The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1895-04-04

know her handwriting, but l saw no
use in telling the waiter that. In
truth, I thought the fellow quite ia
miliar enough. So said shortly and
with some hauteur:
"tGive me the note;' and took an
other piece of gold out of my pocket.
We exchanged our possessions, the
waiter withdrew with a wink, and /
tore open the precious note.
Whatever you do it ran, don't
recognize me. / am watched. As
soon as I can I will tell you where
to meet me. I knew you would come.
M
"'The darlingv' I exclaimed. She's
a girl of spirit. I'll take good care
not to betray her. Oh, We'll circum-
vent old Dibbs between u.s.
"At 8 o'clock I went down to the
sale manger. 1t was quite empty.
| Mary and Miss Dibbs no doubt dined
| in their own sitting room, and there
appeared to be no one else in the
hotel. However, when I was half
way through my meal, a stylishly
dressed young woman came in and
sat down at table at the end OF the
room farthest from where l was. l
should have noticed her more but
was in a reverie about Mary's admir-
able charms, and I only just looked
at her; she was frOwning and drum
ming angrily with her fingers on the
table. The head waiter hurried up to
her; his face was covered with smiles,
and he gave me a confidential nod en-
passant. Nothing else occurred ex-
lcept that a villainous looking fellow
something, to judge by his appear
lance, between valet and secretary
thrust his ugly head through the
door three OF four times. Whenever
he did SO the waiter smiled blandly
lat him. He did it the last time just
las the lady was walking down the
room. Seeing her coming, he drew
back and held the door open for her
with clumsy, apologize bow. She
smiled scornfully and passed through.
1.-The waiter stood grinning in the mid
die of the room, and when /, in my
turn, rose, he whispered to me, It's
all right, SIR I went to bed and
drempt Of Mary.
"On entering the room the next
morning the first person 1 saw was
Mary. She was looking adorably
fresh and pretty. She sat opposite a
stout, severe-looking dame in black.
Directly my eyes alighted on her 1
lschooled them into a studiously va
cant expression. She, poor girl, was
, lno diplomatist. She started; she
fglanced anxiously at Miss Dibbs; l
saw her lips move; she blushed; she
seemed almost to smile. Of course
| this behavior q loved Mary the more
that she could not conceal her de-
. lightful embarrassmentD excited the
dragons curiosity; she turned round
and favored me with searching gaze.
was equal to the occasion. 1 COM
pretended them both in a long, cool,
deliberate, empty stare. The strain
, on my self control was immense, but
supported it. Mary blushed Grim
son and her eyes sank to her plate.
, Poor girl! She had sadly overrated her
, powers of deception. I was not sur
prised that Miss Dibbs frowned Sc
verely and sniffed audibly.
cat that moment the other girl
came in. She walked up, took the
, table next to mine, to my confusion,
! bestowed upon me a look of evident
interest, though of the utmost short
ness-one of those looks, you know,
that seem to be repented of in an in
, stant, and are generally the most de-
I liberate. I took no notice at all, as
Stunning an air of entire unconscious
, ness. A few minutes later Mary got
up and made for the door, with Miss
Dibbs in close attendance. The i'm
prudent child could not forbear to
glance at me; but I, seeing the
dragons watchful eye upon me, re-
mained absolutely irresponsiye. Nay.
to throw Miss Dibbs off the scent, 1
fixed my eyes on my neighbor with
, , assumed preoccupation. Flushing
painfully, Mary hurried out, and 1
heard Miss Dibbs sniff again. l
) chuckled over her obvious disapproval
of my neighbor and myself The ex-
cellent woman evidently thought us
no better than we ought to be! But
felt that l should go mad if l could
not speak to Mary soon.
II went out and sat down in the
verandah. 1t was then about half
past 10. The ugly fellow whom l had
noticed the evening before was hang
ing about, but presently a waiter
came and spoke to him, and he got
up with a grumble and went into the
house. Ten minutes afterward my
neighbor Of the sale a manger came
out. She looked very discontented
She rang a handbell that stood on the
table, and waiter ran up.
, Where's the head waiter?' she
asked sharply.
Pardon, ma'mselle, but he is wait
ms ol SOillC ldulco upSIdIS
What a nuisance said She But
you'll do. want to give him an
order. Stay, come indoors and I'll
write it down.
'She disappeared, and 1 sat on,
wondering how I was to get sight
Of Mary. At last in weariness,
went indoors to the smoking-room
1t looked out to the back and was a
dreary little room; but 1 lit my cigar
and began on three days old copy
Of the Times. Thus I spent tedious
hour. Then my friend the head wait
er appeared, looking more roguish
than ever. I dived into my pocket, he
produced note, seized it.
why have you been so long?
(Charmingly unreasonable! what could
I have doneD Directly you get this,
come to the wood behind the hotel
Take the path to the right and go
straight till you find me. I have
thrown the spy Door old DibbsD off
the scent.-M.'
II caught up my hat and rushed into
the hall. I cannoned into a young
man yUhn had met ont Of n