The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-07-16
THAT LITTLE FRIGHT.


ssI'm not particular good little heart,
fair sense and a sweet temper after that
her hair shall be what color heaven
pleases.' Not that am afraid of beau
ty-I like pretty girl as well as anyone
but don't insist on it as something
am entitled to-
The elegant Bert Dean smiled smile
of contempt.
ssMy good fellow" said he, "your
powers of comparison must be very linn
tied if you propose exchanging your
thousand bachelor privileges for such a
trihing consideration"
"Well, what do you want? Let us
hear"
ST don't know that want anything; ]
am very well contented as / am"
"But what would induce you to be-
come Benedict"
''Let me see; I don't wish to be un-
reasonable. Beauty is, of course, the
first requisite; wouldn't look at an
heiress without it. Mere beauty, how
ever, is a very slight matter. must not
be afraid of my wife's opening lips. OF
course she must sing, speak several
languages. Given all these, and suit
able income-say twelve to fifteen
thousand year-and I might think of
it them"
"What, nothing more ?" asked the
other, ironically, II am afraid you go too
cheap"
s'Bert Dean," said Harry, solemnly,
"you are a conceited fop A good look
ing one, I admit, and not originally des-
titute of brains; but eaten up, devoured
by inordinate vanity, and I firmly expect
to see you knocked down, some day, to a
girl with red ringlets."
Bert Dean shrugged his shoulders.
'sMay will expect me early" he said,
and retired to his dressing room.
He emerged from it an hour or SO
later, in the most scrupulously exquisite
condition. He had some excuse for
making extravagant demands about a
wife. His Cousin May called him when
all things were considered, the first
young man in society, and was casting
her eyes around for suitable match for
min. When he entered her well-lighted
rooms, they were already quite full. He
made q tour of the apartments, bestow-
ing a little languid notice on two or
three favored ones, and presently SUBJ
sided into chat with Mrs. Miller. This
lady was neither very young nor particE
lariy pretty, but he liked to talk to her,
and SO he remained at her side.
''Mr. Dean" she said, when half an
hour or more had elapsed, 81 am afraid
the young ladies will hardly forgive me
for absorbing your attention so long.
See-there is q young lady quite alone;
pray go and make yourself charming
Bert turned his head.
"Whatr' he exclaimed, 'sThat little
fright? Mrs. Miller, do be merciful!'
But Mrs. Miller did not smile.
ST beg your pardon, !" he said, politely.
Tt was very wrong to speak as did. :"
st was indeed. I am afraid she heard
you, too."
ssThat is not possibler' he said, with
real modification.
Mrs. Miller relented at the sight of his
vexed countenance.
''The only atonement you can offer, !"
she said, sis 10 seek an introduction and
make yourself as agreeable as you can.
Perhaps she will forgive you, or think
she did not hear Alright"
"Must I? Will you pardon me on no
other terms?"
Certainly not. When see the young
lady smiling upon you you shall be re-
stored to my esteem, and not till then. :"
ssCruel! but am obedient." And he
went in search of an introduction.
Mr.. Sinton chanced to be near at hand,
and opened his eyes slightly when he
learned his friends desire.
.sKnow her? lie said. "Of course I
dol Prophesied concerning her before we
came, red ringlets and all. Didn't think,
though, that your fate would be down on
you so soon."
.'Nonsense! Sinton, pray be serious"
because it is such serious matter
with you? Very thing was saying; how
unreasonable you are! But come on"
And Miss Pierce and Mr.. Dean were
presently exchanging opinions on the
staple party going topics.
To do Bert justice, he sincerely re-
gretted his thoughtless exclamation. He
was ungentlemanly, he knew, and he
had, besides SO great a horror of female
ugliness as to regard all subjects to it
with painful compassion. The dread
that Miss Pierce had overheard his re-
mark gave him just that sting of self re-
proach that one would feel had he alluded
to the infrmity of a deformed person in
his presence. He determined to be SO
agreeable and deferential that she
should imagine that her ears had de-
ceived her.
Conversation progressed very pleas
antly between the two.
Nice girl to talk to- Mr.. Dean de-
cided. .sSweet voice, no giggle, no af-
fectation."
Just as he made this reflection, he en-
countered the eyes of Harry Sinton, and
fancied he saw them in satrical amuse-
ment. Awakened by this glance to the
conviction that he was making himself
the subject of mirth, he sought the side
of an acknowledged belle, and saw
no more of Irene Pierce until dancing