The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1869-10-30

NhS Btlli Li9 l1lSuStthps5b sOAGe III Tile
world to her2 What should she do
The great pile of copy books there
on the table were still untouched,
when, half an hour later, some one
opened the door and came III some
one whose step she knew well. Scott
Goldrick had come back for his books
and slate. But she did not lift her
head. He stood before her presently
with the books OH his arm and his hat
in his hand.
Il am going away, Miss Burnett,
to stay. Will you bid me good-by ?"
Still she did not look up or speak.
He persisted gently.
"Have | offended you beyond all
hope of forgiveness 2"
She gave him her hand at that.
"No, but --"
''But you are sick, Miss Burnett
as he saw her face plainly. "You are
really i'll. What can / do for YOU 2"
She tried to smile.
1t is only headache-I have had
1t all day-and touch of fever with
it, perhaps, nothing more"
"You have been sick all day, and
have been aggrayating the life out of
You" he said, remorsefully, in his
earnestness, kneeiing down ON one
knee with half bold, half shy grace.
Il have made you trouble constantly,
nel to-day only. but ever since you
came here to teach What "a brute
you must think me! 1t was unmanly
and cowardly to act rs / did. No,
You must let me make full confession
now" kissing the hand she laid over
his mouth to stop him. But, Miss
Burnett, you are very i'll, seriously
alarmed now at the sight of her white
face and closed eyes; for the self-con-
troll maintained by main force all day,
and up 10 this moment, gave way sud-
denly. and weaker than child she sat
there, her breath coming in little short
gasps.
Unused To women's moods and
ways, he was at loss what to do.
He had an idea, that when lady
tainted, cold water was the thing, 20
he sprinkled her face from the cup
standing ON the table within reach of
his hand, and, manlike, drew her head
down upon his shoulder.
She was not altogether unconscious,
for she made weak movement to
withdraw herself from his arm, but he
whispered, trust me and lie still, will
you not, until YOU are better p con-
scious the while of an odd, pleasant
thrill at his heart, rs her face lay 30
near his own that he could have
touched 1t with his lips.
II lac had been n dozen years
older, he would most likely have yield
ed 10 the temptation and kissed the
roses back TO her cheeks, but there
was just the least bit of boyish timidity
YET about him and besides he could
not forget that he had been IN part the
cause of this very illness, and his heart
smote him rcgretfully every time he
looked at her.
She sent him away by-and- -by--as soon
rs she was able to sit up without sup
port. She would not let him go home
with her, either, though he begged
her to let him do so she would do
better by herself. But seeing the
troubled look in his eyes rs he turned
away she relented so far as to say:
Il trust we part friends p
He came back to her at this, saying,
earnestly.
"Can you be my friend, after what
you have known Of me for the past two
months ?"
" can be- am sincerely your
friend 2"
THANK you for that. Knowing it
l shall not carry such a sorely troubled
conscience away with me.
All! he never dreamed that instead
of n troubled conscience, he was car
rying Olive Burnett's heart away with
him.
1t was seven years before they look
ed upon each others face again. Such
a long, long interval. Those seven
years had changed Scott Goldrick into
Il successful business man, steadily
amassing his thousands, and alive to
the brilliant, courted young widow,
Mrs. Logan.
She had grown heart sick of teach
ing, and one day in desperate mood
gave it up and married Paul Logan,
the rich land owner. Scott Goldrick
hearing of it in the distant city where
he was living, said, "Such a pityl She
was one woman of a thousand, and
deserved better man than that"
Well, Paul Logan was better man
than Scott Gildrick's words would
seem to imply, and better stiiii, his
gold brought all comforts to the help
less mother until she died, and home
and all the advantages of wealth to
the little sisters. And now with her
husband two years in his grave, Mrs.
Logan was freely in society again.
Such lovely woman, men always
said when speaking of her. And
Scott Goldrick endorsed the verdict
when he met her at reception one
evening, and the hostess supposine
them to be unacquainted, presented
him.
1t was Olive Burnett of seven years
ago who smiled upon him, as she sale
to Mrs. Lake, ''Mr. Goldrick and
are very old friends"
'sYou remember me, then, he said
as he led her away.
81 never forget" was the sweetly
grave reply.
But somehow, even with this fatter
ing beginning, they did not seem te
make much progress in the renewal O
their old acquaintanceship. Meeting
often, as they did, at party, ball ant
reception, at concert, theatre and op