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

surance to propose to fellow, SO I'll
offer myself Now. my beloved cousin,
I lay my heart, hand and fortune at
your feet, and throw myself into the
bargain. Say that magical word, and
your humble servant will consider that
he has been transported into the seventh
heaven"
''What a simpleton You are, FrankP'
said Olive. "The idea of of our getting
married! I am going to marry some
great and distinguished man."
"Just my ticket" was the nonchalant
reioinder. ST am, or was, going to
marry some beautiful and accomplished
lady, but, being very philanthropic in
my disposition, I concluded to sac
rifice myself. Yet if you won't have me,
guess I shall achieve my early ambi-
ton"
s'If conceit was of money value 1
think you could pay off the national
debt, Frank" said Olive with smile.
"Don't be personal" )" replied Frank,
"but shake hands and make up and talk
about stepmothers. What are you going
| to do about the matter? Receive them
with open arms and be happy, or pout
and let them coax you?"
s'Neither!' said Olive, the angry
CLEAN flashing in her black eyes again.
II nm going away where they won't see
me-"
sAnd let concealment like worm
| 'sDo be serious for just one minute!'
| interrupted Olive. completely exas-
perated with his bantering tone. What
would you do if you were in my place,
Frank?''
ST might relate to you my expert
ence."
"Don'tp' interrupted Olive. "We've
listened to that often enough already
And just remember that Aunt Gertie il
an ideal stepmother, and not like othe,
stepmothers."
''Well," said Frank, with borrowed
gravity, sthe first thing in consideration
is the terrific fact that your fathers wife
is now stepmother. That is crime Of
itself. When a lovely and amiable
woman becomes stepmother she is i'm
mediately transformed into all that's
| evil. But then this woman a week age
was not stepmother, and maybe thu
hoofs and horns haven't sprouted yet
So I think you had better receive YOU
fathers wife, I'll be around to protec
Jou in case of an-emergency."
The tears began to moisten Olive
dark eyes.
"You haven't one bit of feeling for me
Frankp' she said, piteously.
"Now you wouldn't say that, Ola, |
, you could see the frantic struggle that
going on under my left vest pocket; bu
seriously, little coz, the wise thing to d.
is to see your fathers wife and give he
! fair trial; take her on trial, at least
and when everything is lovely you cal
thank me for being your wise counsello
in your hour of trouble.
sYou're heathen, Frank, and I'm GO
ing away tomorrow" And away walke'
, Olive, looking very indignant and feel
ing very miserable.
She was as good as her word, and mex
day she went on visit to friends in Ne,
England, to be gone for an indefnit
/ length of time. It was all to no purpos
that her aunt expostulated, coaxed
, argued, and even scolded, for Olive wa
very wilful and determined when sh
choose to be.
But Olive mnst not be blamed to
harshly. It seemed terrible fact tha
her father had married at all, and t
, marry without her knowledge or consen
was too awful to be endured; so she dc
termined to punish him by not seein
; his wife. Olive had sometimes though
: that it would be very nice to have som
one to love her in her mamma's place
some one that would turn their grand
} seryant-ruled mansion back into tn
groove that mamma had kept it in.
Yet Olive did not pause to think, bu
acted on the rash impulse of wounde
.. feeling, and when Mr.. and Mrs. Des
mond came they found that their daugl
FOR had fed as from a plague.
A month after Olive Desmond ha
taken her sudden departure she was SIT
ting on the porch of New Englan
farmhouse, trying. very hard to sb
miserable, and succeeding admirably.
"Oh, dearl'' she sighed. ''I wish
had stayed at Aunt Gertie's and see
papa's wife, anyhow. She couldn't hav
hurt me, and I might have learned t
like her just little"
Olive was about ready to indulge in
good cry when a servant brought her
, letter. The letter was from Fran
Vaughan, and he wrote that she migt
return now, as the coast was clear, an
no sign of the enemy present" and tbs
8 he would be "body-guard and prever
? bloodshed in case of q sudden attack,
l and he really hoped she would com
back, as he was most "confoundedl
J. lonely"
: Olive was only too glad of an invits
tien to return, and in few days she we
. reinstated at Aunt Gertrude Vaughan
, Two or three days passed, and one afte
noon Olive was seated in favorite moo
in. the garden. trying to think what ws
= the wisest course to pursue with regar
to her step-mother, when her meditation
: were interrupted by Frank rushing up
her and whispering, mysteriously:
''She's GOMEZ
!, ssWho has come ?" asked Olive.
Haven't you heard? Didn't metht
tell you that her niece was coming
visit her ?" queried Frank.
!; .Ohi" said Olive, looking relieved.
ssWel1, she has come, and of cours
: you'll think she is dreadful. But col
slider your self martyr, and try to mai
the best of il"
. Contrary to Franks prediction, Oil,
/ was wonderfully pleased with this niet
of Aunt Gertrnde's. She had never hear
4 of her before, but she was too much il
! terested in the Edith of the present
: inquire about the Edith of the past. I
r Olive. Edith Harvey seemed like a livin
portrait of those rarely beautiful wome
- one seldom sees outside picture franz
She was rather tall, slender and gracefu
I with pink and lily complexion, and Q
I aureola of golden hair waved naturall.
= | 70 sfay wit