The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1885-12-04
LOVE AND FATE.
BY MAEIAN ROMERO,


The August sunshine lies warm and
bright above them, the birds are sing
ing In the branches over their heads
and at their feet are beds of fragrant
old-fashioned flowers. Behind them
at some distance coff stands a large
brown house, whose gabled roof is
half over-grown mithiiyy, and upon
whose imposing Blacknoaken door is
inscribed the name, Elm Lodge. Fa,
away to the west lie the purple Cat
skills, to the south and east rise gently
sloping hills, upon which peaceful
aocks are straying.
sit is a beautiful home, Professor.
Are you not happy ihere?"
The lady is watching his strong, earn.
est face as she waits his answer. She
is of medium height, slender, and not
pretty. She has large, gray eyes. 1t
has been noted by observers that the
eyes of these two people, Professor
Bettinger and his bupil, Madge Kirby.
are exactly alike. Sheiis dressed in a
shabby, gray gown whieh has for adorn-
ment only a bunch of wild, white dai-
sizes at her throat. The Professor
speaks slowly:
"It is beautiful horne L have been
happy here all my life nntil-' He
stops and is biting his lips while a
slightly annoyed expression passes
over his face.
"Until came to disturb your peace?"
Madge is speaking softly, sadly, and she
timidly lays her hand upon his arm as if
to plead for his forgiveness for some
| fancied wrong.
eve bave been much together, pro-
fessor," she says. II have grown to
find ny-life -bfighter-and more full of
purpose since l knew you, so noble,
SO grand, so wise. 1 regret that you
have not been equally happy in my
tpresence."
81 did not, do not say So" he is
speaking with some hidden agitation
and his gaze rests a little yearningly on
her face.
."No, but it is so. 1 can see 1T more
dearly of late. You are nervous,
ia at ease, often sad with me.
Why dear friend, is this? Do tire
you with my chatter, or-is it some
thing entierly apart from me? Tell
me- she is unconscious of the ear
nestlonging in her eyes as they naeet
his, s'what is it which troubles you?
"Miss Kirby, Madge, Unjust not tell
you Of my trouble. Dear, you have no
trouble; at least, thank God"
He sees her start and blush. He is
unconscious Of that little tender word
he has spoken. 1t was in his heart,
and he uttered it unknowingly. There
is long silence between them. Then
she speaks in low tone:
Professor, am going away to-
morrow. I received a letter this
morning from my aunt, stating that
she will accompany me from Elm
Lodge to my future home. Soon l
must part with you, with this dear
pleasant summer home and all it's
memories, and forever"
He is looking sadly down on her
face. He thinks of the long bright
days of happy companionship which
they have enjoyed together, of the
books they have read and written, of
the pleasant strolls by the river, and
it seems to him that a shadow has
fallen over the beauty of the afternoon,
a shadow which lies between them and
blots from each their wistful faces for
ever. "Madge"-he islooking into her
eyes, "Oh, it seems SO hard that we
must part. You will not utterly for
get-not quite Danish our happy sum-
mer from out your life?"
She answers fervently. ri will not
do that, dear friend; 1 would not if 1
could"
Tt is perhaps well that she scarce
ly understands her own feelings
in the matter. She speaks at length
of her plans for the future.
She tells him about her betrothed hus-
band, of the gay life she expects to
lead abroad. OF her ambitions and
hopes. To all he listened quietly and
with a. grave almost Indifferent air.
Once he tells her to be good and true
and earnest in her future life, as wife,
mother and a Christian woman. The
tenderness of his face haunts her long
afterward, even now it saddens her
strangely.
- "WlH you sing to me, Professor?''
she asks after they have retraced their
steps and are seated in the vine cover
ed porch, while the sunset fades over
the hills ig
He has a deep mellow voice, and
now as he sings a tender strain
she is thrilled almost to tears.
The Professor has few pupils,
young ladies of 16 and 20, who now,
on hearing the well known baritone
voice, come trooping out from the
school room, with their lady teacher.
The teacher is a tall, suberb looking
woman, with brilliant black eyes and
rosy cheeks. She is far handsomer
than Madge Kirby, and rumor says
she expects to marry Professor Bet
finger.
It is this which he is singing:
"Falling leaf and fading tree,
Lines of white on.a sullen sea,
Shadows rising on you andme,