Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1900-07-31
And before he left that night we
drank very solemnly to the rout of Mrs.
Hepworth- Smith and the complete sue
cess Of the Knight Classy.

receded Into the chair again, dSguSted
with life. A long pause. 1--WE had no
answer" he finished rather theatrically.
my dear fellow" 1 said, do you
think the lady had her mind ready
made up for you? 1 suppose-am 1
right?-it was not letter to be an
swered offhand?'
"Offhand," said Classy with great
scorn. "a week. One-two-three-five
-six-seven days."
Sometimes letters go wrong in the
post" 1 said.
1t was only a straw, but Classy jump
ed at it. 1 said lit was the only thing
which occurred to me, and it was not
good:
write again.
He replied:
"Yes, 1 suppose so," indifferently.
81 wrote again." said Classy, desolate
and mournful. Its just the same. No
answer"
This time 1 could say nothing.
"Ive had enough of this" said Classy
with emphasis. "I'm going to see a
steamship Johnny 1 know. Big pot in
a shipping office somewhere. There
must be lots of places where a fellow
can go and enjoy himself bit; and
why don't you say something?' he ask
ed fiercely.
I'll wait just little longer" said
Classy, later. "And if Then I'll
take a ticket for the Gold Coast, or
TIr,h h1D
it's not over-healthy unless you're used
to it."
I'm done," said Classy. 81 was COM
ing through Stafford road the other'
afternoon, and 1 met Mrs. Hepworth-
Smith. 1 inquired after Miss Hep
worth Smith, also Mr.. Hepworth-
Smith. She thanked me. She said that
Mr.. Hepworth-Smith was in very good
health, but that Miss Hepworth-Smith
was rather unwell. She said:
1.-The doctors have advised me to
take Grace abroad somewhere
Il blurted out, 'WhereY like fool
felt her look across st me (you know
what mean, and she said:
"'Oh, we. haven't quite decided that
yet, Mr.. Cassy.'
81 don't know what else said, but l
know that as 1 said good-by to her
hesitated for minute. 1 must have
looked rather silly. She guessed what
was in my mind.
''Grace is quite too i'll to see anyone,
Mr.. Cassy,' was her parting shot,
Classy finished. There was a mourn
full silence.
"Well,' said at last.
Its as plain as anything to me-"
said Classy. Its just her kind way of
letting me know that it's no game. And
1 wrote two letters-one after the 9TH
er. What a supreme fool l must have
looked"
Its not so plain to me-" I said
Il can't help it if you're, so thick
headed" retorted Classy.
was not in request as comforter
that night. Everything was wrong.
Things would never be the same again.
So the curtain of the last act but one
comes down with slow sympathy on
the Hero Sad.
The hero in the long chair, sad and
depressed beyond words. And finally he
said:
Pm goin' away. Next week, think.
This isn't like the others. You think it
is. l tell you-it isn't"
But a week later the curtain rose
again.
"Oh, it was great" said Classy. II
went down to that shipping Office told
you about to get catalogues and dates
and that sort Of thing" Classy was al
ways a little vague when he was ex-
cited.) ''It was funny kind of show;
a long counter around three sides and
wire railing facing you everywhere.
And-you can't guess-there was a lady
there, with her back toward me, argu-
ing with a clerk. / heard her say some
thing about Madeira as 1 pushed the
door open, and 1 seemed to know the
voice. There was another lady with
her. 1t was Mrs. Hepworth-Sm and
Grace. 1 had good mind to bolt when
1 saw her-naturally-bu the swing
door creaked, and Grace looked across
at me. And somehow q don't know
how did iD / whispered, You got my
letter. and she said, Your letter? No.
Her mater was Raging the fellow be
hind the wire netting with her back to-
ward us still. And-I don't know what
else 1 said, or what she said, but it's
all right, anyhow. Mrs. Hepworth-
Smith turned round sullenly. Dick, her
face was a study. Now, who would
have thought of seeing you here, Mr..
Classy? 4 should like my letter now,
mother said Grace, If you please
Then we went outside, and left her
mater to fight it out with the poor chap
behind the wire.
HE looked bit surprised. too. And
afterward we all went home to Mr.
Hepworth-Smith, but he was all right
at the finish.'
Classy wound up breathlessly. I con-
graduated him.
"And I've got to thank you," said
Classy, 'for listening to me and letting
me tell you things, and all that"
I said / was not aware that I had
done anything, which in truth had
not.
He flung himself in the long chair.
He remained there for perhaps ten
seconds He got up; he stood with his