Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About The gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925 | View Entire Issue (April 10, 1924)
PAGE FOUP. THE GAZETTE-TIMES, HEPPNER, OREGON, THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 1924. ?fimiini!!tniii!iiiiHM!!!imnit!inntTnq it The Reading of tke Riddle ii t VIILIAM AI-IXN VHITE niiiiiiiiMiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiin Ctml. W-i. r tb Mcmii- C. m it priiT you or It In truth t' Tl.l.iM til to w4 o t!r.- r th d.mil. we d: ftstr cn re .d tnrted." TV. E. lienley. Tin: town of Willow Creek lies tit the junction of a rivulet of thnt name, with the B!g Mud dy. I'.ut the p.-pie of that commu nity being bom scoffers, have changed t ie name of the Big Muddy la com- , inon parlance to "Mud Crick," and, transformed by the alchemy of popu lar ueprertutlon, the name of the town Itself has shriveled Into "Wilier Creek." It might have been some thing of a town, as towns go in the West, hut Instead of pulling with his neighbors for the success of the town, each of Its founders spent his time making fun of the pretensions of oth ers. Wilis there was talk on the part of "old mun" Mead, the primeval post master, of securing the government land oflice for Willow Creek, the In dian trader, and the saloonkeeper, and the blacksmith, made great sport of the old man's ambition. A few years later, when civilization had crowded in with a hotel, a lumber yard, a new saloon, aud a barber shop, someone spoke of starting a newspaper; but the laugh that went up from Willow Creek was the only unanimity that greeted Editor McCray when his back was turned. But the newspaper came, and so did the people, and they kept coming, until, when the "boom" of the later eighties struck Kansas, It found Willow Creek with about two thou sand seeding Inhabitant But, In one way or another, the "boom" seemed to bring wealth to Willow Creek. And with wealth, came some attempts at the organi sation of polite society. There were Innumerable young real estate agents, young doctors, young lawyers, and clerks, all from the East, In the Til lage; and these, with the daughters of the early settlers and such friends as they chanced to make In the high school, constituted the aristocracy of the town. It was a vulnerable aris tocracy, and tlie scoffers made sad havoc with it. It was said of Flora McCray, who went to boarding school and came back, timid, retiring, and distinctly unsocial, that, "She needn't hold her self so high. If her father would only pay back the money he stole In the school land fraud she would be as common as anybody." But the girl paid no heed to these rumors, If she heard them. She quietly filled her ! small sphere, bounded on one side by her meek-Toiced mother and her busy father, on another side by her church and her "church social," on a third side by a very brief glimpse of a very big world and her memory of It, and on the fourth side by occasional day dreams and night thoughts, pretty much the same as those which come to any young girl of good health, good spirits, and twenty-one years, who has never had a sweetheart. As the reaction, caused by the de cadence of real estate prices set in, Willow Creek became poorer. As the young men, who paid for the orches tras, and halls, and flowers, gradually left town, the young women, who for merly frequented receptions, parties, and balls, were seen more and more often at tne "church socials." After a two years' Ineffectual struggle Wil low Creek gave It up. the town could no longer support two branches of society, and the "church crowd" and the "dance crowd" merged into one. When It was announced that the entire social body of Willow Creek was going out to Robinson's for a "taffy puil" one Saturday night, the rest of Willow Creek laughed. The town people sneered at the young wom en who had planned the party, and In timated that the night ride out to Rob inson's and back was a heroic meas ure; and they laughed at old man Robinson and bis family for tolerating people who would snub them If they came to town, and lastly they laughed at the young men who would have to pay the livery bills, Saturday morning, John Howard, Mr. McCray's partner In the stock business, came up from the farm on Dry Creek, and after going over some details of business, McCray asked his partner to Sunday dinner, as was hll custom, when the young man was In town, and the Invitation was accepted. During the "boom" Howard had made money. He had mingled with what 1 known as the "swell set" of Willow Creek, and though not a favorite at the flood of the "boom," the very fact that be had the social iastlnct, made him a necessity In society at Its ebb. Boon after leaving his partner's of fice, he had learned of the plans for the "tuiTy pull," that evening. He was urged to gi, and finding that all the rigs" were full, and that all the girls of his "bet" were provided with es corts, In a moment of despairing In splratlon the young man sent a note to his partner's daughter, asking for "the pleasure of ber company." Hi Invitation