Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1901-11-19
CHAPTER XyIu.-(Continued.)

face from me, "you know I should never
consent to marry you, with the idea of
your caring most for that girl. No,
could never do that. II l believed you
would ever think of me as you used to
do before you saw her, well, | would
keep true to you. But is there any hope
Of thatT'
LET us be frank with one another" l
answered; ''tell me, is there any one else
whom you would marry if released you
from this promise, which was only given,
perhaps, to soothe my mothers last
hours?"
YES" answered Johanna, whilst Julia
hid her face in her hands, "she would
marry my brother"
Captain Carey! l fairly gasped for
breath. Such an idea had never once
occurred to me, though knew she had
been spending most of her time with the
Careys at the Vale. Captain Carey to
marry! and to marry Julia! To go and
live In our house! I was struck dumb,
and fancied that 1 had heard wrongly.
II Julia wished for revenge-and when
Is not revenge sweet to Tilted woman! !!
she had it now. I was as crestfallen,
as amazed, almost as miserable as she
had been. Yet 1 had no one to blame
as she had. How could 1 blame her for
preferring Ga. ain Carey's love to my
poor Affections"
Julia" 1 said, after long silence,
and speaking as calmly as l could, do
you love Captain Carey
''That is not fair question to ask,
answered Johanna. "We have not been
treaeherous to you. scarcely know how
It has all come about. But my brother
has never asked Julia il she loves him;
for we wished to see you first, and hear
how you felt about Olivia. You say you
shall never love again as you love her.
Set Julia free, then, quite free, to accept
my brother or reject him. Be generous,
be yourself, Martin"
81 WILL" I said; ''my dear Julia, you
are as free as air from all obligation to
me. You have been very good and very
true to me. If Captain Carey is as good
and true to you, as I believe he will be,
you will be a very happy woman-hap-
pier than you would ever be with me-"
'tAnd you will not make yourself un-
happy about it?' asked Julia, looking up.
"No," l answered cheerfully; Il shall
be merry old bachelor, and visit you
and Captain Carey, when we are all old
folks. Never mind me, Julia; 1 never
was good enough for you. l shall be
very glad to know that you are happy"
!et wnen l lound my sen III lne stlees
for / made my escape as soon as
could get away from themI felt as If
everything worth living for were slip
ping away from me. Ny mother and
Olivia were gone, and here was Julia
forsaking me. l did not grudge her the
new happiness. There was neither jeal-
ousy nor envy In my ieehnss Low a. ss1e Ie
my supplanter: Dul III sohie way isl'
rnat nad iost great oeai SINCE en-
tered their drawing room TWO houfs ago
CHAPTER XIX.
did not go straight home to our dull,
gloomy bachelor dwelling place, for ]
was not in the mood for an hours solilo-
guy. l was passing by the house, chew
ing the bitter cud Of my reflections, and
turned in to see if any messages were
waiting there. The footman told me a
person had been with an urgent request
that doctor would go as soon as pos
sible to No. 10 Bellringer street. | did
not know the street, or what sort Of a
locality it was in.
"What kind of person called? l ask,
ed.
"a woman, sir; not lady. On foot
poorly dressed. She's been here before
and DIR. Lowry has visited the case
twice."
Very good, l said.