The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-03-26
A WOman,s Honor.

young fellows, whose united ages would
not make fifty years, have Just turned
aside from "the old telegraph line some
twenty miles north of the Murray, and
are preparing to camp for the night.
They have chosen a little cosy nook by
the side of tiny streamlet that goes
noisily on its course to the great river.
The genuine sigh of relief that each
gives vent to, as he throws down his
''swag" on the soft turf, tells of a long
journey under burning sun, and the
welcome anticipation of good nights
rest in the silence of the great forest.
Before many minutes have passed, the
blue smoke of the campfire is curling
heavenward, and a savory repast is ready
to be discussed.
Ned, you have the tea in your bundle,
do the stepping will you?" says the one
colonial, to his companion, broad
shouldered Englishman, with handsome,
refined features.
with pleasure, my hungry friend.
How solicitous you colon1als are about
the dispatch of a meal!' replies he, pro-
ceeding to unroll his swag.
'All very we'll for you to talk, when
you can lay in enough at one meal to
last for two or three days. Now, can't
eat like a polar bear" returns the col
onial. ST am sure that old farmers
wife thought she had made bad bar
gain, when, in payment for driving up
her COWS, you eat breakfast that would
have rendered dinner an absolute impos-
sibility to anyone but yourself"
Ny dear fellow" replies his friend
IN somewhat oracular manner, sin a
condition of life like this, when ones
&c %ro 0fka 10
ton, it is only commonly provident to
AXE due advantage of present opportu-
mites; besides, 1 earned my breakfast
this morning honestly, while you, I do
not hesitate to say, simply talked the too
generous old lady into inviting you to
share the meal had worked for; though
1 must say she showed her appreciation
of my services by handing me this pack
age of tea, which, by the way, appears to
be wrapped up in q piece of the Argus
agony column"
us it really? Then, as it is the first
piece of newspaper we have seen for sew
eral weeks, 1 propose you stop moraliz-
ing on your own excellence, and, having
made tine tea, read extracts for the bene-
fit of the company"
Certainly" says the Englishman.
'tBut no, I have talked for your benefit,
you read for mine; there is nothing like
due division of labor
The colonial, after lazy excuse or
two, takes the scrap OF paper, and, be-
ginning at the top of the agony column,
reads
''If James Danvers, who left his ship
at Sandridge in October last, will COM
municate with Mr.. John Fyle, Flinders
street, Melbourne, he will hear Of some
thing to his advantage"
Naughty boy to run away" inter
rupts the Englishman. "But here's the
tea ready; come along, that will keep till
after"
''Stop bit. What's this? Something
from the old country; listen"
"'f this should come under the no.
tice of Edward Stanley Fermore, he is
informed that his father Sir Edward
Fermore Bart, of Fermore Grange,
Ernside, Kent, having died intestate,
he is -"
:.Hullol what on earth is the matter?
There goes the tea all into the frep'
The cause of this exclamation is the
Englishman, who has leaped across the
fire, capsizing the tea en- route, and
snatching the paper out of his friend s
hand.
Matter enough" he exclaims, after
reading the advertisement through with
eager eyes and flushed face, "for I hap
pen to be the fellow wanted"
s'You?" exclaims the colonel, jump
ing to his feet, ''Come, no joking. Are
you really in earnest
Eyes, old fellow; Ned Stamford was
only an assumed name, for 1 thought
my own was o bit too honorable for
this Bohemian existence. You must
forgive the deception, for I had no
idea things would turn out like this.
Who on earth put the advertisement
in? Ferris, the solicitor, whose name
is here suppose; and yet he is not
the family man. never heard of him
before"
ST forgive the deception, as you call
it." replied his friend, ''but hardly the
trouble and my last match, over that
fire."
s'Never mind, old fellow, I have
some more, and we'll soon repair the
damage"
A few minutes more and the fire was
aight again; the tea re-made and drank
and then, Frank Merton, the colonial,
stretches himself out upon his blan-
kets to hear the yarn he has demand
ed from his friend
The usual pipes being set agoing,
the fire built mp, and the light tent
under which they sleep set up, Sir Ed
ward, as his friend, with mocl, cere-
mony, persists in calling him, begins
his story:
1.-THE facts of the case, he says, set
tling his stalwart limbs comfortably,
'tare very.simple. am an only SON
and now an orphan, for my mother,
heaven bless her, died more than six
years ago.z My father and I never
seemed to agree very well. In the first
place, always had passion for row.
ing, while he strongly wished me to
go into the church.
Curious wish, considering you were
his heir, interrupts the colonial.
"Yes, but he had q reason Jor it. A
sentimental young creature of thirty,
who was the heiress of large estate ad-
joining my fathers, had weakness for
the cloth, and would have welded your
humble servant in that guise, had he
adopted it. Now, as I had weakness
for sweet littlescousin of sixteen (who,
blythe bye, would have the property, but
for my being in the way), vigorously
objected; and one night my father and I
had tremendous row,iwhich ended in
sending me the next morning check for
$500, and a short note telling me that I
had got all would ever get from him,
r Ill T = L 1