The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1885-12-18

and SO I said that I would wear it, if
he wanted me to.
"And would I consent to be called
| little Mrs. Haynes?"
eyes, I would consent"
''Then it was all right. He would
never look about for wife, nor should
| I ever look about for a husband. We
were Mr.. and Mrs. Haynes. Did that
suit me?"
ooh, yes, that suited me! I like
that!"
"Well, then, he should have to buy
me a little gold ring to wear upon my
| third finger, to let folks know that
| some one owned me-"
'No, didn't want ring!"
''Tut, tut, tut! That would never
do. People who were engaged to be
| married always gave such pledges.
He should speak to father about it,
| SO that it would be all right. If he
was willing would wear the ring?"
"No, l didn't like rings"
"Wouldn't I like a ring that he
would buy?" =.
mol wouldn't like ring at any
rate'
During his stay, which was protract-
ed to months instead of weeks, he
strove in every way to change my de-
termination about the engagement
ring as he termed it. | was inexora-
BILE. A ring would not wear Not
even when he made ready for his de-
parture, and told me that in a few
weeks he should be thousands of
miles away from me, nor when he
piled up before me pictures that he
la 4 Il l.. L. l,
long summer hours that hung heavily
decision. would take the finely ex-
ecuted drawings, and prettily framed
portrait OF himself, but l would have
no rings.
At last he went away from us. I
shall never forget the morning, or how
cold, dull, and cheerless it seemed to
me. How dreary and desolate every
thing looked because he was going
away. 1t was no everyday grief that
bore down on my young heart, no
childish promise that assured him, as
he kissed my quivering lips, that I
would never forget him, and that I
would always be his little Mrs.
Haynes.
"Would write to him and sign that
name?"
eyes, I would"
~ was a good girl, then, and he
would never. forget me. Good-by!"
"Good-by!" My voice trembled and
futtered upon the word. Inmy short
life they were the hardest had found
to speak.
During the next two years no lady
love could have been more faithful to
her absent knight than was to Frank
Haynes. The brightest moments of
my life circled about the reception of
his letters, the greatest Joy of life was
in answering them. Among my school
mates I had no childish love,no juven-
lies to walt upon me to sleigh-rides
and parties that the children in the
neighborhood delighted in. If [ could
not go and come alone Iwould remain
at home, whatever might be the in
ducements offered to tempt me from
my answering course. [ was little
Mrs. Haynes, and little Mrs. Haynes
| was bent upon remaining.
But while was in the very midst of
my heroic devotion terrible rumor
reached my ears, a rumor that Frank
Haynes, my self-appointed lord and
master, was engaged to a young and
beautiful lady in the city. 1t was
dreadful blow to my precocious hopes
and plans, though for long while I
battfed against crediting the report.
Hadn't Frank told me that he would
never look about for q wife? That |
was the only little lady who should
bear his name? Didn't he write me
regularly every fortnight, commencing
l, 1o++ ,,
and telling me to be faithful to him?
And-and-would he do this if he was
engaged? No, not d bit of it! Some
ore had maliciously lied about him,
had manufactured the story from their
own wicked Imagination. [ would not
belilve it, though the whole world
stood up before me and testified to it's
truth.
AS If to reward me for my faith, and
set my preiudiced little mind to rights,
the next coach sat Frank down at our
door. He thought he must come and
see his little wife once more, he said, las
/ went timidly forward to meet him,
though he thought it very bad taste
in me to grow at such Il rapid rate.
He was afraid I'd grow out of my
engagement; he should have to put
a loaf of hot bread on my head
to keep me within bounds. We
had been engaged two years; was II
years old, and head taller than
was at 10. He was going to Europe
to stay three Or four years; what
would be when he returned? He did
not dare to think. He believed [
would be as tall as he by that time.
Wouldn't l?
Il hoped So" 1 answered, tartly.
the while of the story of his
engagement.
"Whew! You are taking on the airs
of fine young lady already, my little
Phebe." he answered, laughing hearth
ly "You wouldn't give me one of
your brown curls to-day, if my heart |
should break for it, would you?'
"No, have none to spare"
"Not one?'
"Why?"
"Cause-"
'"Cause what?"
because she has heard strange re-
ports of you, Frank" broke in my
mother, mischievously. "She hasn't |