The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-05-14


"How cruel!' he responded, sympa-
thetically.
'sIsn't 1t ?" said she, being an inveter-
ate chatterbox, and glad to find some
one who would listen to her. ST might
as well be prisoner, and idle around in
the japanese Tommy. How would you
like to have your aunt always following
you about 2"
81 should like it very mueh," an
swered George, boldly, eff she were as
charming as some other people know"
''But Aunt Diane isn't" said Mimi,
confdentially. Though" she added,
conscience shifting her, "she is very
nice and good. But she always will
keep on saying that people oughtn't to
marry and that Is such nonsense,
isn't it?'
'tAbsurdityr' George cried, warmly;
and after more conversation of like ma
ture, he rose to go, saying, "I hope this
will not be our last meeting, Miss Le-
grand. May call on you ?''
"Oh, N.Y. cried Mimi, aghast, s'Don't
Aunt Diane would bite your head off. :"
George seemed quite cast down for q
minute, and then said, II will say good
bye; but it shall not be forever"
"Au rerois," said Mimi, dropping her
long black lashes.
Mimi told her about Mr.. Wolfe, and
gave her the package of papers.
''You went down to see himr' ejacu
lated the spinster, 'salone-without a
chaperon! What well-behaved girl ever
did such thing? What an unprece-
dented boldness! What will your father
saw when tell him 90
s'Don't see what I've done," pouted
Mimi, ''and why did you always tell me
men were SO frightful and wicked. I
wasn't bit afraid of him."
misguided girlr' groaned her aunt,
"you will bring my grey hairs in sorrow
to the grave. What-what will your
father say ?"
'Her dyed hairs, guess she MEANS"
thought Mimi; adding aloud, "Why,
he'll say you ought to have been at
home to receive the papers-that's what
he'll say
Miss Diane reflected that this artful
remark was true, and not caring to be
reprimanded by her brother, she mag
unanimously said, "For once, will con-
sent to spare you, Mimi, but never let it
happen again.
"Oh, dear, nor' said Mimi, with
virtuous air; and that evening she pratt
tied as artlessly as ever to her unsus-
pecting papa.
Several times after this, as Mimi was
peering through the shutters, she saw
George Wolfe, and each time, the auda-
cious youth kissed his hand to her.
Having little else to think about, he
was continually in her mind, and the
warnings of her guardians defeated their
ri, fr hot toll Oh
sweet.
While this was going on an old aunt
of Miss Diane, from whom she had ex-
pectations, was taken very ill, and Miss
Diane few to her succor, leaving Mimi
to the care of her father, who, fearing no
danger, took no precautions.
One afternoon, Mimi, taking advan-
tage of her liberty, went out to carry
some soup to poor invalid in st. An
thongs alley, and this being done, lin
gered in the Square. By strange coin
cidence George Wolfe suddenly appear
ed from behind a eucalyptus tree and
turned as rosy as an April dawn at the
sight of her.
81 had begun to despair of ever seeing
you again, land almost made up my
mind to brave the dragon"
"Aunt Diane is away on a visit, now,
she replied, demurely.
THAT accounts for your being out of
DOORS he said. 81 have often seen you
at your window, like Gagged bird"
"a jail-bird, you mean. I might as
we'll have been in prison. How nice you
must find it to go about by yourself"
II know some one would like to go
about with me all the time"
'Who is it?" questioned Mimi.
20 %o11
ssWhy should you be? I won't hurt
you"
"You give me permission to tell ?"
3Why, yes, of course. Who IS it?'
.sYou, Mimi t''
"O-oh p she cried, opening her eyes
very wide. sWould you really?"
Eyes, indeed"
''But you might get tired of me, some
times
"With you, Mimi, I could go on for
eyer, and ever, and"
'sWalking forever? think I would
like to take street-car, occasionally"
''Now, you're laughing at me, Mimi.
I thought you liked me better than
that"
Discreet silence on Minis part.
Perhaps, though, you don't like me
at all"
Still silence.
s'Do you. Mimi''-very urgently.
Yes" she murmured, hanging her
head.
Hands clasp, eyes meet, beneath the
eucalyptus tree, and ssthe old story is
told again.
These meetings had gone on for some
time, when George determined to go to
Mr.. Legrand, and throw himself upon
his mercy.
With outward calmness, but quaking
he entered Mr.. Legrand's s pres
ence, while the cowardly little Mimi kept
out of the way.
May I inquire the nature of your
business, ,sir, asked Mr.. Legrand. lofti-
y. looking down at the young mans
card.
George turned scarlet, and said 81
nave the honor of knowing your lovely |
You are laboring under mistake, |
1oung man. My daughter has no mas
,uline acquaintances. You must mean !
some other lady.
Heavens! AS if there could be more
han one Mimi in the world.
No, sir; there is no mistake. love |
ler very dearly, and I-I-have come to
Isk for her hand in marriage" stam-
nered George, very much abashed.
~Whatl CALCULATED Mr.. Legrand, and