Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1901-07-23
CHAPTER XVII.


For more than an hour there had been
unbroken silence in the dingy old law
office of Mr.. Worthington, where Henry
Lincoln and William Bender still re-
manned, the one as a practicing lawyer
and junior partner of the firm, and the
other as student still, for he had not
yet dared to offer himself for examina-
ton. Study was something which Henry
particularly disIiked; and as his mother
had trained him with the idea that labor
for him was wholly unnecessary, he had
never bestowed a thought on the future,
or made an exertion of any kind. Now,
however, different phase of affairs was
appearing. His fathers fortune was
threatened with ruin; and he sat in the
Office with his heels upon the window sill,
debating the all-important question
whether it were better to marry Ella
Campbell for the money which would
save him from poverty, or to rouse him
self to action for the sake of Mary How
ard, whom he really fancied he loved.
Frequently since the party had he met
her, each time becoming more and more
convinced of her superiority over the 9th
er young ladies of her acquaintance. He
was undoubtedly greatly assisted in this
was received bF the fashionables of Bos-
ton; but, asile from that, as far as he
was capable of doing so, he liked her,
and was now making up his mind wheth-
er to tell her so or not.
At last breaking the silence, he exclaim-
ed: Hang me, if 1 don't believe she's be-
witched me, or else I'm in love. Bender,
how does chap feel when he's in lover
''Very foolish, judging from yourself, !"
returned William, and Henry replied
Il hope you mean nothing personal, for
I'm bound to avenge my honor, and
'twould be deuced scrape for you and
me to fight about your sister, as you call
her, for it's she who has inspired me, or
made a fool of me, one or the other
you've changed your mind, haven't
you?' asked William, little sarcastical-
ly.
Hanged if 1 haver' said Henry. "I
was interested in her years ago, when
she was the ugliest little vixen a man
ever looked upon, and that's why teased
her SOL don't believe she's handsome
now, but she's something, and that some
thing has raised the mischief with me.
Come, Bender, you are better acquainted
with her than l am, SO tell me honestly
IL you think I'd better marry her.
With a naughty frown William replied:
"You have my permission, sir, to propose
as soon as you please. rather wish you
would" then taking his hat he left the
Office, while Henry continued his solilo-
guy as follows:
81 wonder what the old folks would
say to penniless bride. Wouldn't moth
er and Rose raise a row? I'd soon quiet
the old woman, though, by threatening to
tell that she was once a factory girl. But
IL dad smashes up I'll have to work, fol
I haven't brains enough to earn my livina
by wit. 1 guess on the whole I'll go and
call on Ella; she's handsome, and besides
that has the rhino, too; but how shallowv
and the young man broke the blade of his
knife as he stuck it into the hardwood
table by way Of emphasizing his last
words.
Ella CHANGED to be out, and as Henry
was returning he overlook Ida Selder
and Mary Howard, who were taking
their accustomed walk. Since her conver
sation with William a weight seemed
lifted from Mary's spirits, and she now
was happier far than she ever remem
bered of having been before. Mary
courteous to Henry, and her manner to
ward him that morning was so kind anG
affable that it completely upset him; anG
when he parted with her at Mr. Selden's
gate his mind was quite made up tt
offer her his heart and hand.
Il shall have to work." thought he
shut for her sake I'll do anything"
An hour later he sat down and wrote
to Mary, on paper what he 0)uld MOI
tell her. face to face. Had there beer
a lingering doubt of her acceptance, ht
would undoubtedly have wasted at leas
a dozen sheets of the tiny gilt-edged pa
per, but as it was one would suffice, fol
she would not scrutinize his handwriting
s-she would not count the blots, or mari
the omission of punctuating pauses. Al
ardent declaration of love was written
sealed and directed.
Restless and unquiet, he sat down t.
await his answer. 1t came at last-hil
rejection, yet couched in language so kint
and conciliatory that he could not fee
angry. Twice-tSree times-he read
over, hoping to find some intimation tina
possibly she might relent; but no, it wa
firm and decided, and while she thanked
him for the honor he conferred upon her
she respectfully declined accepting it, as
surfing him that his secret should be KEEP
inviolate.
There's some comfort in that
thought he, 'for wouldn't like to hav
It known that 1 have been refused by
poor, unknown girl" and then, as the con
viction came over him that she woul
never be his, he laid his head upon tn
table and wapt such tears as a spoil
child might weep when refused a toy to
costly and delicate to be- trusted in it
rude grasp.
Ere long there was a knock at tn
door and hastily wiping away all trace
Of his emotion, Henry admitted his fath
er, who had come to talk Of their futur
prospects, which were even worse tha
he had feared. But he did not reproac
his wayward son, nor hint that his recI
less extravaganza had hastened the cs
lamity which otherwise might have bee
avoided. Calmly he stated the extent t
which they were involved, adding tha
though an entire failure might be pre-
vented a short time, it would come q
last; and that an honorable payment q
his debts would leave them beggars.
For myself l do not care" said th
wretched man, pressing hard his achin
temples, where the gray hairs had thicl
ened within a few short weeks. "Fo
myself 1 do not care, but for my wifi
and children-for Rose, and that sh
must miss her accustomed comforts,
the keenest pang of all.