The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1872-11-15

is staggered. For q moment only,
though; at the end of the moment she
whispers to Mr.. Gascoigne, and dis
misses him.
Edward Bouchton, standing at the
window, sees the handsome young
soldier officer walking away; but he
does not for mement associate that
son of Mars with the fresh fair crea.
ture who presently bounds into the
room and seeks TO make him believe
that she is grateful that Heaven has
made him such man as he is.
Up to the present moment Mr..
Gascoigne, though he is on the brink,
has not taken the plunge He is rap
idly preparing to fall at her feet, but
he has not fallen yet. Therefore, If
Edward Bougbton had come to plead
for nm earlier wedding day, Minnie
will be fidelity itself TO him.
She manages very cleyerly, she con.
siders, during Edwards visits. She
writes pretty note of apology to her
employer, pleading bronchial affcc-
tion as the cause OF her non-appear.
ance. She writes pathetic little note
TO her martial adorer telling him that
for time, at least, it is better that
they should not meet-a note which
is worded in n way that leads him 10
suppose that his mother has been in.
teriering, and to VOW that he will
propose TO the sweetest, jollicst little
girl in the world the next time he
sees her.
Minnie holds Boughton's heart in
the hollow OF her little INSCRIPTIONS
hand. She does not spare him a
single look, word, art, that may al.
lure him Oh TO love her more and
more. She is full of coaxing. pretty,
caressing ways, and these SHE plays
of upon him as pertinaciously as
Kathleen played hers off upon St.
kevin. He is desperately i'll love
with her. Not a doubt of her being
To- the full as desperately in love with
him has even clonded bis mind for a
moment.
He goes back TO Binham at the end
Of his holiday, a happy man. For
three days after his return from that
sojourn in Paradise he hears regularly
from Minnie.
The fifth and sixth mornings are
blanks. He begins to look worn and
anxious.
On the morning of the eighth day
he gets Il letter in the wellknown,
dearly-lovcd handwriting, and when
he has read few lines OF il, his face,
which had been pale before, becomes
CHASTITY white. But he says nothing
TO his aunt, who is Watching him pitt.
fully. and her prophetic heart tells her
that he has got blow from that
gill"
\ letter goes from him 10 Minnie
by return OF post, such as might melt
Il stone. But it is powerless 10 melt
the heart Of a heartless girl. Then he
waits for three days in silence, with
such wounded feeling, such passionate
love prcying upon him that he gets to
look so miserably i'll that every one in
the place calls on Miss Pauleit in the
hope Of hearing that the lovers have
qnarrcled.
On the third day he has another
letter. a letter that shocks all the
hope out of his heart, and all belief in
the good pure love OF woman out o:
his mind.
IL is the topic in Bingham for nine
days, for it leaks out as such things
invariably do. At the end of nine
days people cease TO look as il they
are thinking about it when they NEE,
him.
The aunt and the niece cross swords
by post, and wound each other freely
Minnie is to be Mrs. Gascoigne in 4
week or two, and Garrison town life
will suit her much better than pranc
ing throgh the parish" she says.
But in spite of this depreciatory
speech. Mrs. Gascoigne feels a sore
pricking at her heart when, two years
after she achieves her own destiny
she reads that. "Old Aunt Catherine
and Edward Boughton are married.