The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1896-02-06


something worth living to see, that was |
certain. AS to the wife, society was 80
unfortunate as not to know her. Olym-
pia Raven? No. There was no recollec- |
ton of such a name. She must be some
thing remarkable. There were 80 many
lovely girls in New York whom one did
know something about; why couldn't
the count? However, the count
was rich enough to be eccentric. and the
fashion of marrying unknown girls
might catch on.
"Come to think of it, though" said
DR.. Venables, "was there not an Olym-
pia Raven mixed up in that murder trial
some years ago? Why, yes! Now,
there's a curious instance, Miss Hess.
Hesketh, of the concatenation of ideas.
Thinking of the count, you know,
brought up the idea Of his house. His
house suggested poor old Trent, who
built it. Trent suggested the trial, and
the trial the persons concerned in it.
There was the young fellow, Darke, the
murderer, and Sallie Matchin, and then
remembered that there was some one
that Darke was in love with, and-do
you seea Olympia Raven-yes, the
same person. Well, now. that is curl
GUS again; one of those mysteries-coin
cidences, we call them-but who knowsi
IF you recollect, my dear Miss Hess
Hesketh, it came quite as a surprise that
Sallie Matchin should have turned out to
be Mrs. Harry Trent, for it was in evi-
dence at the time that Trent was intend
ing to marry this same Olympia Raven.
But today the tables are turned. After
that dinner party I'm sure we all expected
that Sallie was going to marry the
count, instsd of which he throws her
over and picks up her old rival, Olym-
pia!'
Old Miss Hess Hesketh laughed. "The
girl lost nothing by waiting Bit" she
remarked. eff she'd got Trent she'd
have lost the count. But expect Sallie
will be mad. I don't blame her. I'd
marry the count myself if he asked mel"
Miss Hess -Hesketh was seventy, and had
the reputation of being the ugliest wom-
an in New York, but she was far from
being the greatest fool.
Meanwhile the two persons chiefly con-
cerned in the approaching ceremony had
no intention of making grand display
, of it. To be married was their object,
and they regarded the social obligations
| rather as a necessary nuisance than as
an opportunity. Olympia, in short,
would be married in travelling dress.
There would be accommodation for
everybody at the church, but at the
house, where the wedding breakfast
would be served, not more than fifty
guests were to be invited. The count
had arranged the details Of the affair
with Garcia, who, to his many other re-
markable qualities, added fine aesthetic
taste and an inexhaustible inventiveness.
The-count had already learned by expe-
rience that whatever was left to Garcia
| to do was sure to be we'll and thoroughly
done. So he laid down the general lines
only that were to be followed and per-
mitted Garcia to manage the rest
| It was quiet Lent, and no doubt it
was the happiest month of the lovers
| lives They deserved it for the sorrows
! they had passed, and they needed it for
| the numerous disasters that lay before
them. They saw each other every day.
| Mrs. Bannick fell in love with the count
out of sympathy with Olympia, and
: Tom conceived romantic tenderness
AO1 Wy Ill DCSduSC S1O was OClOfCu ny
his friend, the count. These four, dur
ing the March evenings, talked over
many things and made many plans for
the future-as people still persist in do
ing in this world, Notwithstanding the
sinister experience OF thousands of years
of history. Mrs. Raven sat at the table
near by reading her interminable news
papers, and once in while Garcia made
A.; his appearance for few minutes to re-
| port progress and to receive instructions.
/ One day Garcia went into shop to
make some purchases, and while wait
ing at the counter he was conscious of
some one standing near him. He turned
and beheld Sallie Matchin.
The une5nected encounter startled
him. He had not seen her since he had
heard her swear his liberty away two
years before in court, except on that ono
occasion when she had been placed un-
der the spell of his wizardry. He at
tempted to look as if he did not know
| her, but she smiled frankly upon him
and held out her hand.
Don't let us be enemies" she said.
You have good reason to hate me, but
have better reason to hate you, for it
was | who inflicted the injury. But
have repented, and wish you to forgive
me. You are in the way of greater pros
perity than l could have given you. Can
not you afford to be generous9"
81 know you better now than did
then," said Garcia.
"Tm not going to defend myself" she
returned. "Let the worst be true, if
! you will, am still the same woman
! that you knew, except that experience
has made me wiser. The ambitions that
had then are gone forever. l recognize
my mistakes-and my greatest mistaken
she added in lower tone, looking him
meaningly in the eyes. "If had been
true to you l should not stand, as do
i, now, in hourly danger of my liberty and
even ofmy life."
at is too late to think of that now"
said he. 81 regret nothing"
mo; why should your On the con-
trary, you may thank me for having
acted toward you as did, for otherwise
you would now be entangled with me
a woman whom you never really loved.
but who had infatuated you. My feel
ing toward you was more genuine than
i yours for me, though in my sel6shness
betrayed you. And it is the same now
that it was when still deserved your
preference"
"Are you trying to lime me again7"
! said Garcia his face dar1xeninp