The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1885-11-13

ing the manuscript upon the desk,
began. I had devoted little time tic
elocution, and had looked the manu-
script over in the cars, so that was
fairly familiar with it, and as I pro-
ceeded, kept gaining additional cour
age, and the lecture was delivered in a
way that astonished myself and won
repeated plaudits.
A vote of thanks was unanimously
passed, the audience dispersed, and
was soon seated in the judges pleas.
ant parlor, where he poured out a
stream of congratulatory remarks.
Miss Lilly was silent; but I thought
| her looks Endorsed her fathers speech
l was much tired by my exertions, and
gladly availed myself of that excuse
| to retire.
Alone in my room, the possible con-
sequences of that evenings perform
ance troubled me. was deeply i'm
pressed by Miss Lily's beauty, culture
and bewitching manner. But how
could l continue the acquaintance?
l could not long remain in the char
acter of the professor, and an attempt
to explain might complicate matters
worse. The only way to do was to
leave without explaining and contrive
some way in the future to atone for
my folly. So, after breakfast took
q long walk during which 1 considered
matters, and at last stepped into a
telegraph Office to send for my valise,
which had almost escaped my recol-
lection. While standing in the office
preparing my message, q man came in
and began chatting with the operator.
The operator read the message, and
gave a cry ofsurprise.
"Look here, Bill" to the other man,
didn't Prof. Richardson lecture here
last night?"
Oh! what should lido if recognized as
the imposter!
"I don't know" was the answer. "I
heard he did, though
"Well, hereis a message to the Judge,
from him, which says he couldn' t come,
on account of the storm. Something
funny somewhere. I'd better get this
up to him as soon as possible"
So off he started to find boy to
carry the message. Whatever l did
must be done quickly. found that a
train left in 20 minutes. rushed back
to the judges house, got in without
being seen, grabbed my valise and was
soon on my way to New York from
which telegraphed for my valise. My
heart smote me for treating my hos
pitable host so. But felt the worse
at not being able to bid adieu to Miss
Lily. AS soon as [ arrived at my
hotel I sent the following note to the
judge:
Dear Sir: Unexpected circumstances
forced me into assuming the character
OF one far more wise. but l trust, not
more deserving than myself. [ shall
renew our acquaintance Gin propria
persona" in q way that 1 hope will ell
title me to your confidence, and ex-
cuse the deceptions I have practised.
With much esteem and respect, yours,
Caleb S. Rochester.
I heard what excitement followed
the delivery of the telegram and the
discovery of my absence. The Judge
and his wife were furious, but Miss
Lily was confident that it would come
out all right. Somehow, when my
note was received, it tended somewhat
toward softening thejudge's anger; but
for some time it was a mystery to
them all. The professor made a trip
to the place to investigate the matter,
and was invited to lecture. [ am
vain enough to be pleased with thefact
that the people declared thefalse pro-
fessor was the more eloquent of the two.
Later, 1 called ON the professor and
told him my story. Helaughed heart
lily at my adventure and proved to be
a whole souled man. Our acquaint-
ance ripened fast, and it was not long
before l was in S-again, with a cor
dial Endorsement from him. Miss Lily
herself answered my ring, and thelook
of astonishment upon her counten-
ance l shall neverforget. The profess
sor's letter had made every thing salts
factory. The judge laughed long and
loud as I told him how left upon my
former visit Icalled again and very
often, and one night there was we'd
ding in the quiet parlor, at which Miss
Lily became Mrs. Rochester. The
Judge declares that our boys have
Grecian countenances, and he calls one
Phides and the other Praxitcles, al
though their names are George and
Rufus.-Independent.