The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1875-03-05


And the two went beyond hearing,
with laugh.
Riding home by myself, first became
angry at poor Ralph Sanders for giving
any occasion to make such remarks and
then gave him little pity for the sin
cerity of his love, which, / saw, must
soon be brought to grief But my
thoughts did not inger long with him
they speedily turned to Sidney Bartol,
the stranger who had set the town on
the tiptoe of excitement for the past
month, and with whom 1 had ridden,
walked, and chatted several times. He
was tall, dark of hair and eyes, and dis
tinguished- looking and rumor said that
he was both rich and eminent, travelling
incognito for amusement, and had
stopped here for temporary rest. The
days and weeks had slipped away since
his arrival, and still he stayed and, if
read Alright the meaning of the looks that
he gave me, and the songs that he sung
me, was the cause of his delay.
But him, too, 1 had put away from my
thoughts had once or twice half whis-
pered to myself that I could not love
such a dark, mysterious being as he
seemed and then / would sthe all
thought on the subject with the conven-
lent reflection ''Pshaw! they're all the
same to me. I'll marry none of them
I'm well content to be my Aunt Janet's
girl for some long years yet.
I saw through the shutters that the
front parlor was lighted and I met at
the door my maid, who told me that Mr..
Sanders was waiting for me. I entered
the parlor without removing my hat or
shawl, half vexed at his presence there
after what 1 had heard that evening. He
Was standing by the piano, hat in hand,
humming the first bars of q waltz that 1
had been playing and he came directly
forward when he saw me.
&c I beg pardon, Janet he aUoutd call
me by my Christian name, and he was
the only one of my admirers who dared
to I beg pardon" he repeated, for
my unreasonable call but I don't mean
to stay Tomorrow is q school holiday,
and do SO much want you TO come and
take walk with me about Romer's Cliff.
It is SO pleasant there at this time of the
year and
Tomorrow -Romer's Cliff" I ex-
claimed.
had right to be surprised because
now, as stood there with the knob Of the
parlor door in my hand, looking into this
mans face, / remembered that on the
previous night, at this very hour, that
other man, Sidney Barto1, stood just
where ne now SGOOOs anu ulhuo LAAL saA4u0
request of me, almost in the same Ian
guage.
ga singular coincidence" 1 thought.
Was it not something more2 How
can we know2
st am sorry, Mr.. Sanders" I replied,
&c that I cannot go with you. have an
other engagement. "
He looked grave and very disap-
pointed.
"I had hoped, JANET he said. that
my company was agreeable to you; but
lately have almost come to think that it
is not. You always refuse me when I
ask you to ride or walk. wish could
think that it is no dislike of myself that
influences you
took umbrage instantly at his words.
You have no right to imagine my
motives" I said, warmly. 1t should
be enough for you to know that cannot
accept this invitation, and that reason Is
sufficient one."
He moved O step nearer to me.
% You might have known that I would
have asked you to-day" he said, half-re-
proachfully. d" You know come here
every holiday"
You poster me-, said, pretending
to be a good deal more offended by his
words and tone than really was. 90 You
talk as though you had some claim upon
me, and as though were bound to pre-
fer you to my other friends. You know
better, Mr.. Sanders" F"
He came still nearer.
I" Have you never felt that you prefer
red me to the others {" he asked.
And then rebelled against this ques-
ton, and spoke out passionately, like a
child.
"I won't be catechized in this way ~
/ cried. You needn't ask me any
such questions, for I'll never answer
them -
"Pardon me, Janet, he said, kindly
but seriously. '' I did not wish to offend
you. I will go now, for I see that my
presence only irritates you. But first, /
should like to ask You one question. Are
you not going out with MIR. Bartol to-
morrow? All! your face tells me that
you are more than suspected it. ]
want to tell you, as a friend, that you
had better have nothing to do with him.
L don't know him I've only seen him
| twice and I can't tell exactly what ]
fear from him on your account but ]
tell you, Janet, he is a dangerous man
for YOU But you do not believe me.
Well, shall pray to God for your safe
ty, and I shall watch over you, as far as
can"
He bade me good evening, and
walked out of the house, leaving me
puzzled, indignant; and annoyed, but
still not very angry with him. He
had shown me his heart as plainly
as q man could, and / had utterly
refused to look at it. ! could not help
thinking, in the same instant that I CEN
snred him for meddling, how kind was
his way, and how gentle his voice; and
thought, as sat there upon an ottoman
In the parlor for o few moments before
putting out the lights and retiring to my
chamber, that but for one thing he had
said, should think pleasantly of Ralph
Sanders, as had Just seen him, and per.
haps dream of him that night. And that
thing WAS, that he had warned me against
Sidney Bartol, and called him danger
ous man for me.
What right had he TO say such things
| to me? was not Q child, who could moi
be trusted out of sight of my home. MIR.
Bartol was gentleman, quite as good o.
| Ralph Sanders, even If he was a stranger
and I did not choose that the latter
| should instruct me how was to trea'
him. If Ralph did not like him, ht
could ahIIn him; but 50 long as his ct
| tentions were agreeable to me, woulc
receive them, in spite of the schoolmas
4 n 49,. TN<,ps all no