The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1879-09-26

SWo0G0eafDS, DuG nOGn1nR more AgaGna
couldn't say any compact had been
unpleasantly hot in the cool moonshine-
it was mans business to consult his
own interest in these things.
But where is the use of following out
the chain of argument and self stultify-
ing logic by which Hiram johnson delib-
erately made up his mind to be villain.
Poor Agatha! ALI in vain now she
dressed herself in the pretty pink calico,
which made her look like newly bios
somed sweet pea, and brushed her curls
until they shone like brown satin-all in
vain she sat at the window in the twi-
light, watching and listening for the foot
steps that never came.
"It's harvest time" thought Agatha,
resolved to invent some excuse or other
for her faithless swain, "and [ suppose
he is very busy. He will come soon."
But Mrs Hartly came in one sultry af-
ternoon, and triumphantly proclaimed
the piece of village news which was just
then floating in the atmosphere.
"Hev ye heard" quoth Mrs. Hartly,
stHiram Johnson's engaged to that rich
city gal that's boarding to his mothers
house, and they're goin' to be married
next month";
The scarlet rushed in a sanguine ride
to Agatha's face, and then receded, leav-
ing the transparent skin marble pale.
1sI do not believe it, she CALCULATED,
almost before she knew what she was
saying.
ssWell, we may, for Mrs. johnson told
me so herself. She's dreadful set up
about it, Mrs johnson is. She always
was an ambitious, driving creature, and
Hiram's just like her. Well, hope the
Johpsons will feel better now," some
what yiciously added Mrs. Hartly, who
had tall, raw boned son of her own,
concerning whom and Miss Estcourt she
had entertained secret hopes ever since
one rainy Sunday afternoon, when the
heiress had graciously consented to walk
home from church under Seth Hartly's
green cotton umbrella.
She went away to spread the news
elsewhere, adding to it the item that
Agatha Pleyell was clean took aback, and
no wonder; for everybody s'posed she
and Hiram johnson was as good as en-
gagged; them Johnsons would any of 'em
sell their souls for a ten dollar gold
piece, and give back five dollars in
change"
And poor Agatha, pitied by the whole
neighborhood, was quietly sobbing her.
self to sleep in her own room, fondly
supposing that no one knew her secret.
Hiram johnson and his elderly bride
were quietly married in the little Elder
town Church, for Rosamond declared
ssthe sweet summer idyl must end where
it began; she could not go back to the
city to be married, on any account; it
would spoil the whole Illusion" And
Mrs. johnson made wedding cake
nearly as large round as cart wheel, and
invited all the neighbors in spirit of
ostentation which made Mrs. Hartly
secretly long to pull her cap ribbons out
of joint. And so Hiram johnson and the
fair Rosamond, set forth re joicing on
their wedding tour.
They went to Niagara, Saratoga and
the Thousand Isles of the st. Lawrence,
and Hiram began to grow little uneasy,
as nothing was said of the prospective
fortune he supposed himself to have
married into.
stWell, ducky," he said, one fine even
ing, ssshall we go straight on to New
York, or first to Eldertown ?"
"Why to New York;" asked Mrs.
johnson innocently.
You live there, don't you ?"
artless smile.
ST live where a/ou do, Hiram dear"
But-number - Fifth Avenue? Was
it not your house % gasped the bride
groom.
my goodness gracious, no! What
ever made you think so %
''It was on your baggage when you
came to our house"
stOf course" said Mrs. johnson. s.But
that was because it was the place I lived
at last"
s'The placer"
eyes, Hiram dear; I'm dressmaker
by trade"
"A-dressmaker! But, Rosamand. I
thought you were an beiress," broke
from Hiram's dry lips.
ST can't help what you thought, said
Rosamand. & never said so''
s'But you allowed everybody to think
so.''
Rosamand put her handkerchief to her
eyes, and the point of her nose blushed
scarlet.
ssPm not to blame for what people
may choose to think" she sobbed hys
terically; 0and if you married me be-
cause you imagined I was rich,
And here ensued the first thorough
going "scene" of their married life.
Hiram's reproaches were bitter. He
claimed in the heat Of his anger that he
had been deliberately entrapped under
false pretenses, and Rosamond retorted
by accusing him of mercenary motives;
and there can be no manner of doubt
that both were right. One thing though
was quite certain-they were married,
and there was nothing left for it but to
wear the chains as easily as possible.
Hiram johnson went back to his farm
and to his work, and Mrs. Hiram John
son eked out their slender income by
making dresses for the neighborhood.
And it SO happened that the second dress
she made was one Of white Swiss muslin
for pretty Agatha Pleyell to be married in.
Hiram wasn't worse than other men,
but it did chafe him that Agatha couldn't
have mourned over his detection little
longer. Agatha had conso1ed herself,
and he was tied for life to an ugly, ill
tempered old maz9, and all because he
had fondly hoped to marry rich. /"
Charles Dickens, son of the great nov
elist, manages one of the largest print
ing offices in London, perhaps in the
world. He has very successfully pub
ished the London Dictionary" and the
Guide to London" and is now prepar-
ing Dictionary Of the Thames" He
inherits his fathers early love for print
ing offices and newspapers.