The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-03-04

r.
II II clarence must
standing, or you would have discharg-
ed him long ago. Here has Sidney
Lawrence been waiting and serving for
you no less patiently than Jacob for
Raphael, these seven years and more,
and yet my recreant brother is the ia
,vored one. Unless you take him in
~ hand soon your lilies and roses will
wither, and even faithful Sidney will
come to worship at younger, fairer
shrine. Every one supposes that you
and Clarence are engaged, and yet he
has never in SO many words made you
an offer Of marriage. Now, while we
know that he considers you his be-
trothed, he does not seem to realize the
embarrassing position in which this
tedious courtship places you, and
should therefore be brought to knowl-
edge Of it or punished for his delin-
.quency."
During the earlier portion of her
friends remarks a smile lowered
around Lulu Brandon's lips, and she
continued her task of cutting the leaves
or the last new magaZine; but as the
final sentence was pronounced her face
flushed deeply.
my private affairs need not concern
the public, Belle" she replied with
dignity. But agree with you that 1
have been too patient. 1 acknowledge
myself to be considerably at fault, for
proved an easy conquest, and Clar-
ence may have elukewarm in his
= affection afeeli aecure Of mine. OF
course a word or two from me and 1
might become wife within the next
twenty-four hours; but all such words
must come from my lord himself
Her brief displeasure gone, with a
merry laugh she arose and linked her
arm in that Of her friend, and drawing
her to a coZy sofa in one corner of the
room, proceeded to formulate plans by
which she should bring her lover to
terms without his knowledge of her
conspiracy.
That evening, at tea, Mr.. Clarence
Curtis suddenly inquired:
Been over to the Brandons' to-day,
Belle?'
''Yes, and by the way, Clarence, Lu
requested me to tell you not to call
this evening as she will be engaged"
"All right, sis; I'll go around to the
theater with Roberts.
There was q significant twinkle in
her eyes as Mrs. German rejoined:
81 hope you'll enjoy the play. The
Kendals are drawing large houses"
Two hours later Mr.. Clarence Curtis
was leisurely scanning the crowded
theater, bowling to those he recognized,
when, just previous to the rising of the
curtain, his friend Roberts exclaimed:
"Why, as 1 live, there's Sid Law
renee! Who knew he had returned? 1
wonder who the lady is! Can it be
possible? It's Miss Brandon! 1 never
supposed she would accept any other
escort save yourself. What is it, Cur
tbs, a lovers quarrel?'
Yelling his surprise with q forced
smile, Curtis nonchalantly replied:
Not to my knowledge" Then he
added, impatiently, 81 am no ogre. Lu
has right to so where and with whom
she pleases."
In spite of the Indifferent manner and
careless tone, Roberts noted that his
theater-loving friend took far less in
terest in the play than in the couple
who occupied one of the boxes nearly
opposite from where they were seated.
Lu had surely never looked so ex-
quisitely dainty and beautiful as to-
night. She seemed the embodiment of
health, all aglow with happiness. Yet
the lovely face and graceful figure ir-
ritated him by the very beauty of
which he had always been pround.
This radiant piece Of flesh and blood
did not seem so exactly his property as
formerly. Was it because Sidney Law
renee was so attentive? They had
been children together, Sid and Lu, and
he knew she had always regarded the
studious, dignifed boy and man as an
elder brother, while she gave the love
of her young heart to his comrade and
chum. How we'll he recalled the days,
years ago, when Sid had told him with
sad eyes and tremulous voice that Lulu
had rejected him! He comforted him
as best he could, selffshly exulting in
the thought that he possessed her love
unasked, unsought. Strange that his
possession never seemed quite so valu-
able as tonight! He wondered what
and blush so deeply. Well, the act
would soon be over, and then ne and
Roberts would go and see them, and so
give the public to understand that mat
tiers were as usual between him and
Miss Brandon.
With this thought he resolutely
turned his attention to the stage, and
iperseveringly held it there until the
curtain fell Then, turning to Roberts,
he proposed that they should go over
to the opposite box.
AS they entered it Sydney greeted
them In his usual sincere and hearty
manner, while Lulu, with smile, gave
her hand first to Clarence and then to
Roberts, at the same time motioning
her lover to seat by her side. AS
Roberts for few minutes engaged Sid
aey in conversation, Curtis managed to