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

OppOSlle SCN,-TeSdTOeu women as
handy creatures about the house, as
mother. or sister; but the thought of
loving and wedding never entered
my mind. But it is tile we know to-
day what our minds will be to- morrow,
and it is not infrequent that these cool
headed people 0 pride myself as one
of the coolesD are the more often
changed. Yes, "wise men change
their minds most often"
In few moments the organist be-
gan. and soon the T ch. deep tones of
the great organ caused me to forget
my embarrassment. The first hymn
| was announced and the choir arose.
Although unfamiliar with the muse,
sang with perfect ease, and saw that I
! was really attracting attention. In all
that vast aud 'ence not one disapproy-
| ing face did | see as poured forth the
! best bass l could command.
The minister proceeded to read from
the Holy Scriptures, while I began a
survey of his auditors. With calm in
difference l adm red the intelligent
faces before me and was proud that 1
could maintain my composure. before
such an assembly, and under such cir
cumstances. The good people listened
intently, devoutly trying to catch every
word as it dropped from their pastors
lips. Everybody seemed most deeply
interested-no! There was young
lady who was not! She sat near the
center of the congregation, and Oh,
my stars she was looking my way!
| A blonde, about twenty one l Judged.
and very beautiful. Ny face! Was I
blushing9 If so it was the first time
in my fe. But she blushed; her eyes
dropped for moment, and then
looked at me again. Oh, such eyes!
sat spell-bound till the choir arose
to render the anthem, and, horrors! [
had to look over my neighbor's shoul-
der to get the page, and then awk-
wardly tumble my leaves, finding the
place gust in tine to come in on the
last strain of the first part.
Where was my voice! And how [
| trembled! What could have been the
matter with me? Well, the anthem
was finished. and I had certainly lost
my credit. for 1 did sing shamefullv.
But those blue eyes in the center of
the auditor. UNI were upon me, and l
couldn't s'ng.
The minister went on with his SER
mon. but for nv life [ did not know
what he was talking about, and fear,
l cared less.
The same with that little blue-eyed
lady-she couldn't keep her eyes on
the preacher at all, and what was she
to me that [ should watch her so close
| ly? But there was queer feeling in
my breast-I determined to meet that
girl.
And so 'made eyes" at her End
she ''made eyes, at me till the last
word of the bened cton. When we
had left the church, Violet presented
me to many of her fl. ends as we passed
1 through the vestibule, but not one
could | have recognized two minutes
afterwards, so far in another direction
was my mind, | turned upon her some
| what Indignantly
..Vi, what evil demon possessed you
! to play such a game on me?"
/ ''Why, Charley, how do you like
Miss Mansfeld?'
You are eluding my question, but
who is Miss 'Mansfield?' said I.
.'She is beautiful blue-eyed blonde
that sat near the center of the church.
and who couldn't tell for seal skin
what was the preachers text. Yes,
the same that completely absorbed the
attention of the new member of our
choir to day. and made him sing the
second verse of the last hymn while
neighbors were singing the third. All,
cousin, you did finely to-dayp'
''Vi, don't understand you. You
are talking in riddles" said /.
Poor fellow, you are to be pited
for your thick-headedness, said Vio-
let, with twinkling eyes.
L said no more, but wake on
thoughtfully. Despite my best efforts
l coul not drive those delicious blue
eyes from my mind s vision, and some
how | fe that Providence had hand
! in this business, and began to change
| by views of life entirely; and yet had
not met her.
The next day was rushed in bust
| ness as usual, but to the great amaze
ment OF the clerks 1 gave many dis
cordant orders, rs,-more mischief caused
by blue eyes.
Hurrying across the street late in
Runaway! runaway"
Glancing up the street which led
from Parts Drive. l saw a magnificent
span of blacks dashing at break-neck
speed. the line dangling on the
ground; and something in the screams
of the occupants of the carriage nerved
me to save them. when on most occa-
s ons of this kind l would have been
the fir.t to clear the track, and let
folks attend to their own runaways.
Summoning all my courage l pushed
through the scampering crowd and
sprang for the BITS of the runawavs as
they came tearing along, caught them,
and by a most desperate struggling, in
which l was dragged a long way and
severely brushed. stopped the team.
just then the careless coachman came
painting to their charge
Sure. sab, beg de pahdon OBJ yer,
boss, but de onery fools lit out double
quick down dar, while rs gibben some
pennies to a poor beggar passin' by.
Hebben hang dat beggar."
CT course as soon as the carriage
stopped its occupants were not long IN
aliphtinp and whom shOuld thew he