The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1885-10-16
HER TEST.

She was the embodiment of BEATTY.
None could have thought otherwise.
seeing her as she sat there alone on the
piazza, heraovely form slightly inclined,
her hands olasped on her lap, and one
small and saapely foot lightly tapping
the floor; the long, sweeping lashes
dropping dsnguidly over her dreamy,
lustrous eyes, and sweet smile play
ing around her scarlet mouth, which
was open Just enough to exhibit the
even tips'of her pearly teeth.
The restless, crimson tide 'coursing
beneath tthe pure, transparent skin
would occasionally suffuse her cheeks
and then pass gradually away, only to
surge Back again and mantle face and
neck with burning blush.
Yes, Minerva Lambert was beautiful, 4,
and never did she look more so than
now, aas, flushed with apparent excite
ment, and totally unconscious of the
charming picture she forRned, she sat
there where the long trailing vines
swavad to and fro on one side, casting
fantastic shadows On the floor. and on
theScther motley flowers rodding lazily
in the gentle breeze that lifted sweet
fragrance from their 'coroform crests,
Whi2e the slanting beamsof the evening
surfrested like halo oon her bowed
head
Minerva had two t0vers-Shat is, two,
on4y one of whom she could think of ac-
cepting as her companion through life.
Literally, she had at least dozen,
bat only two dared hope for her hand.
These were Leroy Beaumont and
Mark Spencer.
LEROY was the son6f wealthy parents.
Mark was comparatively poor. Leroy
was very handsome, Mitb1iark, flashing g
eyes, black, glossy hair and fierce-look-
ing mustache; Mark was not, though
his bright ard ever smiling counten-
:ance wore anything but az a<iisagreeable
aspect.
They were not friends, but it was be
cause of their rivalry. They had never
been personally acquainted. Leroy,
thinking that features suchie.s his were
essential to any one whonwolld win the
hand of that beauty, was, CT snsequently
confident of his ability to- gain the vic
;bCry, and. perhapG, was sslnprejudiced.
Marks opinion was different. AL
though not nearlyso confident of sue
cess as his competitor, he was too noble
a.nature to allow hatredtsor even ieal-
ausy to be excited u5ithint Inn, and he
believed that Minerva Lambert would
no5 judge by personal appearance which
Wes most deservingJGf the eInnc ch-coveted
hand.
But Minerva, it ur1st be said, had a
few romantic notions in her,head. Her
father, knowing theweputation of Mark
Spencer, advised herEo accept him in
preference to the 0thsr, ibut >she hesi-
tated.
Mr.. Beaumont waa 80 i,handsome, so
tall and graceful and he had such
bright and flashing eyes, and then that
mustache Was an adornment
that DIR. Spencer eouldnot boast of.
Etla she love Leroy Beaumont ? She
thought she did, though when in the
society of Mark Spencer she was in
lorha- She was not eapable OF read
ing her own heart.
New. they had both proposed. This
very. Gag they had both been az her
feet, ,ypO1ring forth the story of their
ove, and begging for hers in return.
Ofeourse they did not ,deFthis at the
same: time, but at different hours Of the |
lay, and neither knew of 1the others |
She dig not give them her answer,
out dismissed them both with the infor-
nation that they must wait until to-
and thus give her time to de- |
,ide. Then she set her. wits to work.
Which should she accepte She was
n dilemma. She was little partial
% Beaumont, but then she knew so lit
lie of his character. Spencer she knew
% be true gentleman, but then he
acked shat ;astractiveness of feature
which, she thn1ght, would have made
him look so much more noble and man
y.
She hit upon plan which pleased
Ter, and she immediately began the sex-
,cution of it.
She wrote two notes exactly alike,
md sent one of them to each of her
overs.
They ran thus:
"Meet me at Soclack this evening sst
he old elm tree on the river bank,
'ear my fathers house"
1t was all she wrote. She knew they /
Ees1ld both be at the appointed spot at
he appointed time. each thinking him
elf the favored Sastor
She was thinking of this as she sat
lone on the piazza, whe1e the long
veniEg shadows were creeping across
be floor, and the rays of the setting sun
7ere Struggling through the network
f vines to kiss her blushing cheek.
She could think of no better way of
nding out whether Leroy Beaumont
'as true gentleman or not.
It was to see how he would act on
nding his rival at the place of meeting
nat she had concluded to make this
ppointment with both. Il
II her plan failed. she would contrive
mother, for she had resolved that no