Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1901-10-08
CHAPTER X.-(Continued.)

upon me in my last nights ride, was
cleaning brightly through the window.
/ intended to reflect and deliberate, but
I was woln out l flung myself down on
the bed but could not have remained
awake for a single moment. fell into
deep sleep, which lasted till morning.
When l awoke my poor mother was
sitting beside me, looking very i'll and
sorrowful. She had slipped pillow un-
der my head, and thrown a shawl across
me. l got up with a bewildered brain,
and a general sense of calamity, which
/ could not clearly define.
Captain Carey's man brought letter
from Julia Just now" she said, taking it
from her pocket; "he said there was no
answer"
Her eyelids were still red from weep
ing, and her voice faltered as if she
might break out into sobs any moment.
AS soon as my mother was gone
opened Julia's letter. 1t began:
my Dear Martini know all now.
Johanna has told me. When you spoke
to me so hurriedly and Unexpectedly, this
afternoon, | could not bear to hear an
other word. But now 1 am calm, and
can think it all over quite quietly.
says so as wei as I, and she is never
wrong. 1t is a sheer impossibility that
you, in your sober senses, should love
a strange person, whose very name you
do not know. A Dobree could not make
an adventures his wife. Then you have
seen so little of her. Three times, since
the week you were there in March! What
is that compared to the years we have
spent together? 1t is impossible that in
your heart of hearts you should love her
more than me.
II cannot give up the thought Of our
home, just finished and so pretty. 1t
was so pleasant this afternoon, before
you came in with your dreadful thunder
bolt. l was thinking what good wife l
would be to you; and how, in my own
house, / should never be tempted into
those .tiresome tempers you have seen in
me sometimes. You could not know how
much 1 love you, how my life is bound
up in you, or you would have been proof
against that person i'll Sark.
II think it right to tell you all this
now, though it is not in my nature to
make professions and demonstrations of
my love. Think of me, Of yourself, of
your poor mother. You were never self
ish, and you can do noble things. l do
not say it would be noble to marry me;
but it would be a noble thing to conquer
an ignoble love. How could Martin Do
bree fall in love with an unknown adyen-
turess?
II shall remain in the house all day to-
morrow, and if you can come to see me-
feeling that this has been dream OF
folly from which you have awakened,
will not ask you to own it. That you
come at all will be a sign to me that
you wish it forgotten and blotted out be-
tween us, as if it had never been.
with true, deep love for you, Martin
believe me still
"Your affectionate
JULIA"
pondered over Julia's letter as
dressed. There was not a word of re-
sentiment in 1t. It was full of affection
ate thought for us all. But what rea
soning! 1 had not known Olivia SO long
as had known her, therefore I could
not love her as truly!
There was no longer any hesitation ir
my mind as to what 1 must do. julia
knew all now. l had told her distinctly
Of my love for Olivia, and she would moi
believe it. She appeared wishful to holG
me to my engagement in spite of it; a
any rate, so interpreted her letter.
did not suppose that l should not live i
down, this infatuation, as they chose Il
call 1t. 1 might hunger and thirst, ant
be on the point Of perishing; then m!
nature would turn to other nutriment
and assimilate it to its contracted an(
stultifed capacities.
went mechanically through the rout
inc of my mornings work, and it wa
late in the afternoon before / could ge
away to ride to the Vale. My mothe
knew where was going, and gazed wist
fully into my face, but without otherwis
asking me any questions. At the las
moment, as l touched Madam's bride,
looked down at her standing on the door
step. "Cheer up, motherw / said, al
most gaily, sit will all come right"
I found Julia standing by the fireplace
and leaning against it, as if she coul.
not stand alone. When I went up t.
her and took her hand, she flung her arm
around my neck, and clung to me, in
passion. Of tears. 1t was some minute
before she could recover her self-com
mand. 1 had never seen her abandon
herself to such paroxysm before.
Julia, my poor girl! said, 81 did no
think you would take it so much to hear
as this"
81 shall come all right directly" sh
sobbed, sitting down, and trembling frou
head to foot. johanna said you woul
come, but l was not sure"
''Yes, I am here" l answered, with
very dreary feeling about me.
"T6at is enough" said Julia; "yo
T
it, both of us. You will only give m
your promise never to see her or speak t
her again"
"Olivia quite understands about NV er
gagement to you," 1 said. 81 told her q
once that we were going to be married
and that hoped she would find frien
in you."
"a friend in me, Martini she exclain
ed, in tone of indignant, surprise; "yo
could not ask me to be thatr'
.'Not now, 1 suppose 1 replied; 18th
girl is as innocent and blameless as an
girl living; but l dare say you woul
sooner befriend the most good for -nothin
Jezebel in the Channel Islands"
''Yes, 1 would" she said. ''An INN
cent girl indeed! I only wish she ha
been killed when she fell from the cliff
"Hushv' 1 cried, shuddering at the bal
mention of Olivia's death; you do nj
know what you say. 1t is worse tha
useless to talk about her. / came to as
you to think no more Of what passed b
tween rs yesterday"