The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-04-02
before him. pale as death,

| what she meant to say she did not utter
for at that moment a gentleman came to
her side, and with word of apology to
Harold, claimed her for the next dance
And just then his hostess touched his
arm with her fan.
'My husband is asking for you, Mr..
Arleigh, she said, adding lightly, ''Did
you not find my dear Ermengarde charm.
ing? She is lovely creature. Just the
least bit of coouette, perhaps. I be-
ieve she is engaged to the gentleman
who is dancing the German with her.
Harold Arleigh despised gossip and
| regarded all rumOrs as unreliable, but in
his present mood of suspense the words
of his hostess grieved him as the most
| bitter proven truth could do.
Ermengarde had pleged himself to an
| other, and this was the end of his dreams
| do was to bravely bear his disappoint-
ment. But how could he meet her day
after day and look upon her fair, dear
face, listen to her sweet, beloved voice,
and not betray the pain of his cruel loss?
Many things puzzled Harold during
the weeks that followed. Often he found
her regarding him with singularly
thoughtful, half resentful look in her
earnest blue eyes. Once coming into
the unlighted parlor at twilight, he saw
her sitting before the piano, her golden
head bowed low her lovely form shaking
| with silent sobs. And once, when they
were quite alone, she spoke kindly and
gently of the evening they met.
sYou asked me question that night, y
she said, with quiet dignity and deli
cate reluctance of manner; sit was
scarcely my fault that it was not answer
ed them
s'I know what you would have said,
Miss Burroughs, he returned, gravely;
IT am sorry for having SO startled and
offended you. was wrong and incon-
siderate, and can only acknowledge my
fault and ask pardon for it,
She regarded him for one instant with
shy wonder, and then turned away
haughtily, her fair face scarlet, and an
unmistakable expression of scorn and re-
sentiment in her blue beautiful eyes.
ST fear I am hopelessly stupid, re-
sumed Arleigh, in panied, perplexed
tones. 81 am sure I have displeased you
again, but I cannot conjecture how. O,
Ermengarde, will you never understand
that would not willingly give you one
moment of disquiet?'
ST do not profess to understand you
at all, she answered, as she left hirl.
9sShe denies me- even her friendship
he thought sorrowfully.
A long time after she had gone he stood
by the parlor window, gazing out into
the night-a black, dreary night, with
The rain drifting over the roofs in sheets,
and the wild wind roaring up from the
river.
"Just the evening for o cosy chat be.
fore a comfortable fire." observed Mrs.
Goldsby, coming in, and after ringing for
lights, drawing the heavy curtains with
little shiver. 81 thought Ermengarde
was with you, Harold-you are not go
ing? Mr.. Goldsby wished to show you
those curious things sent him to-day.
The dear fellow has passion for odd and
antique relics, and his study is quite an
interesting museum, / assure you. Alan,
do bring Miss Burroughs" concluded
the vivacious little lady.
Presently Ermengarde came-a slim,
elegant figure, dressed simply in black
silk, with cluster of white roses on her
bosom.
"Here is something you would like,
Miss Burroughs observed Mr.. Goldsby
taking from his box of relics curious
necklace of gold with a pendant of exqui-
site pearls.
eff could only know the history of
all these things" murmured the girl, as
she glanced ouer them-a tiny grotesque
bronze statuette, few coins centuries
old, cup of silver Enthusiastically carved,
and among them o small toy pistol with
ieweled stock ''This, at least, is not
SO very ancient she pursued, taking up
the diminutive weapon.
"Be careful, dear; it may not be
harmless" !" remarked her hostess.
The wise injunction came too late. AS
Ermengarde turned it about scrutiniz-
ingly, there was sharp click and re-
port. The dangerous toy dropped at her
feet, and she flung up her shivering
hands with little cry of fright and pain.
so, what have you done ?" cried
Harold, as he saw the red blood trickling
over her soft neck and staining the white
roses on her bosom.
'.It is nothing" gasped the girl, and
then tottered back upon the sofa, pale
and unconscious.
'sShe has only fainted,' said Arleigh,
as he bent over her. There is no cause
for alarm. The ball merely cut the ten
der fesh,''
But the host had gone, evidently to
send for physician, and his frightened
wife had followed him aimlessly into the
hall.
80, my love, my love, moaned Har-
old ST had almost rather see you lying
before me dead than to know that you
will live to be the wife of another"
It would seem that she heard his voice
and understood his words even in her
Inconsistencies, for she suddenly
opened her eyes and smiled like little
child awakening from dream.
''What were you saying, Harold ?"
she asked, family, regarding himewith q
wondering look.
ssThat it is agony to give you up to
another, my darling" he rejoined,
slowly.
Her pain and fright were all gone now.
She arose before him proudly, her pale
cheeks growing rosy.
Harold, she said, gravely, "if am
not your wife shall never be the wife of
another. You have wronged my love
and fidelity if you have ever thought
differently.
The spell of the sweet old love dream
was upon them. There was no need of
explanations, for heart spoke to heart
and understood each other; all anger was
forgiven and all mistakes forgotten.
81 suppose only for my stupid aeci-.
dent we should never have been reconzs
ciled, smiled Emengarde, by and By;