Roseburg review. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 1885-1920, 1886-01-22
NO. AZ.

pie dusk glooming over the head OF
Black Mountain, and the night-birds
whistling sweetly in the woods. her
welcome was various Mr.. Jefferson,
q tall, handsome man, who was sup
posed to be ''well off," bowed low, but
little formally Mr.. Davidson Dover's
spectacled gaze shone frigidly upon her,
as he glanced up from his big Com
mentary on the Gospels"
II hope l see you well,'n said he.
Mr.. Laidlaw bowed, scraped and
dropped her hand almost as soon as he
had taken it, and retreated back into
the parlor, murmuring something
about letters to write. Lieutenant
Cooper shook hands so cordially that
the pretty pink knuckles smarted full.
five minutes afterwards, and then
seated himself as closely to her as the
rules and regulations of civilized So
ciety would permit. Mr.. Hazeltine
said something polite, and retired into
a shadowed corner, doubtless to think
up something funny" for the new
series of lectures which he was going
TO deliyerin the Southwest that autumn.
Matte Meredith spoke up, as soon as
she had established herself on the set
tee, with the cat in her lap.
''Mr. Jefferson" said she, "what do
girls do when they want to earn their
own living?'
Mr.. Jefferson twisted and turned in
his seat Ike an impaled beetle.
Really said he, ''you have con-
suited poor oracle. II am not
capable of advising in such an emer-
gency as this. Very sorry, of course,
but"
Perhaps Mr.. Dover could suggest
something" mischieyously asked Mat
tie
"Oh, 1 assure you, nothing of the
Kind, said Mr.. Dover. There's the
factories, you know, and-and-Laid-
law might have some idea"
''Oh, no; no ideas at all" said Mr..
Laidlaw. "The mosquitoes torment
me to death here. / guess I'll take my
desk up stairs, i the company will ex-
ctise me.
Lieutenant Cooper said nothing; but
later on in the evening he proposed to
walk down to tie little spring in the
woods.
THE moon is just rising" he said,.
"and really there is no dew to speak
O1' ttNSt COluc, VllSS hCECQllu.
So Matte wrapped her white and gold
bltTWous around her, and walked with
him down the shaded path, where they
had so often walked before.
But, close beside the spring, he
turned abruptly to her, and stopped
'.A1iss Meredith" said he, 1--WE have
known each ther for some time now.
I'm only poor naval officer, but I've
my pay, and there is always the pros
pect of promotion. 1t goes to my heart
TO hear you talk of earning your own
liying-a delicate girl like you. Letnl
earn it for you. Promise to become my
| wife. For, indeed,n he added in his
honest. straightforward way, ..I've
| loved you ever since met you here last
| summer. As an heiress / should not
have ventured to ask you to share my
| humble lot. But now
"Oh, Lieutenant Cooperr' she began,
and then paused.
Yes, l know it seems presumptu-
ous,n said he "But we've a pretty
old homestead in Virginia, where your
father and mother would be heartily
welcome. And / would work my
fingers to the bone to provide every
comfort for you and them, and-Oh,
| Matte, is it possible that you can teach
yourself to love me?''
'I-m might-tfy," slyly murmured
Matte. ''That is, if-''
And then she found herself clasped
in the arms Of the man who had loved
her so long and SO faithfully.
''But you're very much mistaken, y
she added, after little.
Not in supposing that you love mep''
said the Lieutenant, in some appre-
hension.
"In believing that I am such.a pau
per- said Matte. Papa has met with
no losses whatever. / came out here
to learn to do housework, because I've
just joined q Domestic Club, one O
whose rules is that every member mus
thoroughly understand the details O.
her own household; but dear old Mrs
Oxweed took it for granted that wa.
penniless, and when / saw that all tn,
rest believed the same thing couldn'
resist the mischievous impulse to gaug'
their true regard for me; and you
Harry, are the only one who was will
ing to lift finger in my behalf"
''8ich or poor" said the Lieutenant
stoutly, II would 90 to the end of th,
world for you, Mattie!''
So he won his wife
1t was long time before Mrs. OK
weed would believe that Matte Mere
dith was as much of an heiress as ever
for she could not possibly credit it tha
any girl could learn housework for he
own pleasure.
Young ladies are so queer nova
days, said she.-AD.y Randolph, in N
y. Ledger.