The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1923-10-05
STUBBORN STREAK
Nv MYaA A. WikoATE

CEATED on a ledge, overlooking
~ valley, stream and distant noun
tain, Ed and Beth happily talked thu
afternoon away, until Sue and small
Lyle, their hands full Of wild flowers
and bits Of pink and purple quarts
came scrambling up the slope. Both
bummed q strain Of music, and broke
of to say idly:
who was the owner Of the nns
voice ut church this m0rning?"
THAT was Archer Burleigh," re-
turned Sue. ARCHER was suspended
At college two years ago, which for.
ever condemns him In Edwards eye"
rive nothing against Burleigh. sx-
cept that l shouldn't like to have my
sister choose him for q friend" said
Ed. The jaw that Beth had admired
for It's firmness was stubbornly set.
IL have not. l told you that had
q fall on the street yesterday and he
walked home with ME. You did not
let me explain" protested Sue.
"A girl should not put herself in q
position demanding an explanation"
persisted Ed dogsedly.
"Piffie" retOrted Sue. Come, Lyle,
let's get the lunch baskets"
Beth regarded Ed with troubled
eyes.
ED, was the college affair q bad
One| she asked.
mo. The climax Of q series Vt
pranks. But a girl should be guided "
said ED sententiously.
Tn asking you to take my judg-
ment. Accept her explanation. dear.
You will see how much more smoothly
things will CO."
Il did accept her explanation; but
think girl should not have to ex-
plain. Like the rest Of the world,
judge by what l see"
Then. like the rest Of the world,
you VIII often be wrong" she returned
emphatically.
Back came Sue and Lyle with tho
lunch baskets and Beth could say no
more.
Coming along the "horsebsck' above
the river next day from inspecting the
seasons drive Of logs, Ed, stepping out
from the screen Of bushes to begin the
descent to the road below, confronted
Beth and Archer Burleigh coming up.
Beth had laughed out q little startled,
Mating note. Archer, partly support
ing her up the path, glanced up and
said embarrassedly:
"Why. hello. Ed"
ed. with q colorless face. lifted his
hat and plunged past them. unheeding
Archer's hail. The set Of his jaw told
Beth that the Morgan stubborn
streak" was in control. and she knew.
rs II the words had been passed be.
tween them, that she would henceforth
walt in vain for the familiar ring ut
her doorbell.
The Morgan stubborn streak" was
well known in the village from he
great-grandfather's time. Beth. n
comparative newcomer, had heard Of
II. Eds mother had been wont to say:
Poor boy. he can't help 1t. It's in
herited."
II Beth suffered, none knew it.
little quieter as the summer months
passed. a gray hair or two in tho
brown when the year was complete
Sue. mystified and sorrowful, saw the
signs Of bitter conflict in Eds worn
race. Yet the year had heightened
into two before the terror xripped
him-the fear that he might never be
able to yield.
Came q night when he admitted he
had known that Beth, loyal and true
TO the very heart, had not purpos,ly
dened his wish. There was an expla.
nation. Knowing this, he was attn
poweriess II only he could rot 70
Seth and tell her he knew!
That night he reached the front
door before he failed. Night by night
ne gained few steps. Ridiculous.
Possibly. A lifelong habit Of mind :.
not easily broken. Weeks had passed
when Beth heard the doorbell ring the
familiar peal.
Ed faced her. trembling and spent
BETH" he said without preamble
i always knew it was all right. You
could not be wrong"
DO you want me to explain Edr
she asked gravely.
Not now, or ever. always trust~6 |
you, but ! had to beat the MORGAN
stubborn streak"
moments pause, while Beth faced |
that dread specter, and detied II.
Iou poor boy" she said, and drew
MN IN with q mothering gesture.
AT the home gate Sue awaited him
Ihere was peace and a gentleness
In his face that emboldened her "a
say:
Archer is coming in to see ysu to
morrow, Ed"
Archer has proved himself"
turned Ed quietly. HE will NO, ana
me difficult"
sue pressed closer to his shoulder
You never knew that Archie saved
my lie. Ed. At log-drivlns time n
was trying to roll log with nv feet
as the rivermen do. OF course ri
.npped IN among the logs and he came
JUST In time. ! was too dripping wet
20 go through town, SO he and the