The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1879-01-24

had ever been legally married to her dead
husband. Gathering together the proofs of
her union, she travelled to London, slowly
and on foot, to seek an interview with the
father of Robert Capel, and your GRANDPA
ther, and prove to him that the assertion
was sIander. But he was dead his son
ruled in his stead. One look at his stern
face told her that there was nothing to be
hoped for at his hands and, after wrestling
for her childs sake, with poverty and sick
ness till wearied out, she died"
I" This is a sad tale indeed :" murmured
Hetta, tearfully. "And her son-why has
he not told it sooner?"
Ignorant of the value of the papers in
his mothers possession, and robbed of them
as soon as she was no more, he was a poor,
ill-used waif, until curiosity leading him to
come and look at a house his mother had
pointed out to him when they first arrived
in London, he met with two adventures
An angel, in the shape of fair, gentle
child, pitied the ragged wretch, and be-
slowed on him her all the first piece of
gold he had ever possessed"
Hetta blushed deeply, for she remember
ed the circumstance.
Before he could make use of this gener-
GUS gift, he was stricken with illness
brought on by want, and carried to the
workhouse, where, for the first time in his
life, he found friends. The doctor who tend
ed him, took him to his ownhouse and, as
soon as he was sufficiently restored, clothed
him, enabled him to earn his daily bread
honestly, and encouraged him to try
and recover the lost papers, that he might
ascertain their contents. Miss Capel, this
very night [ have succeeded in wrestling the
packet from the woman who withheld them
till could pay her as much as her greed ex-
torted. [ have those papers here " (he
touched his breast) "and they contain un-
answerable proofs that am the legitimate
offspring of Robert Capel."
My. uncle is just. Surely he will be
his kinsman " Hetta faltered. She felt
that this was scarcely the truth, and Leon
ard smiled rather scornfully.
"Pleased Forgive me if 1 doubt it.
Have you forgotten that am the son of the
elder brother, and that by right of birth, l
can claim all the property that he succeeded
to at his fathers decease?'
Hetta pressed her hands to her bosom.
and gazed at him wildly, as with triumph
in his eyes he once more looked around him
Who would dare despise. him now? This
proud banker must veil his head to the out
cast he had spurned, and-ah sweetest
hope of all-he was the equal of the fair girl
who stood trembling before him.
But she spoAe-she reused him from his
dream, and his gladness vanished.
{" Do you know what will be the conse-
quence to my poor uncle ," she cried. SIT
will he rain; !; yes, ruin for his pride will
not let him accept any concessions you may
Offer Bnt worse than this-more terrible
to bear-will be the disgrace that will fall
upon him when the world puts, as it will
do, the worst construction on his conduct. -
q am but claiming my own !" said Len,
firmly. eff it is his turn to succumb and
suffer is the fault mine Those who had
no mercy on my innocent mother, but left
her to perish miserably, while they reveled
in luxury, cannot expect any mercy from
me-"
"But my uncle is no longer young, u
pleaded Hetta. ellis health is infirm.
Any sudden shock will kill him and rely
upon it he did not knowingly wrong you
Oh pity him " and in her excitement, she
"This very night he sits with his children
around him, happy in the thought that their
future is secured ; that, die when he may,
his son, his first born, his best loved,
his noble Maurice, will inherit his wealth
and unstained name. Can you have the
heart. to bring such sorrow, such shame.
upon them all D.? Must all these innocent
ones suffer? VIII you enjoy the riches, and
the station, to grasp which you must break
50 MANY uCdTLS O1 Gutuk d mOHltut ere
you take so terrible step p
"You plead for those who do not deserve
it," answered Len, turning away that he
might not see her beseeching eyes. :" Had
l come to them for help-had l said to Mr.
Capel, i am your brothers son, and l
starve,' would he have listened to my pray
er? why, then, should L renounce my
rights that he may continue to enjoy what
is not his own ?"
Still Hetta clung to him.
"Spare them, at least, for this one mig ght.
Break the tidings of their ruin gently, and
try to see in Mr.. Capel, not the man whom
long years of affiuence have made. hard AMI
worldly, but the brother of your own ia
ther. You will do this much :"
''For your sake 1 would do anything, u
Len answered, fervently. "Ask what you
will, it shall not be refused"
You promise " she cried b!ushing deep
ly, Then be a brother to Maurice"
"Cousin !; 1 may call you so this once
Sweet cousin, the first time 1 came here
you gave me all you had. / have the coin
still, for 1 could never bear.to part with it !;
and have prayed thousand times that
might be able some day to repay your good
ness. Let me, then do SO this night For
your sake renounce everything 1 could
have claimed. go back to -obscurity that
you may be the happy wife of Maurice Ca
| pei. Kiss me once, in token that you Will
remember kindly, and will never trouble
you again.
Before the troubled Hetta could ask her
self whether she could sanction so great q
sacrifice, he had touched her lips with his
own, and rushed from the room.
| As the door closed upon the departing
Len, another few open, and she beheld
Maurice Capel and his mother.
"DeceitfuI, unworthy girl !" exclaimed
the latter. Was it to secretly receive a
low-born lover that you stayed upstairs SC
willingly? Do you think after what have
seen that I can permit my daughters to as
sociate with you again? You must quit the
house Immediately"
"No, no." cried Hetta, imploringly.
81 have done nothing wrong. You art
mistaken, dear aunt-you are, indeed %
Must disbeieve the evidence of my
own eyes? Can you deny that 1 saw yo,
clasped in the arms of stranger ?"
'' Exonerate yourself, Hetta For m,
sake, tell the whole truth !'' implored Mau
| rice, speaking for the first time.
81 can only repeat that although ap pear
ances were against me, l have done nothing
wrong When l am your wife, Maurice
1 will tell you alE'' 49,
MY wife p he cried scornfully. "Dt
4 you think l would wed girl who hold
clandestine interviews and permits the ca
resses of such fellow as he who Just lief
you =
:" But, Maurice, hear me, and not by tn
one act of which, for your own sake, I with
hold the explanation p
But she besought him in-vain. He shool
q her off with such cruel such unmanl-