The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1882-08-19


more of the members of the Spear
family. and friend or two besides.
Orville had indeed disappeared. He
had never been home since his visit to
Cornelia; and now the alarmed relatives
were anxious to get all the information
they could regarding the interview be-
tween Orville and Cornelia.
'sI had reason to be angry, Mrs.
Spear" said Corneia, proudly; "good
reason; and took off my ring, and gave
it back, and went out of the room. That
is all I know. I don't know when he
went or where. II thought he wouldn't
mind so much. I believed he had
stopped caring about me. -
''He ought to now, at all events, said
grandma.
"My boy is dead, I'm surel shall
have the pond dragged!'' said Mrs.
Spear, amidst her tears. ''He left all
his money at home. He wouldn't have
gone travelling without change of
clothes. Oh, you wicked girlp'
| "I hope" cried the eldest Miss Spear,
'that he'll haunt your
| ST could kill you, you hateful thing!"
cried the youngest Miss Spear.
Cornelia had kept up bravely until
|
upon her thus, she gave O little scream,
dead swoon and the water they sprinkled
in her face did not bring her to.
Grandma grew frightened.
ST hope it ism an attack of heart dis
ease" she said. "Poor child she looks
as If she were dead.
"Oh, do not say thatr' cried the
mother.
They gathered around Cornelia and
did all they could for her; and soon she
recovered and sat up; but all her pride
was gone.
ooh, dear!-oh, dear!' she sobbed
'I wish had died! 1 wish 1 had never
come to! Oh, Orville! Orville! what
has become of you?"
s'Ohl ohr moaned the mother.
"Ohi ohf' moaned the sisters.
And Cornelia's head fell back again.
Emma, get the lavender out of th'
ina-closet,' said grandma to he
daughter. Quick! It's on the cornel
shelfp
Mrs. Rashleigh rushed to the closet.
''It won't openp' she cried wildly.
"It's a patent lock-" said grandma
clocks as it shuts. Here's the key"
door, opened it, and uttered shrek.
There on the floor, huddled up unde
the shelf, lay poor Orville Spear.
. He was white and limp.
Cornelia sat and ssared at him in tn
most awful way: She thought him dead
but the more experienced mstron say
that he was yet living.
Sally was sent post. haste for the doc
tor; and there in Mrs. Rashleigh's draw
. ing-room he found Cornelia and Orvill
; lying quite unconscious, like Romeo an
; Juliet in the scene at the tomb, and tn
rest of the party in state of bewilder
ment and terror past description.
At last, however, both were conscious
and seated in arm chairs, regarded eac
other. while the observers kept silence
: and Mr.. Orville Spear uttered the frs
words.
"Of all confounded fools"
"Who, dear?" asked his mother.
i "Me, said Orville, regardless of gran
mar. who shut me in?'
"What were you in the closet for?
asked grandma, with a guilty conse
ence.
''To pick something up that t'rolle
!. there" said Orville.
"The ring:" asked Cornelia, .frar
, tically.
; eyes, the ring" said Mr.. Spea
. "More fool Some one banged th
door to. T shouted, and howled, an
, kicked, and no one heard me-"
"Oh! OH oh! ohp' shrieked Cornelis
! ST believe you hid there just to kill mt
/ for no other purpose than out of re
q venge."
|
Mr.. Spear "a jealous woman will
anything"
y 81 banged the door, Orville!' said oil
, Mrs. Rashleigh; Il! You'd left every
thing flying. just pushed it's I passed
you are alive; for people don't go int
night, in this small family. We use tn
is old Hepsiba, and you might have die'
there. Yes, and you'd have killed him
Cornelia," added the old lady, throw
, ing his pretty diamond ring on tn
; foor!"
"Oh~ moaned Cornelia, "Ohp
, "It wasn't her fault. / was con
founded fool all throughI' cried Orville
Il knew that closet had spring-lock
No; don't blame Cornelia.''
81 shall always blame myself sighed
Cornelia. ''Oh, how pale you are!"
'And how pale you are, Cornelia!
sighed Orville. t'Did you really car
when you thought was dead?''
ladies'" said Grandma Rashleigh
''now that Orville has had his wine an
biscuit, and is getting on, let us go int
the other room, and leaves these tw
young folks to talk things over te
gether."
She led the way; the others followed
When the tea-bell rang soon after, Or
vile and Cornelia came out of the draw
ing room, arm in arm, and the wedding
day was fixed.