was accepted, and late that fternoou, I'lora McCray stepped into buggy with the first beau she had ver had, und hea led a long proces sion for IlobluBon's. Someone bad stopped the clock that Bight, and the young women, putting oa their wraps, guessed that It was nearly midnight, when the "taffy pull' at Ilohlnsoii s broke up. As Hora Mc Cray sat alone In the Robinson parlor waiting to hear the grinding of wheels across the graveled path that would herald her escort's buggy, nhe went over the evening's Impressions In her tnlnd. She decided that It had beef very pleasant evening, She hud nev er before found herself surrounded by the masterful attentions of a young num. She was pleased with his bust net like devotion to her coffee cup, and was amused, yet a little startled, Vhrli ha piled a monument of cuke upon her pjnte and called on everjr- one to pass tnings down R af Mis MriTny was very hungry. It was , a new sensation to find herself a part ' of the merriment Heretofore, she had been only a spectator at such scenes. . And thus, with mind isolated from s , the vain world by such reflections, she ! . , , . L IT... I , . V. I twin, A. 1 Manm HUH UV1U iutu " "" ward ride. It was blustering, cloudy night. At first they chatted on about the commonplaces of Willow Creek. Flora McCray tried again and again to HS.-o.lnte her recollection of the familiar face of her father's partner with the smooth-shaven face so near her In the night. Her repeated efforts were tantalizing. Uttle by little, did the wizard of the night weave her fancies, and then herself Into the woof of his uncanny siell. Sot only was she with a stranger, but she was her self a stranger to herself. It may have been the utter lonesomeness of the night that drew her close to him, but she came, and was not afraid. Again he reached over her, and again tucked the wraps closer than ever about her, and the fumbling touches of his hands awakened the girl's new self to a delightful reali sation of the fact that a new being had come to her out of the darkness. She came even closer to this new-found presence, and almost cuddled against the man's great coat, and snuggled un der his arm, that rested loosely upon the cushions behind her. Their talk, which had been growing more and more serious, gradually stopped. "Are you cold dear r the young man asked, when he felt her come close to him. His words and his tone startled the girl and almost broke the spell. Flora McCray struggled a mo ment with the Girl in the Dark, and shuddered In despair as a voice from the Girl, who felt a strong arm quiet her, answered: "A little." ard Is. Isn't he?" "Oh. ye, he It uice enough. I guess," answersl the daughter, rising to go to her r,om. As she nea'-ed the top of the stairs. Flora Mcay quickened her pace. She ran through the upper hull. Once In her room, she went straight to the dresser, where the rumpled hat was still lying. The lonely girl stood be fore It a moment, and then, stooping awkwardly, touched the crumpled vel vet with pursed, uncertain lips, as one ashamed. It may have been the dusk In the room, or it may have been the ghost of an odor from a cigar, that transported this unschooled heart back to the darkness, and the joy of a first caress. But dusk, or ghost, or something, came to this shy girl there, and nerved her whole being, so that she was no longer awkward, no longer uncertain, nor In any wise ashamed. The pretty velvet toy she made her shrine, and In her worship she kissed It, rubbed it with her burn ing cheek, and buried her face In Its sacred folds. , In Willow Creek where they scoff and higgle over sordid things. In Wil low Creek the hard, the arid, the bar ren, they say no matter what, but In and out of the narrow ways, turning the sharp corners with the rest, with tired feet, and timid, unsure hands. there goes a woman whose womanhood came to her as a dream in the night. As the lights of the town came in sight the young couple grew silent. A turn in the road brought the buggy under the white lare of an electric light. Flora McCray was sitting up right with her hands folded under the robe, and Howard, with the whip and the lines In his hands, was consciously clucking at the horses. Each saw the other's face clearly, and as they crossed the circle of light the man spoke: "It must be two o'clock." The girl did not reply, and the young man leaned over to look out of the buggy, as If to scan ths clouds. The prospect did not altogether satisfy blm and he said: "It's going to be a pretty gloomy Stjndny, I guess." As Howard put out his arms to help her from the buggy she barely touched his outstretched hand, and her decided shyness surprised blm. In a bewilderment of confusion he said: "You have made me very happy to night. Miss McCray. Shall I speak to your father when I come out to din ner tomorrow?" The girl did not reply, but went up the steps and Into the house, while the young man climbed Into the buggy, and beat time with the whip to the tune he was whistling, as he gave the horses the rein for the stable. Flora McCray locked the door and slipped