Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1901-07-09
BY MRRY j. HOLMES
CHAPTER XIV.

OE1af LEN Alf
Mary returned home and a few days
later was solicited to take charge Of a
small select school. But Mrs. Mason
thought it best for her to return to
Mount Holyoke and accordingly she de-
clined Mr.. Knights offer, greatly to his
disappointment, and that of many others.
One morning about week after her
return she announced her intention Of
visiting her mothers grave. Il am ac-
customed to so much exercise" said she,
shat can easily walk three miles, and
perhaps on my way home shall get
ride"
Mrs. Mason made no objection, and
Mary was soon on her way. She was a
rapid walker, and almost before she was
aware of it reached the village. As she
came near Mrs. Campbell's the wish nat
urally arose that Ella should accompany
her. Looking up, she saw her sister in
the garden and called to her.
'.Wha-a-t" was the very loud and un-
civil answer which came back to her, and
in a moment Ella appeared round the cor
ner of the house, carelessly swinging her
straw hat and humming a fashionable
song. On seeing her sister she drew
back the corners of her mouth into some
IAAGS nOACA tAlCAuCu 4VA q ShiiiCy eAAO
said, "Why, | thought it was Bridget
calling me, you looked so much like her
in that gingham sunbonnet. Won't you
come in?"
''Thank you," returned Mary. 81 was
going to mothers grave, and thought per-
haps you would like to accompany me.
"Oh, no." said Ella, in her usual drawl-
ing tone, Il don't know as want to go.
I uyoS fhoro 10 OF tho
ument"
What monument| asked Mary, and
Ella replied:
:Why, didn't you know that Mrs. Ma
son, or the town, or somebody, had
bought monument, with mothers and
fathers and Franky's and Allies names
on itT'
Mary, hurrying on, soon reached the
graveyard, where, as Ella had said, there
stood by her parents graves a large,
handsome monument. William Bender
was the first person who came into her
mind, and as she thought of all that had
passed between them, and of this last
proof of his affection, she seated herself
among the tall grass and flowers which
grew upon her mothers grave and burst
into tears. She had not sat there long
ere she was reused by the sound of a
footstep. Looking up, she saw before her
the young gentleman who the year pre-
yious had visited her school in Rice Cor
ner. Seating himself respectfully by her
side, he spoke of the three graves, and
asked if they were her friends who slept
there. There was something so kind and
affectionate in his voice and manner that
Mary could not repress her tears, and,
snatching up her bonnet, which she had
thrown aside, she hid her face in it and
again wept.
For time Mr.. Stuart suffered her to
weep, and then gently removed the ging-
ham bonnet, and, holding her hand be-
tween his, he tried to divert her mind by
talking upon other topics, asking her how
she had been employed during the year,
and appearing greatly pleased when told
that she had been at Mount Holyoke.
Observing at length that her eyes con-
stantly rested upon the monument, he
spoke Of that, praising its beauty, and
asking ifit were her taste.
NO." said she. II never saw it until
to-day, and did not even know it was
here"
Someone wished to surprise you,
dare say" returned Mr.. Stuart "It was
manufactured in Boston, I see. Have
you friends there?'
Mary replied that she had one, a Mr..
Bender, to which Mr.. Stuart quickly re-
Joined. 'Is it William Bender? / have
heard Of him through our mutual friend,
George Moreland, whom you perhaps
have seem"
Mary felt the earnest gaze of the large,
dark eyes which were fixed upon her
face, and coloring deepIy. she replied that
they came from England in the same yes-
sel
''Indeedw said Mr.. Stuart. "When I
return to the citv shall I refresb bis Nom.
orv. litfIe with regard to voupn
sPd rather YOU would not" answered
Mary. "Our maths in life are very dif.
ferent. and he of course wonId fool no
interest in me-"
sam 7 to conclude that Won foo foo,
no interest in him p, raturned M Strort
and AGAIN b;s largo evo. rosa+od ~,
Mary's face with a curious expression.
But she made no reply. and. soon rising
up said IT was time for her to 90 home
Vacation was over. and again in thf
halls of Mount .HoIyoke was heard the
tread of many feet. and the sonnd q,
youthful voices as one by one the pupil.
came back to their accustomed places
For time Mary was undecided whether
to return or not, for much as she desired
an education she could not help feelins