The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1881-05-06

with stified sob, Now, if she was only
like You Edie, it would be different. But.
we can't help it now" And Olive shut
her lips resolutely as she left the
room.
Five dressed herself elaborately, pre-
paritory to meeting Mrs. Desmond. Her
| trailing robe was of garnet velvet, and
garnet jewels glittered on her hair.
| around her throat and arms, and tiny
stars of garnets swung in her ears.
! When Olive went down to the parlor,
it was with the naughty air of queen
prepared to overwhelm, an offending sub
! ject. But her assumed hauteur deserted
| her when she entered the parlor. For
whom should she see but Edith Harvey,
! looking rarely lovely, clad in blue silk,
with pearl ornaments, and standing very
close to Papa Desmond, and Papa Des-
monds arm was actually around her
slender waist.
Olive was speechless with astonlsh-
ment, and before she could recover her
self Mr.. Desmond explained matters by
saying:
Edith, my love, this is my daughter,
Olive"
ssReally and truly?'' gasped Olive.
eyes really and truly, " said Papa Des-
mond, with a smile.
est seems too good to be true" said
Olive, kissing Edith and calling her
mother.
"Then you are not angry at the decep
ton we practiced?" asked Mrs. Desmond.
"Angryl No, indeed! I'm over
ioyedl But whatever made you think OF
"It was Frank who planned it all, +" re-
piled Mrs. Desmond.
eyes OLA" said Frank coming for
ward, ssI cannot tell lie. I planned the
awful web for you to get entanglel in.
There-don't try to thank me. Words
won't do the subject justice. know I'm
too good for this world, but I'm willing
to live hundred years or so for the
good of the rest of fmankind-and woman
kind also."
"Well, you are just darling any
way" declared Olive.
''Dear me-" soliloquized Frank.
, ''There is no accounting for the tickle
ness of the female mind. Not two months
. ago was called heathen for suggest
ing the present state of affairs. But I'm
thankful for the fact that I'm appreci-
, ated. They say genius is born to be
snubbed, but there has been an exception
to the rule in my favor"
| =
E no mistake, and beautiful Edith Harvey
, was her much hated step-mother she be
! gan to wonder if step-mothers were
! really such dreadful creatures, after all
and appealed to Frank for his opinion
but Frank told her that words were use
,, less when two innocent victims like them
: ! selves were proof against that extraordi
nary evil, s'step-mother."
The next day Olive was sitting by
! window, looking dreamily out on th'
landscape.
.'What are you doing, Olla?" queriet
I Frank.
= '.Thinking, replied Olive.
a "Don't do it any more, Ola; great ane
a sudden changes are not beneficial.
Olives Grecian nose took an elevated
: position, and Frank continued, "Tv
3 been thinking too, OLA"
.'How strangel'' replied Olive sarcas
tically. ST thought phenomena wer
. not in fashion till eighteen hundred ant
y y eighty-one."
s'Tve been thinking, Ola" resumet
Frank, 'sthat in this little affair concern
: ing stepmothers I have proved myself
: genius, and genius should be rewarded.
"Genius seeks its own reward" sal,
Olive.
..Hem Then I'll take you" said Frank
!, 'sThat is" he continued soberly an.
earnestly, ''if my darling little Ola vii
F.. have no objections. And don't yo1
: think you could love me just little?"
: IT don't want to love you a little, re
piled Olive, s'but great deal.
And-well, they said a good man,
! more loving and foolish things, and si
: months later Mr.. Desmond gave tn
! bride away ,and Frank Vaughan declare
: himself satisfied with his reward c
genius,