the bolt as quietly as she could. She blew out the light In the parlor and stole noiselessly upstairs. Just before going to bed she started to put away her hat. She picked It up. The velvet and the ribbon seemed crushed. She put out her hand to smooth them. A hot flush of recollection swept over her. and she put the hat down. Site did not look at It again, but blew out the light and went to bed with her face turned from the guilty reminder. And all night long Flora McCray lashed herself for the folly of the Girl In the Iark. As she remembered It, she had made all the advances; be bad only been kind and good to her. The next morning, all of Willow Creek knew that John Howard had taken Flora McCray to Rubinson's the night before, and that he was going to eat Sunday dinner with the Mc Crays that afternoon. But the town, as usual, was divided. One-half claimed that the McCrays had to have all of Howard's money, or they would fall; and the other half that John Howard was going to marry Flora Mc Cray to keep the old man from prose cuting him for running oft mortgaged cattle and reporting them as dead. And In the whole town no one could have been so thoroughly surprised as was Mr. McCray, when his daughter said to him, "lather, If Mr. Howard says anything to you about me. you will tell him that I cannot marry blm." McCray and his daughter were walk ing along the narrow, rough sidewalk toward the church, when these words were spoken. The mother had dropped back, and was not in hearing distance. McCray could not find Tolee for a few exclamatory "whys" and "whats" be fore his daughter had said firmly, "You will be sure, won't you, father?" and was waiting for her mother to catch up with them. After the service, the women, Flora and her mother among them, hurried home to attend to the feast of the day. At the dinner table the young peo ple met for the first time that day. Flora McCray felt keenly, and with a twinge of anguish, that the young man's cordial suavity In greeting her was only Inspired by gratitude for ber generosity In releasing him from any obligation. She met bis eye, and thought she read there a recollection of every thing that had been. Then, as she looked down and away, all the sweet ness and unreality of the night's ride was made real to her. After dinner the men went Into the parlor, where they smoked and talked alone, while the women put away the best china, afraid to trust It to the "hired girl." Finally, young Howard and Mr. McCray thought that the eve ning mall would be In and distributed. They put on their overcoats and were In thef hall, when the elder man opened the dining-room door and said : "Mother, John thinks It's time to go, and I am going to walk down to the post office with him." When the front door closed Mrs. Mc Cray said: "vIht. Hilctipung man John How- I White Houso Hopes J V;- ' " J Pp;fll!l!illllSIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiH Pi 5vvl;: William Gibbs McAdoo, who showed he was still very much in the race for the Democratic presi dential nomination, by an over whelming defeat of Senator Under wood in the Georgia preferential primary. " 2 A 111 i Senator La Follette of Wisconsin, Progressive Republican, whose sen sational showing of strength in the North Dakota primary has the whole country talking He ran sec ond to President Coolidge and ahead of Hiram Johnson despite the fact that his name was not on the ballot but had to be written in or placed on a sticker. f4$ ts. La SfA'-rrocAC-rco Senator Samuel Ralston of In diana, who has been selected by "Boss" Tom Taggart as the Demo cratic Presidential nominee, if he can prevail upon "Bosses" Charles Murphy of New York, and William Brcnnan of Chicago to hand over New York and Illinois delegations. Coalition of these three delegations would prevent the nomination of ny other candidate so long as the two-third rule Is in effect. Miss Roxie Stinson fi&'M &" If? w -sit Former wife of the late Jess Smith, one of the principal wit nesses in the Senate Committee in vestigation of Att'y-Gcn. Daugherty administration of the Dept. of Justice. - E 2 i J i ' ps 2 I I Printing Efficiency The Mergenthaler Linotype is a symbol of greatest effi ciency in the printing business. We have installed in our up-to-date plant the very latest model of this wonderful ma chine. Thus equipped, our composing room facilities are so enhanced as to enable us to handle our composition at the greatest possible speed. This gives our customers two great benefits FIRST It insures them quick delivery of every job we produce. And SECOND It makes it possible for us to quote prices at most reasonable figures, due to lessened labor costs. What our Linotype is to our composing department, so our presses and other equipment are to our other depart ments. Handled by experienced craftsmen, it all spells ut most Printing Efficiency. That is why we guarantee everyone the best to be had in printing, at this office. OUR WORK IS OUR BEST ADVERTISEMENT. a Kg km iM m mmmmmmwmMMMMai THE Gazette-Times 7 "". 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