Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1900-09-04

down the church aisle as Mrs. Hunt
ington Whitcomb than with dear old
Mr.. Rodney But she told him 1t was
all over an past an begged him to for
give her an all that. Poor little thing!
Nobody could help but pity her before
the answer came. An when 1t did
come what do you think 1t was? Just
her own letter sent back, without a
word.
'Now, do you know, that's the only
thing Mr.. Rodney could have done to
him? She wrote again-just such a
pitiful little beggin' note-an' that
came back unopened. After awhile
she even tried again, but he sent 1t
back just the same.
"How did 1 know? Well, not by
readin' other folks letters, anyway.
The poor little thing had to talk to
somebody, an l wasn't exactly Mr..
Rodney's folks, an still l loved him,
you see. There was a terrible time
after that. Not that she made a sign
out loud, but her stiffness was worse.
BY and by got up courage to write to
Mr.. Rodney myself, an he was kinder
to me than he was to her. That hurt
me, too. He wrote back: Marcia,
says he, you can't understand. 1!
can't be, an It's no use your worryin'.
Don't think any more about It,
"As IL could help it-with the poor
little girl sufferin' right in my SIGHT!
"Well, the months went along. Mr.
Rodney wrote to his mother. but he
never mentioned Miss CaryPs name.
1t got to be whole year. Master sgd
had been off at college for six months,
an we was lookin' for him home for
vacation. Well, sir, a half day soon
er than we expected him in he walked!
That wasn't such an awful surprise,
of course, but stalkin' right behind
him, tall an sunburned, an with a full,
brown beard-there was Mr.. Rodney!
master sgd walked right UP and
kissed Miss Caryl, just as he always
did, an Mr. Rodney, after stoppin' at
the door to speak to me, followed an
says quietly, holdin' out his hand.
Haven't you got a kiss for Inc, too.
CarylT
Little Miss Caryl put both hands
over her face an commenced TO go
backward. oh, Marcia! she says, and
in minute l was there an helped her
into another room, where she could cry
to her hearts content. And Mr.. Rod
ney never offered to do a thing, but
stayed and talked to his mother.
".'Oh, Marcia! says Miss Caryl,
when we was by ourselves, what does
he mean? An 1 says: My dear. 1
don't know what he does meanp For
I was all stirred up, tell you.
..Well. she went to lunch an tried to
act naturais It broke my heart to see
her. But Mr.. Rodney didn't eat much
himself. That was some comfort
When lunch~:was most over Master
Syd's trunk came and he had to leave
the table to see 10 1t. An there was
something wrong about it, SO that first
Mr.. Whitcomb was. called away an
then Mrs. Whitcomb excused herself,
too, an there Mr.. Rodney an Miss
Caryl was left all alone.
81 had just swept the last crumbs off
the tablecloth when it happened, an |
walked into the pantry with my heart
thumpin' like a hammer. It's now or
never says l. There was the pie, all
ranged out ready to take in. But what
is pier says |. 1 pushed that pantry
door almost to. an then stood an lis
tened. It's the only time In my life.
'It seemed forever before there was
a sound. Then Miss Garyl says, In a
nervous sort Of way: 1T seems so
strange to see you with a beard, Rod
ney.'
Il was so disappointed. could have
cried. 1t sounded so common. But
the next minute come Mr.. Rodney's
voice, shakin' like girls: oh, Pat
syv says he, iii shave it all off if you
say so!'
THAT was enough. My apron went
up to my face an leaned against the
pantry door an didn't care if It did go
shut with a click!
II don't know how long stood there
in the dark. but by an by Mrs. Whit
comb opened the door against me.
why. Marcia, what's the matterT says
she. Where's the pier she says.
"'Why, Marcia, dear! says Miss
Caryl, as soon as she heard me cryin',
an the next minute she was in the pam
try with her arms around me.
Here says Mr.. Rodney. 4 guess
can comfort Marcia an with that, In
he. came, too, an put his arms around
us both.
'.Afiss Caryl was cryin', too, but, Mr..
Rodney was too happy an too much in
love. l heard him whisper. This is the
best turn Marcia ever did for me- an
l knew he meant the chance of kissin
her, there in the dark, but says | to
That's truer than you know,
too, Mr.. Rodney For what if had
been stupid enough to rush right in.
with that pie when they We're alone
getherY'-Chicago Record.