The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1885-12-04

broke the stiffness. Brilliant moon
beams silvered the sharp snow-crystals
covering lawn and flower beds; ruddy
firelight from within touched with iri-
descent tints those clustered on win
dow-sill and pane. So had he seen the
old house wrapped in it's snow mantle
on many a winter night. It's unchanged
beauty awakened a yearning pain as
for something unvalued before, whose
3oss brought shame, remorse, misgiv-
ing.
The warmth rushed out to meet him
as the heavy door opened. More red
ly fell the freight on the oaken pam
elled hall than on the snow without.
1t hickered softly on Helen's FURNISHED
head as she greeted him with out
stretched hands, tender, shining, well
coming eyes, cheeks carmined with
pleasure.
Her loveliness struck him like rev.
elation. The touch other hands made
him shiver. Imagination placed be-
side her the figure of the woman whom
he had made his wife. He turned
aside with a gesture OF dismay-an
inward groan.
'sHe is alive-he is, indeed" Helen
said eagerly, mistaking his movement,
thinking n Norton feared her uttering the
grim Too late!' ".He heard the
wheels; you must go to him without
delay. He has watched foryour COM
ing, oh, so anxiously!"
The doctor came out of the sick
room as Norton approached it. He
had known Norton from boynood, SO
understood somewhat of the anxiety
ha hol oo,,CoI NJ, p1ol-a
"Your uncle longs to see YOU" he
said, laying his hand impressively up,
on the young mans arm; s'but can
not allow you to enter his sroom unless
you are sure you can control your
ment may-nay must-be fatal. Gain
say him in nothing. Let him die in
peace"
A choking sensationrosein in Norton's
throat as lie passed to the bedside.
The gray head lay motionless upon
the pillow, but the dimming eyes food
ed with affection, fastened on his face
the feeble fingers enclosed his lovingly.
"You have come at lastp he muir
INJURED, trying to lay his hand on Nor
tons bowed head, as he knelt beside
the bed. "What has kept you from
me SO long-nny boy, my SOM"
Norton muttered something unir-
telligible, the realization of his deceit
bowling his head yet lower. With a
sudden gathering together of his ener-
gies, Mr.. Blake reused himself, and un-
needing any reply, continued:
"You are my heir, Norton. 1 have
left everything to you-everything
Even Helen have l trusted to you.
But now, lying here, l misdoubt if I
have acted wisely by her.
Promise, by all you hold most stsacred,
that you will make Helen and her in
terest the first and chief reconsideration
of your life
A warning pressure from the doctors
fingers and Norton promised. SINGER
ely, too; indeed he felt o. sel1se of relief
that the pledge exacted was one he
could accept. He would keHelen's
well-being the study of his life
'It can be done but in one way" re-
sumed the old man with dangerous ex-
citement, st hat is by making heryour
wife You will fulfil the wish OF my
heart-ratify the tacit bond between
you? Oh, Norton, say you wils-do
not deny me the only thing asky'
Again the warning pressure as the
doctor vainly tried to soothe his pa
tient. Norton hesItated. What could
he say-mhat do2 The color mount
ed to his brow his lips trembled.
"Say something for heavens sake2'
whispered the doctor with Energy:-
opacity hnm in some way-any way
or I cannot answer GOr the conss--
quences."
Once more N NortSn's fatal weakness
paralyzed HBwilI. Through his home
ward Journey he bad persuaded him
self that noshing hou39 induce him to
let his uncle. die Ia, igrsyrance of hiss
true position. his otfens%umforgiven as
many, were hstter faced than that
So he had oHlhimself-sGidno now?
promise, Nortofa- premise The
sh11N voice ra<1g piercing Eiamperatlver
thedying eyesslookediup' with a pleads
ing agony, the.thin Aands etutched at
his ss if they wouIai ring from HIM.
more than life ITSELF, and Norton:
''Rring HeEsfI!' Where Is Helen?"'
Mr.. Blake Observation-Disclosures,
.'Lett me hear her pramise- 100 Only
then. can l resIin 'peans:'
HGfen came Of16 OfeW neStE 10 Cnf,
bed with an expression of calm repose.-
of trastful STRENGTH on,har beautiful
face. Quickly this~cArsngesKt to one of
awstrilek reserve as sEae
glanced from tile gray. imEerioHs feas-
ures Of the dying man,to, those of hev
as she belieVed-lcwar, set In n white
look of!pain end .fean: LGao@ing won--
deringly from, one tO tfss other, tAs.
poor girl faltered out tile promise na-
quired of her., Mrg Blake holding in his
a hand of each as the words were spCke-
en-.
1t was to Hblen but, Ting sealing oja
vow-unuttered, indeed, but long AK
istert No dbnbt of: Narton's truth
or honor assailed her.: Yet, looking
up into his gale, dDawn face, vague
panic struck ooldlW to her hears, so
joyhss, SO despairmgl. were the ayes
that met her owIa
stNnnc dinittis!. the sick man nnur-
muned, and sank haok Gpon his pillows
faint and eShausted.
LIZ
To the ama9ements alike of doctor