The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-05-14


John Forbes would sometimes overtake
her. They talked of the sermon, then
of the crops and the weather. BY de-
grees these subjects gained an easy
familiarity, and only varied with the
seasons.
No one was more surprised than Jean
when John Forbes asked her to marry
him. Sine stared at him in emotionless
calm
"Ye must gle me time" she said.
John Forbes agreed to this quite pla-
cidly. 1t was hard to understand what
he saw in his first love in her faded
and aged old maidism. Possibly ten
acity of affection and the same instinct
of faithfulness that brought him back
to the little village-the little village
with no pretensions to beauty or pic
| turesqueness-kept him true to Jean.
One was the home, the cthel the wom-
an he had loved. He saw no reason to
| change because he had seen many fair
er homes and younger, prettier women.
Jean did not analyZe her sentiments.
| 1t was not her way. Besides, love nev-
er entered her head as far as it concern
ed John Forbes. She merely reviewed
| the advantages as they concerned
Thrift. The rumor that a new and
more modern dressmaker was going to
set up finally settled 1t, and she said
to John Yes"
The day was fixed for the second time
in their lives. Jean had given up her
house. She was waiting with tranquil
ity for this new step in her life. She
had quite come to the conclusion that
she could not do better for Thrift.
One evening John Forbes arrived.
Thrift lay contentedly on the hearth
rug looking at him. The last time John
had been at the cottage Thrift had been
in one of his passionate fits. This had
set him pondering.
After this there had been several
well-meant efforts at kindness on the
part of his friends. They happened to
coincide with his own views. They ad-
vised him to send Thrift away. Jean,
they said, would neglect every one and
everything for the boy. She would
wear herself out for Thrift, but not
bother with anything that did not con-
Germ him.
How far he believed this, or how far
a mans dislike to scenes or a natural
desire to have his wife's affection CEN
tered in himself had to do with his
resolve, he could not have told. He be-
stirred himself, and with infinite trou-
BILE and by some outlay he secured an
admission for the child to a deaf and
dumb institution.
1t was this fact he had come to tell
Jean. He rather wished Thrift would
help him to lead up to it by a scene
Thrift gave him no help. He lay smil-
ing impenetrably.
Jean was not quick at reading signs
"Jean," he said at last, helplessly,
well be MERIT Tuesday"
"Ay," assented Jean, cheerfully.
Her eyes fell naturally on Thrift, and
she smiled at the boy.
'And Thrift" he added, with a sus-
piciously clear note of Interrogation in
his voice.
cay, Thrift" she repeated.
Then finding this even did not prog
ress matters, he said desperately, with
a snatch of humor:
z hCh L IL hO Ing l. lhliIls
The old clock licked through the
room. The peats spluttered on the low
hearth, in front of which on curiously
woven rug Thrift lay.
There was absolute silence for bit.
Then Jeans voice broke it.
''Then, John Forbes, ye're no marry
ing me-"
Again there was silence. John said
in quiet voice:
81 hae made a. the arrangements for
him, Jean. He will gang to schule
and understand talk of kind"
''Will they teach him to talk like ither
fowk?"
Her tone was expressionless.
mo, they Gamma dae that"
'Then why should the BARN be both
cred wi learning that'll never dae him
or any one else ony guide? Tell me that,
John Forbes"
at will give him employment. Jean,
and beside" Here John Forbes, with
mans tactlessness undid every bit
of good his arguments might have ef-
fected He added, "Fowk tell me ye
just max an idol o. him, and that We
hae nae ither idea but him. A man
could ma be expeck'd to STAN that, and
ither people kenning it."
Jean had been passing through a cri-
sis and she was but a woman.
"And if fowk care to gossip over my
affairs, John Forbes, and you care to
heed them, let them," she returned
vehemently. "If Thrift disna gang wi
me, nae poo'rs will TAX me to your
hoose."
John was annoyed by her tone
"And suppose l say 1 Wilma hae
Thrift"
They sat on in a strained silence
John was too angry to move or speak.
Jean had no wish, either, to break the
silence.
''Ye ken this is the second time your
obstinacy has come in the way" said
John, finally.
81 mind" said Jean, briefly. 'But
didna mean ye to TAX 1t as We did yon
time," she responded.
81 didna ken,' replied John.
It struck neither of them that there
was any pathos in the sentences
pathos of ten years mistaken silence.
''Are ye sure We mean it noo?" he
asked, getting up.
81 certainly dae," said Jean, firmly.
"Then gude-by, JEAN"
"Gude-by."
The instant the door was shut Jean
almost strangled Thrift with kisses
Unfortunately the practical things
could not be settled so summarily.
Jean had given up her house and she
found it was let to the new dress
maker. She was not accustomed to
complications in her life Alternatives