The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1896-11-06
"Rose-1 swear it! l win be your

i wen kuOW ludt NY uucie Is SciI-W LII
ed, but will be more self-willed still;
and, since he must be forced to say
Yes will force him to say it."
"But how?' asked Rose.
All! how? That was exactly the diff
fculty. But, no matter; l would find
a way to surmount 1t.
At that moment heavy step resound-
ed In the street. Instinctively we mov-
ed away from each other; returned to
my double-handed sword and Rose, to
keep herself in countenance, set to
dusting with a corner of her apron a
little statuette in it's faded red velvet
case.
My uncle entered. Surprised at find
ing us together, he stopped short and
looked sharply from one to the other.
We each of US went on rubbing with
out raising our heads.
"Here, take this" said my uncle,
handing me bulky parcel from under
his arm. "a splendid purchase, you'll
see."
The subject did not interest me in the
least.
1 opened the parcel and from the en-
veioping paper emerged steel helmet
but not an ordinary helmet, oh, no
a superb, a monumental morton, with
gorget and pointed visor of strange
form. The visor was raised and tried
to discover what prevented 1t from be-
ing lowered.
at will not go down-the hinges have
got out of order," said my uncle, "but
it's a superb piece, and when 1t has
been thoroughly cleaned and touched
up will look well-that shall be your
to-morrow's job"
Every good, uncle" murmured, not
daring to raise my eyes to his.
That night, on returning to my room,
1 at once went to bed. was eager to
be alone and able to think at my ease
Night brings counsel, it Is said, and
had great need that the proverb should
prove true. But after lying awake
for an hour without receiving any as
sistance 1 fell to sleep and till next
morning did nothing but dream the odd
est dreams. l saw Rose on her way to
church in strange bridal costume, a
fourteenth century cap three feet high
on her head, but looking prettier than
ever. Then suddenly the scene chang
ed to moonlight, in which innumerable
helmets and pieces Of old china were
dancing a wild farandole, while my
uncle, clad in complete armor and with
a formidable halberd in his hand, con-
Quoted the bewildering whirl.
The next day-ah! the next day!-I
was no nearer. In vain, with clenched
teeth, I secured the immense helmet
brought by my uncle the previous even
ing-scoured 1t with such fury as al
most to break the iron; not an idea
came to me. The helmet shone like a
sun. My uncle sat smoking his pipe
and watching me, but could think of
nothing-of no way Of forcing him to
give me his daughter.
At o'clock Rose went into the coun-
try, whence she was not to return until
dinner time, in the evening. On the
to me with her hand; my uncle had not
left us alone for single instant He
was not easy In his mind; could see
that by his face. No doubt he had not
forgotten our conversation of the previ-
GUS evening.
went on rubbing at my helmet.
''You have made it quite bright
enough-put 1t down." said my uncle.
put 1t down. The storm was gath
ering; could not do better than allow
it to blow over.
But suddenly, as if overtaken by a
strange fancy, my uncle took up the
enormous morton and turned and ex-
amined it on all sides.
"a handsome piece Of armor, there
Is no doubt about it; but it must have
weighed pretty heavily on its wearer's
shoulders" he muttered; and, urged by
l know not what demon, he clapped
1t on his head and latched the gorget
piece about his neck.
Struck almost speechless, watched
what he was doing-thinking only how
ugly he looked.
Suddenly there was a sharp sound
as if spring had snapped-and-crack
down fell the visor; and there was
my uncle, with his head in an iron cage,
gesticulating and swearing like a pa
gan.
l could contain myself no longer, and
burst into a roar of laughter; for my
uncle, stumpy, fat and rubicund, pre-
sented an irresistibly comic appear
ance.
Threateningly he came toward me.
1.-The hingesLthe hinges, fooly' he
yelled.
could not see his face, but felt that
it was red to bursting.
when you have done laughing,
idiot" he cried. -
But the helmet swayed so oddly on his
shoulders, his voice came from out it in
gesticulated, the more he yelled and
threatened me, the louder laughed.
At that moment the clock of the Hotel
de Vile striking o'clock was heard.
"The municipal councily' murmured
my uncle, in a stifled voice. "Quick,
help me off with this beast of a ma
chine! Well settle our business after
wardv'
|. But, suddenly likewise, an idea-a
wild, extraordinary idea-came into my
head; but then, whoever Is madder
than a lover? Besides, had no choice
of means
"Nov' replied.
My uncle fell back two PAGES in ter
ror-and again the enormous helmet
wabbled on his shoulders.
mo-" repeated firmly; 'I'll not help
you out unless you give me the hand of
my cousin Rosew
From the depths Of the strangely
elongated visor came, not an angry ex-