Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1901-03-12

been 20, but his dark hair was begin
ming to thin, and there was a great
disgust and WEAKNESS in his eyes. He
wore pointed beard, and his mus
taches were tiercely turned up toward
his eyes.
Mr.. Thorpe?' queried Lady Alice.
The visitor admitted his identity.
I'm so impatient!' proceeded Lady
Alice. Where will you sit? Do begin
at once, please!'
The meek person poised her pencil,
and two pairs Of feminine eyes gazed
expectantly upon Mr.. Thorpe.
Il think it would be better" remark
ed that gentleman, ''if l had some gen.
eral idea of the plot you propose"
"Oh, yes! How stupidr gayly cried
his collaboration. 81 don't think you
need wait this morning, then, Miss
Gofding. Come again tomorrow at 10.
By then we shall have settled the plot,
and we can begin the writing"
Miss Golding gone, Lady Alice gaz-
ed meditatively into the fire for few
moments.
Well she announced at length, 'fts
got to be about a girl"
"Yes"
"And a man."
"Quite so.''
'And they must fall in love, YOU
know"
Naturally"
"And they can't marry for ever so
long, and people try to keep them
apart, and they have each other at the
end. like happy endings," remarked
happy Lady Alice, with a judicial air.
There was short silence.
Hasn't something like that been
done before?' Mr.. Thorpe ventured to
ask.
Il suppose it has" admitted Lady AL
Ice disconsolately. "All the stories
have been done before, | think. Both
err'
But we might do it over again." sug-
gested Mr.. Thorpe. "Only in differ
ent way, you know"
"Oh, so we mightv cried Lady Alice
joyfully. ''How clever Of you. Do
let'sv
The writing of the novel went mer-
rily on for about a week, when one
morning a radiant vision foated into
the morning room and announced that
1t was the chairwoman of the Society
for Bettering the Conditions of the
Middle Classes, and that there was
committee meeting at 11:30
$50 we shan't be able to do any novel
this morning." continued Lady Alice.
Don't wait. Miss Golding."
The meek person removed herself.
but Mr.. Thorpe seemed in no hurry to
go. He continued to gaze at LADY
Alice, who certainly was worth look
ing upon. Her gown was an exquisite
creation, but it was upon a simple, al
most shabby, little pearl brooch at the
throat that Thorpe's eyes were fixed.
Il see you've had your brooch mend
ed, Lal?' he said in a strained voice.
Lady Alice paled.
'"The brooch-Dick's brooch? Why.
what she gasped, with her eyes
riveted on the pallid face before her.
Then she took step forward.
"Dickv' she cried. "You know Dickr"
NO." answered Mr.. Thorpe. II am
Dick! 1t was the beard and losing my
hair. suppose, that prevented you rec
ognizing me-
He walked toward the door.
"Stop, Dick" whispered Lady Alice.
1--WE must finish the novel, you know"
at will never be finished" he an
swered roughly. He turned from her
to hide his ghastly face
you must stop, Dickr' painted Lady
Alice. Listen! 1 want to write an
other novel. I'll tell you the plot"
She came closer to him and laid her
hand on his arm. He shook from head
to foot.
Its about two people," painted his
lost sweetheart. "And they were en-
gagged and awfully in love. Then the
man lost all his money and went to
South Africa to make some more. and
the silly girl promised to wait for him
for she was really awfully fond of him,
you know"
"Ah. stop-in pity!' he cried 81 can't
bear itr'
She went on:
"And when he was getting on very
well the horrible war broke out and
ruined him over again. Then he wrote
to the girl, and released her from the
engagement, and it nearly killed her.
But he didn't care. He enlisted in some
irregulars, and behaved like a hero.
and got mentioned in dispatches. and
all sorts of things. Don't be impa tient,
Dick; I've nearly finished Well. then
he came back, and he didn't tell the
girl who he was, although he met her
again. He was SO cruel and hard-heart-
ed. Oh, he was brute. Dick! And
the poor girl was breaking her heart
for him all the time, and people won
dered why she didn't marry, for she
was getting quite old-nearly twenty
five! And he was actually going away
from her again, and she got so desper-
ate she had to speak. And-oh, Dick,
can't you see?'
Dick saw, and that is why Lady
Alice's novel was never finished.
Salvation Army Collections.
Ry means of small boxes. callad