The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1916-10-19

their chairs. Let me IN ON IL. let uae
laugh, too.-if there Is anything Wortl'
laughing at Cal. you're growing old
old and feeble witted"
Barbara bodied her head meekiy
Her giggle. however. WAS shameless
Allison had had experience with his
daughters seeming meekness. More
over. the working of Caleb's and Sa
rah's faces baffied him. He waited
Tuning.
Just before you and Uncle Cal came
In we've were talking about Tho.
weather." the girl gurgled MIR. O'Mara
predicted 1t would rain soon. and jus
wanted to ask him what made him
think So"
1t was very quiet for a moment
Steve sat, little red of face himself
gazing across into the girls starry eyes
Go ahead" she prompted him. with
gasp.
Then his lips began to curl until
smile overspread his face and half
closed his eyes. He leaned back ana
raised obediently quantity solemn
quantity boyish treble.
Il want gNessin'," he averred sober
iy. "ler want thinkin' it will. tn
jest be rainin' come sun up, and it'll b,
good fer till Wednesday fer sure"
At the beginning Of that quaverine
statement Dexter Allison's lips fei
apart They remained open long aftel
Steve had finished. Once he started to
rise. and then dropped back into his
chair. dumfounded. There was no
doubt concerning the success of his
daughters query. At last he got t.
his feet and padded around the table
With a hand on either of the boy
shoulders he turned that Drowned face
up to his own.
You" he murmured weakly you
And Elliott said that you could out
guess dear old Mother Nature herself
Well. I'm banked
They talked no more business al
table that morning. and Allison found
scant opportunity to make himself
heard at all. Even the reticence which
seemed a part of Steve's grave face
and big body was swept aside before
the tumult Of questions that tumbled
from Barbara's lips. promptly to be
supplemented by Caleb whenever her
breath gave out
1t was minutes before Allison could
wedge In a single remark. longer than
that before he stopped frowning to
himself in fashion which made Caleb
remember that moment of inexplicablc
vehemence outside on the veranda
They had retrogressed as far as the
''injine"-the steam injine"-when AL
lison finally made himself heard.
What ! can't remember is just why
you left us SO suddenly. know it was
some sort of a rumpus. with Barbara
In it-there's always woman. of
course-but can't recall
He paused to ponder-paused and be-
came aware Immediately of Barbara's
swift silence and Steve's hint of self
consciousness. Then II all returned to
him with a rush. He had his turn.
'Oh. but do remember" he
1rawled. why, Of course-of course
1t was matter Of knight errantry and
ladies fair. But who was it whose
choice conflicted with your ownT'
He cooked his head on one side. mock
thoughtful; then he fell TO pounding
his knee and roared with laughter.
"Archie Wickersham!' he shouted.
Archie Wickersham-oh, Lord. new
er really appreciated that melee until
this minute. And you promised that
you'd be back. didn't you. and-well.
b'gad. here you are! Shake hands
again. Steve. And, if l may be par
doned the idiom. allow me to assure
you that it was some battle"'
If it did nothing else. Allison's pom
derous raillery served one end. 1t re-
moved any sentimental awkwardness
which might have attached to the cpl
sode. and yet the girl rather resented
its being so completely reduced to
terms of farce comedy. When the men
rose, after breakfast. to go down into
the town, she. too declared her inten-
ton of accompanying them, as though
it were the expected thing. She cross
ed the lawn at Steve's side, ahead of
her father and Caleb. with Miss Sarah
watching from the door. Both men
walked for short time in silence.
their eyes upon the slender figure in
short skirt and woody sweater beside
the taller one in blue flannel before
them. And. as usual. Allison was the
first to speak
'Now I know what you meant when
you referred to that trip up the wesl
branch. Cal" he said. And you were
right Ii does take stuff to make thar
sort of gentleman. Isn't there any
thing more to tell me? am truly In
terested. Cal.
So Caleb told him then of "Old
Toms" tin box. And while he was ex
planning the man and girl ahead. all in
one breath. skipped back to that day
before yesterday. now many years
gone. There was a quality of CANA
raderie in the girls half parted lips
and eager impulsiveness of tongue that
morning that was entirely boyish. But
when Steve finally asked for Devereau
Garry Devereau. who had followed
him q the hedge gap that day and
laid one hand upon his bowed. shamed