The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1870-12-02

with Charming Lovell?" and Eveline' q
heart grew bright as she found she
had said what she had been scarcely
prepared to say.
"Heroics are oil very fine, but gen.
orally ladies' prefer to have q compan-
ion at such game. 1t takes two to
make bargain" said Mr.. Bertram
signif cantly.
"Were Mr.. Lowell here you dared
not utter such an insinuation, Eve
line exclaimed passionately. "and in
his absence / shall defend him, even
against such a disinterested party as
yourself, Mr.. Bertram," she added
sneeringly.
"Sneer away, little lady, but re-
member that tomorrow sees you
bereft of lover as well M OF fortune.
for Charming Lowell will never claim
a portionless BRIDE"
"It is false, and he shall vindicate
himself and confront you p and Eve
line snatched pen and paper to sum
mon her lover to her side.
stop, Eveline, one moment" and
Mr.. Bertram's manner commanded
obedience. "Write as I shall dictate,
and il Claiming Lowell rises superior
to the trial, l press my claim no far
ther. Should he fail.
II shall willingly pay the Forfeit
said Eyeline eagerly. Dictate as you
will"
"Mr. Lowell, tomorrow my father
will be penniless. Should this make a
difference in our relations, l prefer
that it should be known before the
world hears of fathers misfortunes. -
Attribute 1t to caprice on your part or
mine, it matters little. If you desire
TO continue our previous understand
ing, come TO me Immediately. 9th
erwise, word by bearer will be sufii.
cient. Yours,
EvELISE MARKS.
This note was soon fairly on its way
Eyeiine walked with quick, impatien,
steps up and down the room, stopping
occasionally to look up at the clock
which seemed to move on leader
wings to the excited girl. She had
heard of men base enough to deser,
the woman they had won in aflluerce
when misfortune overlook them, bu,
Charming Lowell, the idol her hear
enshrined, was he made OF such base
clay? She had not asked if he pos
sessed golden charms; she would no,
believe him less noble than herself. -
As the moment drew near when the
messenger must return, her hands
worked convulsively, and she repeated
over and over again, "He will come
/ know he will come e.
John Bertram eyed her with 6
look of pity and yearning tenderness
as if he would shield her from tn,
blow he knew must fall. At last the
door opened, and Eveline sprang for
ward to meet-not Claiming Lowell
but the servant, who held out tin,
note. Snatching it from him, Evelin,
glanced at its contents. And then tor,
il into atoms That moment trans
formed her. The instant before sh,
had been the loving woman, strong il
her faith, ready To accept any assur
ance of continued affection, vet tremb
ling to know her faith; the next sh,
was calm, as impassive as if her hear
had received no wound. ChanninI
Lowell, her ideal, she could mourn; =
the real man was q thing foreign /,
her. Going to where Mr.. Bartran
stood, she said, "You were right.
am ready to fulfil my word now, to
morrow, q week or a month hence"
There is no such great hurry abou
it. Three months hence we'll begil
TO talk about it. 81 don't appear in
very amiable light just now, and woul,
rather wait until you like me some
what better, so we will keep our owl
secret for a while. In the meantime
l would like you to know a nephew O
mine. It's just as we'll he shoul'
learn to like you just little before h
finds out you are to put al end to al
the day dreams I've been foolisl
enough TO encourage. You know
used to think I'd make my sisters son
Bertram Foster, my sole heir"
Eveline felt too grateful for the re
spite accorded her, and willingly as
sented to the request implied.
Three months later Eveline Mark
sat in the parlor of her home, carry
ing on an animated discussion with
young man of some twenty-five years
which was suddenly interrupted b
Mr.. Bertram' s entrance. Both starte
as he approached, and Eveline blush
ed guiltily as she rose to meet him.
'Eveline, my dear" said the oil
man, "don't you think it is high tim
for us to come to an understandin,
when young men.begin to talk of yo
and love and marriage in the sam
breath? Here Bert. informs m
very coolly this morning that he want
you for his wife"
Itwould be difficult to say which q
the two. young people felt most en-
barrassed. Bertram Foster bega
some apology to Eveline, while she
hardly able to repress her resentment
said, "Then Mr.. Foster has been ker
in ignorance of the relation in whic
we stand, Mr.. Bertram. That wa
generousl'
"Why of course. Wasn't that th
agreement" &
i Eyeline remained silent, while Ber
ram looked from one to the other, ur
derstanding little of what he heard.
j "Well, Bert, have you gotten you
answer"
i ''Really, sir" stammered the youn
man.
"Ah! I see I've been little befor,
hand. It's all the better perhap,
4 you'd be looking somewhat bluer tina
you do, if you had. Come, Evelint
II what do you say, shall it be uncle {