The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-07-23
MAYS WAGER.

81 bet you six pair of Jouvin's best
my dear, that I bring that scorner o.
women to my feet within six weeks
That is fair allowance-week for eacf
pair of gloves!'' exclaimed Miss May
Meredith, as she sat chatting with gay
party of girls.
She was an acknowledged belle among
them, and although the man in question
well adapted to win woman's hearts thai
he was, was known rather to avoid the
sex, or to waste upon them cynicisms OF
courteous sarcasms, there were none
present who did not believe May Mere
dith had but to will and do.
None present, did say? If far-of
corner of the eluxuriously room
sat young girl, busily sewing. The
shell-tinted ears could not fail to catch
the conversation, and although the long
lashes did not lift themselves from the
great brown eyes bent upon her work, 9
slightly contemptuous curve gathered
about the well cut lips, followed by q
half unconscious shrug of the the pretty
rounded shoulders.
It was only Miss Harlon, Mrs. Mere.
dith's poor dependent. She was dis.
tant relative Of the family, but SO dis
tant that the relationship was lost sight
of in the meagre salary allowed her for
supervising the large household, and
taking the part somewhat of Cinderella
for the young ladies.
What mattered that, three years before,
she had sung out of her young heart.
from morn till eve, in the pretty country
parsonage in which her dear, dead
father had been actor? He had died and
and left her with the song unfinished on
her lips. The blow had almost killed
her, but sweet hope in her heart of
another strong arm ready to protect her,
and fill, as best he might, his place, en-
abled her to live through it, until she
learned, as she supposed, that all the
world was false, and gladly, thankfully, ?,
accepted Mrs. Meredith's final offer of a
home, independence, however small, and
only bowed the auburn-covered head in
silence, when her cousin said:
s'I do not expect you in any way to
presume upon the distant tie between us,
but simply to fulfill the duties assigned
you. OF course, having two young lady
daughters, and the fact eof your being in
mourning and .swithout a suitable ward
robe, you will not expect to enter at all
into society, or even into my own draw
ing-room."
Which sentence, being delivered very
quickly, and without, it must be con-
fessed, due regard to the rules of pars-
ing, only lost it's impressiyeness through
Miss Hanlon's entire Indifference to the
subiect-matter it contained.
Her life was not hard life, except in
its utter loneliness, and the moments
when she waged her war with memory
over wound that would not heal; but
she idly wondered, sitting there, who
this man was who had given rise to all
this absurd speculation.
Bringing him to your feet, May, is
rather ambiguous, is it not?" questioned
one of the party. what do you mean
by that phrase?"
ST mean that within six weeks, if so
will it, I may become Mrs. Leigh Creigh-
ton"
The words were greeted with laugh;
but from the girls hands in the corner
the work had dropped. all trace of color
had left the lonely face, the great brown
eyes were open wide, even dilated, with
strange, frightened expression in their
depths.
Leigh Creightonl Was it her own
fancy which had imagined the words?
No. They were all busily chatting now,
and his name passed from lip to lip,
while they told of his attractions, his
handsome face, his nameless grace, his
long stay abroad, his return home, his
strangely manner, until the
color came into her cheeks, and her
trembling hands steadied themselves
while she stopped and regained posses
sion of the fallen work.
Ah, she could thank Mrs. Meredith
now for forbidding her entrance into the
gay world. It had never tempted her;
she had never regretted it. Now she
must shun it. Fortunately the way was
easy. Their two paths would never
meet-his and hers. But, oh! how the
old wound bled.
A week later she sat in her own room,
looking out into the dark night, while up
through the closed door came sounds of
music and laughter-it was one Of Mrs.
Meredith AT homes"-when suddenly
the door few open, and May, without
knocking, rushed into the room.
Excuse me, Fanny she exclaimed,
tthut mamma is in such state OF excite
ment. Miss Adams, the soprano, had dis
appointed her, and she says you must
come down at once and sing in her
place."
..oh, May. I cannot! Your mother
must excuse me,
.'My dear child, you mustl should
not dare carry such message, and you
know the music room is away from the
rest, and will see that no one disturbs
you. Slip on your black silk, and pin
this white rose in your hair. Therep
she added, few moments later.
shall have to keep you in the dark now,
lest you eclipse us all. Ireally believe,
Eoprnu ono .no cor, mon, 40 roor,c Won az