Tu-
dor had become interested in Joan,
Often after his morning ride over the
plantation or coming in from the
store or from inspection of the copra
drying. Sheldon found the pair of them
together on the veranda. Joan listening
intent and excited and Tudor deep in
some recital of personal adventure at
the ends Of the earth.
Sheldon noticed, too. the way Tudor
looked at her and followed her about
with his eyes. and in those eyes he
noted certain hungry look and on
the face certain wistful expression.
and he wondered If on his own face
he carried a similar involuntary ad
vertisement. He was sure of several
things-frst. that Tudor was not the
right man for Joan and could not pos
sibly make her permanently happy;
next, that Joan was too sensible a
girl really to fall in love with a man
of such superficial stamp. and. finally. |
that Tudor would bIunder his love
making somehow. And at the same |
time with true lovers anxiety. Shell |
don feared that the other might some
how fail to blunder and win the girl /
with purely fortuitous and successful
show.
The situation was very unsatisfac-
tory and perpleX1ng, Sheldon played
the difficult part of waiting and look
ing on, while his rival devoted himself
energetically to reaching out and
at the fluttering prize. He
did not belong to Beran1e. and. now
that he was well and strong again, it
was time for him to go. Instead of
which Tudor had settled himself down
resumed swimming. went
fish with Joan. spent hours
with her hunting pigeons. trapping
'rocodiles and at target practice with
life and revolver.
But there were certain traditions of
hospitality that prevented Sheldon
rom breathing hint that it was time
or his guest to take himself off. And
n similar fashion, feeling that it was
lot playing the game. he fought down
he temptation to warn Joan. Had he
lnown anything. not too serious. to
'udor's detriment he would have been
lnable to utter it, but the worst of it
vas that be knew nothing at all
gainst the man.