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

why, then she began TO Iaugn COLI
sumedly. I was amazed.
"..At last" you call it, she gasped.
Il call it ''at first;;'" and she laughed
merrily and melodiously. She certain
ly had a nice laugh, that girl.
"Now, concerning what follows,
have, since then, entertained some
doubts whether behaved in all re-
spects discreetly. You will allow that
the position was a difficult one, but
| it is, I admit, very possible that my
wisest course would have been to
make an apology and turn tail as
quickly as I could. Well, didn't. l
thought that I owed the lady full
Explanation. Besides, I wanted a
full explanation myself. Finally (oh,
yes, see you fellows grinning and
winking), Mary was not there, and
this young lady rather interested me.
Il decided that 1 would have five min
utes' talk with her; then I would run
back and find Mary.
"I must beg a thousand pardons,'
began, but took you for some
body else.'
"'Oh, of course said she, with
shrug, it's always that
"tYou appear incredulous, said l,
rather offended.
"Well, and if I amp said she.
"My feelings were hurt. I produced
Mary's second note.
eff 1 can trust to your discretion
I'll prove what I say l remarked IN
a nettled tone.
81 shall be very curious to hear
the proof. sir, and I will be most dis
Greet she said. She was pouting, but
her eyes danced. Really, she looked
very pretty-although, of course, l
lwould not for a moment compare her
with Lady Mary.
"sA lady, said I, was so kind as
Ito tell me to seek her here this morn
ling
asOh. as if I believed that!
81 was piqued.
There's the proof / cried, fling
ling the note into her lap.
"She took it up, glanced at it, and
gave a little shrek.
"sWhere did you get this?
"'Why, from the head waiter
"'Oh, the foolv she cried. It's
mine
"eYours? nonsense! He gave me
that and another last night
".Oh, the stupidity! They were for
they were not for you. They were
for-someone who is to arrive
DOlHteu dJ IHt SudIulC dhO
gasped, M! Do you sign Mp
eyes; my name's-my name begins
with M. Oh, if I'd only seen that
!. waiter this morning! Oh, the idiotp
. "Then l believe l swore.
madame said I, I'm ruined. On
the strength of your wretched notes
madame, I've cut the girl love best
in the world-cut her dead-dead-
deadr
"'What? That young lady in the
- Oh, you thought they were from
, her? Oh, I see! How-how-oh, how
very amusingv And the. heartless
little wretch went off into another
: peal of laughter.
"'You pretended not to know her
oh, dear! oh, dearv and her laughter
echoed among the trees again. 4 saw
her looking at you, and you ate OF
, like a pig! Oh, dear! oh, dearv
"'Stop laughingv said I, savagely.
"'Oh, I'm very sorry, but I can't
What a scrape you've got into! Oh
dear mer And she wiped her eyes
(they were as blue as her cloak witt
delicate bit of handkerchief.
"'You shan't laugh said I. 'Wht
: were your notes for?
Somebody I expected. He hasn'1
suppose. never thought of his be
, ing so stupid. Oh, what a brute she
. must have thought you! And she
: began to laugh again.
81 had had enough of it. I hate be
ing laughed at.
| eff you go ON laughing said
I'll kiss you again.
1.-THE threat was a failure; she die
InOt annaar at all alarmed
".Not your she said, laughing
worse than ever.
J 81 should like you fellows to under
stand that my heart never wavered
in it's allegiance to Lady Mary-my
conscience is quite clear as to that
) but had pledged my word. caught
that tiresome girl round the waist
and I kissed her once-I'm sure OF
once, anyhow. She gasped and strug
: gled, laughing still. Then, with q
sudden change of voice, she cried
Stop, stop!
81 let her go. I looked round. We
) had a gallery of spectators. On one
side stood the ugly headed valet; on
. the other, in attitudes of horror, Mary
and Miss Dibbs!
the girl in blue.
| loSC " LILY 1CcL dhu was dUOut U
explain, when the ugly fellow rushed
at me, brandishing cane. I had
quite enough to arrange without be
ing bothered by him. I caught the
cane in my left hand, and with my
right 1 knocked him down.
''Then walked up to Lady Mary
1 took no heed of Miss Dibbs' pres.
ence; it was too critical moment to
think of trifleS
Lady Mary said I, appearances
are so much against me that you can.
not possibly attach the slightest
weight to them
"'Sir,' said she, L have no longer
the honor of your acquaintance.
have only to thank you for having had
the consideration not to recognize me
when we met SO Unexpectedly in the
dining-room. Pray continue to show
me the same favor
'sWith which pleasant little speech
she turned on her heel. 1t was clear
that she suspected me most unjustly.
I turned to the girl in blue, but she
was beforehand with me.
"'Ah, I wish I'd never seen you,
jshe cried, you great stupid creature!