Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-08-15
Do explain Cornelia."

I declare, it beats anything l ever
heard IN the whole course of my life =
After dusk, glorious winter day,
with here and there a star twinklIng ill
the pale gray sky, and the lights and
fires in the Hillcrest sitting room max.
ing an eloquent welcome to Walter
Austin, as he stood in the midst of the
home circle, tall, gentlemanIy, hand
some and self-possessed.
Old Mr.. Cressington was in his
richest humor as he led forward two
young girls.
"Come, don't he shy. now. Walter,
this is your cousin. Mabel Cressington,
and this is her good friend and insepa-
rable companion, Irene Vance, come to
help entertain you. My nephew, Mr..
Walter Austin, girls. And this is
Aunt Corneia--you remember her well
enough, hey?'
And so the presentation was merrily
gotten over, and Walter found himself
at home in the most pleasant family he
bid ever known.
They were remarkably pretty girls,
with blue eyes-although Miss Nance's
were decidedly the deeper blue and
more bewi.ching-and lovely, yellow
gold hair. Walter found himself adj
miring the style of Miss Vance's couture
before he had known her an hour and
when he went up to his room that night
he felt as if between the roguish Mabel
and sweet little Irene, he never would
come out heart whole.
"For Mable is good little darling"
thought he. land will take Great
uncle Abiahs advice and fall in love
with her, and thereby secure generous
share OF the Cressington estates. Egad
that's happy thought y
| But the handsome young gentleman
went to sleep and dreamed, instead of
Mabel's laughing eyes, of Irene's gen.
tie, tender ones; and awoke somewhere
in the middle of the night, unable to
get to sleep again for thinking of her.
And the after days were not much
better. Despite the golden value of
Mabel. there was something about
Irene Vance that made this headstrong
fellow very foolishly indifferent to the
advice he had sworn to follow.
Because, by Jove fellow would
have to be made out If granite to resist
the sweet, shy ways of such little
darling as Irene And I'll marry her
if she'll have me, and the money and
property may so to the-dogs I've
head and pair of hands, and blue
eyed Irene shall not suffer u
1t was not an hour later that he met
her in the hall, carrying great boughs
of holly, with which to festoon, down
the walnut staircase.
"Give me your burden, Irene," said
he. "Wby did you not tell me you
were going to gather it, and let me go
with you? 1t is altogether too heavy
burden for your arms to bear"
He managed to get the lovely sprays
from her arms, but it required an i'm
mense amount of tardy effort on his
part, and shy, sweet blushing on hers.
Answer me, Irene. Why didn't you
let me go with you! Wouldn't you
have liked 1t ?"
He demanded her answer in the most
captivating, lordly way land she dropped
her eyes in great confusion.
Eyes,"
Then why were you so cruel to
II am not cruel to anybody. Indeed
I must go now"
Walter placed himself squarely in
the way, and was looking down at her
rose tinted lace.
"No, you can't go yet. Irene, you
are cruel, or you would never deprive
one of the opportunity to enjoy the
blessedness OF your society,"" His voice
lowered tenderly, and he dropped his
head nearer her golden curls. "You
know l think it cruel in you to be so
distant, and shy, and reserved with me
don't you, Irene?"
She shrank away, her lovely form
dropping like lily, her cheeks hang
ing out their signals of distress and
confusion.
"Oh, please don't talk so to me. In.
deed must go F.! Mabel is waiting for
the holly, and she-they won't like it
| if"
But she was a prisoner in his tight
clasp.
IF what? If they find you and me
talking so confdentially together"
"No! Imean if l don't take the
holly at once"
Walter put his arm around her waist
before she knew what he was doing.
Irene, look up. You shall not 60
until you let me see in your eyes if you
love me as we'll as love you! Irene,
my dear little girl, I do love you very
dearly ~
She was silent for one second, and he
saw the culver of her red lips. Then
she raised her head slowly, shyly.
You love me? Oh, Walter, what
will they all say? Don't you know it
is Mabel you should say that to? am
nobody, Walter. and Mabel is an
heiress |"
Walter had both arms around her by
this time, and was looking ardently in
her glowing face.
Il know Mabel is an heiress, and
nice little girl; and also know you are
darling-my darling-and the only
girl ever asked to be my wife. or ever
shall ask Say yes, pet.'
His tones were low and tender, but
triumphant.
"And you can deliberately give up
SO much for only just me?"
Her wOnirOus avac mot b,c broyoJr,