Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1902-04-01
CHAPTER XXI.

Night has quite closed in, night ex-
ceptionally wild and violent, when once
more the sound of wheels upon the gravel
without catches Vera's ear.
Perhaps she had been listening for it
is even in a measure prepared for it,
but even if so, this does not prevent the
sudden agitated change that overspreads
her face as she hears it. Her pulses
quicken unpleasantly and she half rises
to her feet.
An hour, two hours, pass, and she is in
her room dressing for dinner, when
servant brings her note.
Il have to thank you for the kind in
vitation which Griselda gave me. Busi-
ness matters have compelled me to come
here again-for the last time-to-night;
to trespass, for the last time, upon your
hospitality. l beg you will not let my
presence disturb you; my stay will be 50
short that | dare to hope you will not
mark the coming or going"
A quick wave of color dyes Vera's
face; she lays the letter with studied
slowness upon the table near.
My complim, Its to Mr.. Dysart, and
hope he will dine with me tonight she
says, calmly, but with an unconscious
touch of hauteur. How does he dare to
treat her like this, to persist in believing
or rather, to pretend to believe-that
his presence is so distasteful to her?
What is he to her, one way or the other,
that she should care whether he was in
her house or out of it!
At dinner, however, she will have an
opportunity of widening his knowledge
somewhat. 1t will be the simplest thing
to let him see how utterly unimportant
an item he is in the scheme of her exist
ic hrIlt nf Iirrhf n
eyes as she turns to receive the woman
who has now come back with an answer
to her message to Dysart.
There is timidity in the woman's air
that warns her.
Mr. Dysart's compliments and thanks,
madame, but he has already dined in
town"
"Fasten this bracelet" says Vera, hold
ing out her arm. She is aware that the
woman is watching her, curiously if ner-
vously, and she so moves that the sudden
pall0r of her face, the sole thing that
shows Der Indignation, shall not betray
her. That will do; you can Co." she
says after awhile. She sweeps down
stairs almost in the servants footsteps,
and into the green drawing room, a
smaller apartment than the usual recep-
ton rooms, and now looking delicately
cozy beneath the touches of lamps and
freight, and with the perfume of many
flowers hanging around it.
The wind, the thunder, the lightning,
still rage, but the rain has ceased, and
IN the murky heavens above, a pale, sick
ly moon is striving feebly to break way
through the dense clouds. Suddenly the
door is thrown open by an agitated hand
and the woman who had attended her
-, hnrrio1lu without
mony, into the room.
"Oh, madame, thought you would like
to know-that you should be told" she
stops, frightened by the expression OF
Veras face.
"Well?" says Vera, going step nearer
to her.
There is a ship in great distress, ma
dame-somewhere out there" pointing
vaguely in the direction Of the ocean
upon the rocks. they say! There is
scarcely any hope
But the life-boat?'' cried Vera, sharp
ly. forgetting everything now but the aw
full thought of death-and death so neal
out there upon those cruel rocks, witt
the boiling, murderous waves leaping tt
receive their prey.
Yes, madame, but that accident yes
terday-you will remember it?-they say
It has disabled six of the men, and 1t /:
almost certain death to go at ALL and the
hands being short, there must be volun
teers, and who will risk their lives
the townbred girl stops short with {
culver, and covers her face with he
hands.
Volunteers! Wnere is Mr.. DysartT
cries Vera, suddenly, with prophetic in
stinct. Speak, girl!'' turning fiercely ol
her maid.
Gone down to the beach, madame, t
see what can be done"
"Goue!" says Vera, slowly, as if dazed
and then again, "gone!" A little convlu
sive shiver runs through her-it is tn
final breaking up of any lingering de
ceits, any last illusions, that she ma,
still have clung to.
Order the carriage" she says, after
minute or two, during which mistress an
maid have remained silent. This sudde
waking-up has been so far a shock tha
II has killed all immediate nervousness
She feels chilled, calmed, strengthened.
The moon has in q measure conquere
the clouds, and now shines out with
pale, watery luster, that rather adds t
than takes from the weird wildneSs o
the night. The thunder still rattles over
head, and vivid flashes light the black
ness. Here and there, as the carria s
masses by the outskirts Of the wood, thes
intermittent bursts of light show wher
a tree has been felled, or the road rippe
up, or a small bridge carried bodil
away by the force Of the swollen cul
rent underneath.
All through the deadly crashing Of th
storm a booming sound may be heard a
long intervals. Half maddened by il
and by that other greater fear, Vera lie
back in the carriage, pressing her fir
gers row to her ears, now TO her throt
bipg brow, that feels as if it were burs
ing.
Arrived at the entrance to the village,
drive of about q mile from Greycour
she stops the carriage, and opening til
door springs to the ground. A sudde
gust of wind passing by almost dashe
her to the earth, but by a superhuma
effort she defes it, and half blinded b
the flashing lightning, and bewildered b
the raging storm, she turns aside. an
runs painting, struggling. down sid
pathway that she knows leads to Ii
beach below.