Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1901-05-14
CHAPTER l.


sunbonnet drawn so closely over your
face? Are you afraid of having it seen?"
The person addressed was pale, sick
ly looking child about nine years of age,
who on the deck of the vessel Winder-
mere, was gazing intently toward the dis
tant shore of old England, fast receding
from view. Near her fne-looking boy
of fourteen was standing, trying in vain
to gain look at the features shaded by
the gingham bonnet.
At the sound of his voice the little girl
started, and without turning her head,
replied, Nobody wants to see me, am
so ugly and disagreeable."
Ugly, are you?' repeated the boy, lift
ing her up and looking her fully in the
face. We'll, you are not very hand
some, that's fact, but l wouldn't be sui
len about it. Ugly people are always
smart, and perhaps you are. Anyway,
l like little girls, so just let me sit here
and get acquainted
Mary Howard was certainly not very
handsome. Her features, though tolera-
bly, regular, were small and thin, her
complexion sallow, and her eyes, though
bright and expressive, seemed too large
for her face .5he had frequently been
told that she was homely, and often when
alone had wept, and wondered why she,
too, was not handsome like her sister
Ella, on whose cheek the softest rose was
blooming, while her rich brown hair fell
in wavy masses about her white neck and
shoulders. But if Ella was more beau
tiful than Mary, there was far less in
her character to admire. She knew that
she was pretty, and this made her proud
and selfish, expecting attention from all,
and growing sullen if it was withheld.
Mrs. Howard, the mother Of these chill
dren, had incurred the displeasure of her
father, a wealthy Englishman, by mar
rying her music teacher. Humbly at her
fathers feet she had knelt and sued for
pardon, but the old man was inexorable
and turned her from his house. Late in
life he had married youthful widow,
who, after the lapse of few years died,
leaving three little girls, Sarah, Ella and
Jane, two Of them his own, and one
stepdaughter and child of his wife's
first marriage. AS a last request Mrs.
Temple had asked that her baby Jane
should be given to the care of her sister,
Mrs. Morris, who was on the eve of en-
barking fora America Sarah, too, was
Mr.. Temple was left alone with his eld-
est daughter, Ella. Occasionally he heard
from Jane, but time and distance gradu-
ally weakened the tie of parental affec-
ton, which wound itself more closely
around Ella; and now, when she, too, left
him, and worse than all, married a poor
music teacher, the old mans wrath knew
no bounds.
but we'll see,' said he-"we'll see
how they get on. I'll use all my influence
against the dog, and when Miss Elias
right cold and hungry she'll be glad to
come back and leave him.
But he was mistaken, for though right
cold and hungry Ella oftentimes was, she
only clung the closer to her husband,
happy to share his fortune, whatever it
might be. Two years after her marriage,
hearing that her father was dangerously
LII, she went to him, but the forgiveness
she SO ardently desired was never gained,
for the old mans reason was gone Faith
fully she watched until the end, and then
when she heard read his will and knew
that his property was all bequeathed to
her sister in America, she brushed the
tears from her long eyelashes. and went
back to her humble home prepared to
meet the worst
In course of time three children, Frank,
Mary and Ella, were added to their num-
Der, and though their presence brought
sunshine and gladness, it brought also
an increase of toll and care. Year after
year Mr.. Howard struggled on, while
each day rumors reached him of the
plenty to be had in the land beyond the
sea; and at last, when hope seemed dying
out, he resolved to try his fortune in the
far-famed home of the weary emigrant.
The necessary preparations for their voy-
age were made as soon as possible, and
when the Windermere left the harbor
Of Liverpool they stood upon her deck,
waving last adieu to the few kind
friends who on shore were bidding them
godspeed.
Among the passengers was George
Moreland, whose parents had died some
months before, leaving him and a large
fortune to the guardianship of his uncle,
wealthy merchant residing in Boston.
This uncle, Mr.. Selden, had written for
his nephew to join him in America, and
1t was for this purpose that George had
taken passage in the Windermere. He
was a frank, generous-hearted boy, and
favorite with all who knew him. He
was a passionate admirer of beauty, and
the moment the Howards came on board
and he caught sight of Ella, he felt ire
sistibly attracted toward her. Mary,
whose sensitive nature shrank from the
observation Of strangers, eluded all his
efforts to look under her bonnet. This
aroused his curiosity, and when he fol-
kwed her addressed to her the remark
with which we commenced this chapter.
At last, gently smoothing back her hair,
which was really bright and glossy, he
said, who told you that you were SO
ugly lookingT The tears started to
Mary's eyes, and her chin quivered, as
she replied, Father says 30, Ella says
SO, and everybody says SO but mother
and Frankly"
Everybody doesn't always tell the
TRUTH" said George, wishing to admin
lister as much comfort as possible.
you've got pretty blue eyes, nice brown
hair, and your forehead, too, is broad
and high; now if you hadn't such mud
dy complexion, bony cheeks, little nose,
big ears and awful teeth, you wouldn't
be such fright!'
, George propensity to tease had come
upon him, and in enumerating the defects
in Mary's face he purposely magnifed
them; but he regretted it, when he saw
the effect his words produced. Hiding
her face in her hands, Mary burst into a