The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-06-25
WIDOWS, FERNS, AND ROMANCE.
CHAPTER I.

Is it sarcasm, meaning to insinuate
that those who indulge in romance are
green, like ferns?
No, my dears; for if it referred to color,
the folly might as truthfully be termed
gray; and we have all learned that ro-
mantle ideas are not confined to the
green age of youth.
It was lovely day in September that
a party was gathered in the porch OF
Rose Cottage, discussing the feasibility
of a trip up the mountain-side for ferns
and MOSES.
If Hi. Norton could go to-day with
them, all agreed that it would be charm
ing. Hi. was their favorite guide, and
an excursion was readily postponed if
there was any hope of having Hi. by
waiting.
Our party was composed of James and
Hannah, John and Maria, pretty gray
haired Mrs. Bedell Ia widow whose sor-
row had some time ago reached the PEN
sive, interesting stage), DIR. Malbone,
and poor, Insignificant I, that in our
rambles was paired off with Hi.
Little did T care, for His ''talk'' was
far more interesting to me than that OF
my companions such original remarks
and ideas of things as he treated me to-,
brimful of natural wit and keenness It
was he that first opened my eyes to the
fact that DIR. Malbone was infatuated
with our sweet-faced widow of forty,
but neither fat nor fair. Surely it was
not physical beauty that rendered her SO
charming; yet charming she was to ali,
male or female, young or old.
James and Maria had each accomp-
anied their respective spouses upon their
annual trip to escape the af1iction of hay
hot on
The afflicted Hannah and John were
happy to feel that there was one spot at
least upon this earth where they might
find rest and comfort; and their consorts
were content that they were relieved,
though Yankee thrift must have sug-
gested to them that it was moneyed
pity that the hay-fever patients had not
been mated-it would have saved half
the annual expense Thus the innocent
must sufer-even in their pocket.
The doctor was taking his annual va
cation of two months, which tells its
own tale, that he was a popular New
York IN. Y. surgeon, with an extensive
and remunerative practice, who could
well afford to leave his few summer pa
tients to the poorer doctors.
We must tell the whole truth, that the
REIMBURSEMENT was not as great as seems
at first sight, his practice being among
the upperest tendon; during the summer
months the best of it might be found at
the mountains, among the lakes, in the
and Wales, as well as generally dis
tributed over continental Europe and the
Pacific Isles; in fact, for four months of
the year he would have needed seven
1eagued boots or q winged steed to have
attended his then widely-spread practice.
CHAPTERu II.
There was something strange about
the first meeting between Grace Bedell
that stupid I should never have no.
ticed it but for Hi. s calling my attention
toit.
We six, the two welded couples, the
widow and myself, had just returned
from a sunset picnic upon the side of
the smaller mountains, and Hi. had met
us at the gate as we returned, to learn of
our plans for the morrow; at that very
moment we discovered on the porch with
our host and hostess the most noble
ooking man that ever saw.
A form neither tall nor slender, short
nor stout, but thoroughly pleasing to the
eye, and figure that inspired confidence q
at once-one of those few forms and
faces that one calls to instinctively for
help, with never a thought of the lack OF
previous acquaintance.
Our hostess advanced toward us, say
ing that she would introduce us to cher
annual boarder, DR.. Malbone."
I bowed first, and then stepped back
ward SO that stock beside our guide,
Hi. He spoke in low voice, s'Look at
Mrs. Bedell, ma'am." I looked in
r.. %ho
vulsed with an agonizing expression;
but with woman's self-control, her
features were calm, though pale, before
the doctor had shaken hands all around.
He bowed gracefully to Mrs. Bedell, but
when he raised his head it was he that |
was embarrassed. He had not observed |
her before, and apparently the name was
unknown to him; but the lady herself |
had certainly at some time been far other |
than stranger to him.
The old, old story, loved and parted! |
The unwritten history of the worldl |
Could we ''a-bear" to read, even with |
one skilled enough to write it?
CHAPTER III.
The constraint at first noticeable be-
tween the doctor and Grace, in our free
and easy life soon disappeared entirely;
whether they found opportunity for some
mutual explanation, or concluded to be
friends upon trust, none of us were able
to say; yet they were apparently friends,
and that knowledge suficed us.
Nothing is more disagreeable for
small party than to know that there are
two persons present that you must for
ever be planning to prevent coming
in contact lest it destroy all harmony.
With us now all was sunny; the doc
tor gallantly cared for the widow on all
our excursions. IF we geologized, he
Clipped and hammered each
rock that struck her fancy; if we botan-
lied, his middle-agedness appeared no
obstacle to his clambering up to all sorts
Of impossible heights, or down to dusky
depths to assist in adding to our lists Of
hard -get-at-able plants.
II piscatorially inclined; he patiently
wormed her hooks, though it must be
he that did join with the
other horrid men in laughing at the idea
Of strong-minded, politically inclined
requiring one of the sterner sex
TO stand at her elbow to arrange her bait
30 that she could catch her fish. He
thought her vaunted independence but
an empty boast.
And then, too, he would say that he
should either have to bring his ether to
soothe the poor fsh's agony, as we
II 4