Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1901-05-10

corner ana then Ethel held the arch
until he had built around it.
Now make some bathing houses on
the beach," commanded Gus.
Jack obeyed. and then Gus brought
out some men and women cut out of
cardboard and set them around to re-
present the guests.
Here's you and Ethel. I'll introduce
you, for you weren't acquainted then"
said the young rascal, as he placed the
figure of man raising his hat before
that of young woman with parasol.
"All right" said Jack. But l am
not raising my hat at her as should.
am raising it at the far corner of the
building. Here, let me set them right
Saying this, he reached out and turn
ed the figure representing himself so
that it faced the figure representing
Ethel Immediately white hand shot
out and turned the back of the paste
board belle toward the bowling figure.
'Snubbed!" exclaimed Jack, having a
boldness for his pasteboard representa-
tive that he never would have presum-
ed to have for himself.
But you don't know him yet He's
the checklist man on the beach, at
heart" and he moved his representa-
tive with his bow in front of the maid
with the parasol.
"And she's the haughtiest girl at the
beach," said Ethel, as she again snub-
bed her cavalier
TRY them behind the hotel where the
hammock is and folks amt lookin',,
volunteered Gus.
Great head"' exclaimed Jack, pick
ing up the two figures to make the
change.
Take care whom you're handling
like that!' exclaimed Ethel, grasping
him by the wrist and striving to pry
his fingers loose from her figure.
There was struggle full of the aban.
| don gayety of the nursery, to which
the blocks had brought them back far
from the formalities and embarrass-
ments of social life. Gus jumped into
the struggle to help Jack, and in the
general mixup the hotel was wrecked
worse than any house that was ever
them back to themselves again, but the
nursery spirit remained with them.
Ihey once more had the frank fearless
ness OF children and could look one an
other IN the face without blushing.
NOW, you must build me something
else, you two" whined Gus, over the
ruins of his hotel.
For an hour they built and rebuilt
| all kinds of houses to the infinite de-
light of the boy, who watched and criti-
cised. At last they disagreed about
| what should be built.
Lets build cottage" said Jack.
mo, let's build church," said Ethel
Il want you to build both" said Gus.
SO, as there were plenty of blocks to
build both, they started a race to see
who could finish first. But it was
peculiar thing that Jack built with his
left hand and Ethel with her right
while each leaned ON the hand that was
supposedly disengaged. But an OBJ
server less interested in building than
Gus might have noticed that the two
hands not used in building were trying
to rest on the same spot of floor, and
occasionally the fingers intertwined in
way that brought the color to the
cheeks of the two young people, whose
races were carefully averted.
Jacks cottage is done first" cried
Gus, sprawling forward with his card
board figures. "And here you both are
going in the front gate"
but we should go to the church be-
fore we go to the cottage" said Jack,
CALAMITY. Don't you think so, Ethel?"
A gentle squeeze of the hand was the
only response.
linen it's settled" he exclaimed, in
trembling voice, glancing at the back
| OF an averted head First to the
church and then to my cottage"
Another pressure of assent.
just what would have happened
next, in spite of the presence of Gus,
Will never be known, for his mother,
who had entered the room unnoticed,
suddenly exclaimed:
"Well, bless my heart, is this nurs-
cry? Bless you, my children"
They both sprang to their feet in con-
fusion. but Jack still clung to EtheTs
hand. Her mother looked from one to
the other, and then Jack managed to
stammer:
'That's right-we want your bless
ing"