The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-12-17
PEN.

u
'What an odd little name for young
lady-Pen~ said Roy Delbert, to Miss
Dane, who had been speaking of hel
cousin.
''A diminutiye, replied Dahlia Dane
suppressing yawn behind her fan, as i
tired of the subject. She was named
Penelope for an aunt of ours who LEFT
her little income-enough to buy ribbons
and gloves with Heigho what very
hot day it is!'
And Miss Dane looked down the road
as if she would like to behold chariot
and six horses coming to bear her from
the suferings of that sultry afternoon.
But Roy continued to gaze down the
garden, where young girl was busily
cutting heliotrope and carnations.
She had not pretty face, but it was 9
singularly interesting one, with dark
eyes, gentle, tender, and framed by nat
ural waves and curls Of dark brown hair.
The profusion of hair was knotted back
by cherry ribbon, the only bit of color
about Pen, while Dahlia wore rich,
silken robe of mingled purple and
scarlet.
Such rich tints suited the stately,
handsome girl. Roy often told her SO,
and wished to put her in a picture as
Cleopatra, but Miss Dane declined. Ii
it had been for another kind of charac-
ter! But Roy Dalbert was not that sort
of man to care three straws for a Cleo
patra.~
And here he was looking his eyes out
after girl who might have sat for a
L. n~h Ia ,Iryo
Dane blood was coursing through that
stately body with tumult and rapidity
which seemed impossible to one who
only knew Dahlia Dane as she appeared.
She seldom seemed moved by any
emotion. She was stately, graceful, cor
rect in department, and striking for her
superb health and habit of wearing rich
colors.
Roy had known her for year, and had
never asked himself the question if he
could love her. It was a pity, perhaps,
for Dahlia Dane loved him with all
the force of strong and repressed ma
ture.
Imperious and resolute, certain in
dolenee and voluptuousness of tempera-
ment made her seem far gentler than she
was. Roy had often referred to her
beauty, to his artist friends in the city
so freely as to make it impossible that he
should be in love with her-such are the
subtleties of love!
Miss Dane rose, picked a book and
crimson scarf from piazza chair.
''Come into the dining-room, and I
will order an ioe for you" she said.
Excuse me for one moment" Roy re-
piled, and ran down the piazza steps.
In an instant he had come quickly be-
hind the little white-robed figure.
"Miss Fay, you are losing your sweet
est fowersr'
Over Pens simple dress of snowy cam
brio was tied an apron of white linen,
one corner of which having slipped from
her hand as she reached among the
vines, cutting here and there blossom,
her fragrant treasures were falling fast
upon the gravel path.
She turned hurriedly, and stood q pic
ture of momentary dismay, while Roy
bent at her feet and promptly repaired
the accident.
''Thank your she said, when the last
spray of pale heliotrope was restored to
the white apron. "How very stupid I
must have looked to you and Dahlia,
losing my flowers as fast as gathered
them!
, He did not speak; but the sparkling
glance resting on her face did not seem
to imply the fault of stupidity. But Miss
Dane was waiting, and he went back to
the piazza.
When he had taken orange sherbert in
the dining room, he asked Dahlia to
show him the swans. But the young
lady declinod, having for the time de-
cided aversion to the garden.
1T is far too hot to walk ON the ter
races this afternoon. This evening when
the air is cool, or any other day, with
pleasure"
Roy, disappointed, shortly put on his
hat and went to his hotel. He had
meant to stop at the arbor, where he saw
nna making bouquets, and ask her to
4came to be fed.
s it was always SO; his innocent
this kind always fell through;
not tell why, but it made him
out of humor. He vowed he
d nt go to Thrushlands again for
th-aad was there the next day.
lis time he was More fortunate. In
q of asking for Miss Dane, he asked
the ladies, and the new servant
oked him INTO the music room, where
en- was practicing.
She rose.
"H you will take seat in the parlor,
j will call Dahlia," she said.
II had rather stay here, if you will al
lev me-, he rel,lied, coolly seating him.
self; and was rewarded for this bit of au-
daeity by Pens readily consenting to
play and sing for him.
It was only brief half-honr he had
before Dahlia discovered the situation,
and came down, but as, with that sweet
face smiling upon him, he could not do
otherwise than make the. best possible
use of his time, Pens young heart,
throbbing with q startled sweetness
which showed itself in parted lips and
hshed cheeks-Dah discovered that
her Cause was lost one But for the
proud beauty to surrender was an utter
impossibility.
"Mya father wants you to do some
copying fo11 belieye R6SGlehe said
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