The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-10-29

not be satisfied until see you provided
for. 0 Chloe if you would only marry
Guy Nothing you could do would
make me SO happy as this, and l ana sure
you would care for him in time"
It was the first favor he had ever asked
of her, and Chloe felt that she could not
refuse. After all, what did it matter !?
Will was dead to her forever; and as he
had been false, why should she remain
true to his memory, especially as her
| uncle desired it so much? He had done
so much for her. and it seemed so un-
! grateful to refuse his first request. Here
her reflections were interrupted by the
ringing of the deor-bell.
"Chloe," whispered her uncle, shall it
be as wish? Dear, Iwish itso. much r.
/ just for moment Chloe was silent,
and a convulsive shudder passed over
her. Then she said slowly, "Uncle, it
| shall be as you wish, - and kissed him.
He returned her caress and left the
room, and moment later tall, noble
looking man entered, and with heavy
heart Chloe arose to meet him.
"Chloe," he cried eagerly, clasping
both her cold hands in his, 90 darling,
do not keep me in such suspense. May
| I keep these little hands forever? ?"
| eff you wish, Mr.. Hampton" said
/ Chloe, hoarsely. And as her lover took
her eagerly into his arms, and pressed
warm, passionate kisses on her beautiful
face, she closed her eyes resolutely upon
the dreary, hopeless, aimless past, and
resolved to make good and faithful wife
to the man who loved her so fondly.
And just then her opal flashed red in the
freight, and line of an old song that
Will used to sing, rang through her
mind, and her sad heart echoed, "Ah!
for the golden daysI'
Mr.. and Mrs. Guy Hampton were
spending their honeymoon-or moon
shine, it might more properly have been
| called in this instance-in continual
travelling, but at last, Chloe grew weary,
and they stopped at Saratoga to spend
| the summer.
The first evening of their arrival there
was ball at the hotel, and they went
into the ball room and at late hour,
Chloe looking radiantly beautiful in her
pale pink; satin and opals; her cheeks
were flushed slightly, and her eyes
flashed with bright, restless fire; only
the weary, hopeless dropping of the
scarlet lips showed that her heart was not
| in this gay scene.
She had danced several times, and was
sitting quietly, talking with friend,
| when her husbands voice suddenly
| aroused her.
"Chloe," he said, s.let me introduce
my old friend, Will Boone!'
| Chloe lifted her eyes. One wild,
startled glance into the cold, handsome
| face Of the man she loved, and then she
slipped quietly down off the sofa into
the arms outstretched to receive her-the
arms of her first, false love.
Twice in her life had Chloe tainted
| once when she found that her lover was
| false, and aOa0 that she found that lover
before her.
Her husband took her hastily from the
arms of his old friend; the usual restor-
atives were applied, and Chloe was soon
herself again.
ssMy poor little GIRL said Guy, ten
derly, '.what could have caused it?-the
| heat and excitement, dare say; and as
soon as you've spoken to Will, we will
leave-I know you are tiredp'
| "Indeed I am not" returned Chloe,
bravely; and then, with little cry of
surprise, she held out her hand to Will
Boone.
"Why, I'll declarer' she cried, ''if it
is not an old friend of mine, after all!
Why, Guy, knew Mr.. Boone two or
| three years ago! I'm so glad to see
you," she went on, hurriedly, for she
felt that her courage was failing her.
els your wife here p
"My asifer' repeated Will, while Guy
burst into loud laugh. 81 have no
wife, Chloe"
| Chloe's face turned CHASTITY white
s.No wife?" she gasped, ''why; Will,
you sent me your wedding cards p
i ssBy George p exclaimed Guy, alb
ruptly, I'm engaged for this waltz
And the unconscious, blundering fellow
fastened away, and with a long drawn
breath, that was almost a groan. Will
caught Chloe's hand, and hurried her
into the conservatory.
4 "Now, tell me, he exclaimed, with
"what you mean ?"
'.I mean what I say replied Chloe,
family. did you not send me your
wedding cards ?"
1 stNOP' thundered Will.
/ 'Then-O, Will, why didn't you
write ?"
Because your father-curse him
told me you were engaged. I did not
believe it at first, and wrote you again
and again; but when Christmas came,
your father wrote me that you were mar
i riedr'
i Chloe, Chloe, say that it was not true r
4 sIt was not;;" Chloe was weeping now.
i ST loved you all the time, WHIP
i ssAnd he-your father-curse him!-"
He stopped abruptly, as Chloe put
out both white, trembling hands.
"Chloe, darling" he said, hoarsely;
s.you are Guys wife, and he is blameless
we must not forget thatl God help us
to live our lives nobly, despite this great
I wrongl "Oh, Chloe, my darling, he
cried, holding out his arms, "come to
me just once-you belong to mel have
a right to hold you.
i But poor Chloe shrank away.
LEAD me not into temptation r she
murmured, with white lips.
/ And just then Guy came rushing in.
"Heliol' lie cried, 'sare You two talk
ing over old times? Come Chloe, this is
our dance.
Zone moment said Will, as be shook
his friends hand, and then took Chloe's
in long, painful clasp. IT leave in the
/ morning. Then his eyes fell upon the
/ flashing opal, and he added, brokenly: !:
s~rhe Lord watch between thee and
ME while we are absent one from the
other
Chloe never saw him again.