The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1885-09-04


II am quite shocked at you, Kitty, to
make such an idol of noser'
And then she continued, as usual,
about Sir Charles.
Meanwhile Mr.. Dacre seemed quite
happy, and said he had his daily letters
from Dolly as regularly as when she
was with Mrs. Lloyd. Was my be-
loved sister growing deceitful?
I kept all this from my mother; but
I grew more and more wretched over
Dolly's letters. A picnic would be "glo-
rious,, for Sir Charles was going. She
had spent the whole morning, quietly
with Sir Charles" Once he was indis-
posed, and she had ''nursed him, played
for him, sung to him."
Well, I could do nothing more. Ire
solved to say not another word about
him to any one else. began to dislike
the very sound of his name, OF rather
the sight of it; and, when Dolly declared
l should like him as much as every one
else did, 1 made up my mind that L
hated him. [ wrote one more tender
appeal, which said was my last.
Every Tuesday mother and I had
Dolly's letters, but one day there was
none by my breakfast plate as usual.
Mother read hers.
dolly says she has written to you,"
she observed presently. "How can it
be that you have not received it?"
Mistakes of the postoffice are so rare,
we could not but suppose she had omit
ted to post it. By the next delivery,
however, I received letter from Mr..
Dacre. containing an enclosure which
turned out to be a letter to me from
Dolly. A few lines from him ran thus:
DEAR KITTY had read too much of the
inclosed before I discovered the mistake If
you receive letter from Dolly before this
reaches you, you will have discovered she has
missent the letters I shall run down to High
wood without loss of time.''
1 had not received any letter then,
but by the second country delivery
came one directed to Jack at once. The
letter he had read began thus:
"All you say is useless, my darling. I love
Sir Charles devotedly, and he has this day de-
know am engaged! told him gentleman
was coming to see me; but he seemedlittle con-
cerned at this piece of information"
So far Mr.. Dacre had read and the
mine was sprung.
I locked my room door, and fell back
despairing, into an easy chair. was
resolved to hide from my mother till
Mr.. Dacre had seen Dolly. I hunted
up Bradshaw, and found that train
started about four o'clock that would
convey me to Highwood by 80. If
Dolly wrote me at once I should get
her letter by Thursday; but of course
should hear from Jack on Wednesday.
dreaded every ring, every postman's
knock. All day Wednesday passed and
no letter arrived from my sister and
her lover
On Thursday morning I ran down
when heard the usual welcome sound.
On the table lay a thick letter addressed |
in Dolly's handwriting. I ran up to
mamma and gave her the one found in
closed in it for her; then / sat down to |
read mine. after fortifying myself with |
q cup of coffee. I must give every word |
of it.:
"You are we'll aware that a catastro-
phe has happened through my needless
ness. The best thing will be for me to
describe fully the whole consequences
of that misfortune, On our return from
the garden party on Tuesday I found a
telegram awaiting me from Jack-'Shall
be with you by 7:55. Of course this
awoke no fear in my mind, for I knew
Jack might run down at any moment
the trains permit Lady Milicent sent
me off at once to be dressed by her ar
What she made ofssme you
must have seen me to believe, Kitty.
would not look at myself till the whole
process was complete; and when I
glanced in the long glass, I was really
amazed at what I saw. It was the re-
suit, now know, of many discussions
between Lady Milicent and this gifted
young person. You may imagine how
I exulted in the thought that Jack would
see me look as he had never seen me
look before, for I am so improved in
health that my whole appearance is
changed. Well. the bell rang. Lady
NIilicent received Mr.. Dacre in the
room and came to send me
down at once.
"I ran down with my heart bounding.
I entered the room. 1 noticed Jack
gave one start; but he received me in
such very un-Jack-ike manner that I
was terrified. Mamma-kitty I
cried. Quite well when ( left them,'
said Mr.. Dacre; but when he placed me
in chair, and took one opposite me,
I felt matters were desperate. What
is wrong? I gasped. Dearest Jack,
pray speakp Only an address, said he,
and he put the unfortunate envelope in
my hands This contained a letter
for your sister, which I, perhaps for
tunately, read before I perceived the
I have just II minutes before
I leave for the return train; so if you
wish to say anything, let me beg of you
to speak at once. "I sank back in my
chair and covered my face with my
trembling with agitation.
VIII you hear my explaaation?' I
Needless; the letter can
have but one meaning. I came tore
lease you from your engagement with
me. Did this scoundrel know you were
engaged? I covered my face again.
To hear Sir Charles North call scound-
rel was to much for me. did not speak
for several minutes; but time was fly
ing fast, and at length said: IF this
is in truth our last meeting. grant me
one favor; say that you will before Itell
L . 4 II l