The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1871-05-26
WILL SHE RIDE OR WAlK2
By MISS rnArroN.

tuc 4OuS6st Vi uiA OkAdSSS tAo AtNSL,
and then going on and on, the
straight wide street, steadily rising
until it overlooks the bay, suddenly
bends like the crook of finger, un-
til its tip touches the water.
It is o ladder-a hill of difficulty
to the dwellers at this end Of the
town, most of whom began life ut its
foot, in the dingy shops and tene-
ment houses there, and have slowly
struggled up; some to the long
blocks of comfortable dwellings,
others, going on still farther. have
reached the most pretentions point
of all-that laying close down to the
water upon the other side.
There is air of newness, flavor OF
Jonah's gourd about the 1talio-Chi-
nese pagodas with French roofs here.
They seem, indeed, to have sprung
up in a night, the dampness of the
mold still clinging to them. There
is u straining after pinnacles and
towers and topknots in architecture
after effects quite disproportioned
to means in landscape gardening,
and in fact, an evident attempt to,
crowd to their utmost capacity the
present limited space and time.
This is the found ition built upon
rock-gold. Another generation
will develop the fine arts and possi-
bly, the sciences.
In the meantime, I will tell my
story.
Paul Hayes was sent here to preach
the gospel, for there are churches
Some of them, even so soon, are be-
ginning to pride themselves, not up
on their sanctity, hut upon the high
social position of their members-in
other words, upon the distance at
which they live from the foot of the
street, which is their social scale.
Fortunately, Pauls church was
not among these. II one has to
deal with ignorant people, it is bet
ter to take them in the rough. Iron
in its natural state holds wonderful
possibilities But iron-spoiled in
the smelting-what can one do with
it?
His church was only mission
chapel, supported by q richer society
of the same denomination; his peo-
ple-the men and women to whom
one goes with ungloved hands. But
he WAS young and strong, and be-
lieved himself called to God, which
is the best preparation for any work.
He threw aside his books and read
men.
There are few exceptions to the
houses have described in the more
aristocratic part of the town. One
will suffice to prove the rule. 1t
stands away from the street just be-
low the staring white hotel that
crowns its rise. 1t is square, of
stone, and painted white. Upon one
side is pleasant garden. Possibly
it was built in colonial times, when
the salt, salt wind swept in here from
the sea, unbroken by anything, save
these walls and few scattered rem
nants of forest trees. 1t has SO far
cought the spirit Of modern times as
to don mansard roof. but the tall
.Cornithian pillars still remain, as
well as the wide stone steps, with q
lion couchant upon either side.
yesey Welles stood upon the
hearth-rug in the long, low drawing
room, awaiting the coming of her
guests. Ordinary. she might be &
trife pale-quite. possibly-though
with depths quickly stirred by the
dropping of careles, stone. To-
night she was flushed, tremulous,
excited.
"By the way" said her father,
pushing at the door as he passed
through the hall, II met that young
minister-Hayes, you know-this
morning, and asked him up to din
ner."
"But I don't know" responded
Vesey, as he passed on, her eyes
growing wider and wider in dismay.
81 don't know him at all. And to-
night of all nights" she half sobbed
pulling at the flowers in the porcelain
vase before her, until the one red
rose dropped all its petals at her
feet.
It was to be the pleasant evening
that had frightened all the winter.
Darrell Winslow and his mother
were coming to dine with them once
more before going home. They had
been boarding at the hotel just above
two or three months. Vesey had
built so many hopes upon this even
mig. But now
She was fastening q bunch of daphne
-sweet-scented, velyet-leafsd-into
her belt, when Paul entered the
room. Passing fairr he said to
himself at a glimpse OF the bent
head.
1.-The Rev. Paul Hayes!" announc-
ed the servant. She turned quick
ly, not catching the name, hearing
only the sound of feet and the open
ing of the door. The naLadresse with
which she hesitated and then came
to meet him was something strange
in Vesey graceful, self-possessed.
ell am Miss Welles, I" with rath-
er unnecessary frankness. MY
father will be down in a moment
He was unusually late from town to-
night" The last words were uttered
with her grandest air, in her efforts
to compose herself.
"But naughty and cold," Paul
added mentally, and he turned away
to meet her father.
Then at last Mrs. Winslow and
Darrell came.
nWho the-is this manY looked