Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1902-03-25
CHAPTER Xxx.

With the fatal Will ciasped In MS
hand, Dysart goes straight to the small
morning room, where he knows he viii
be sure to find Vera. Twilight is begin
ming to fall, and already the swift herald
of night is proclaiming the approach Of
his king. She starts slightly as he comes
in.
81 am sorry to disturb you," says Dy-
sart, with an effort at calmness. but it
was SO necessary that l should come,
that"
"'I am glad you have come. I, too,
was anxious to see you." says Vera, a
touch of nervousness in her tone. Il
you must know it is impossible that we
should stay here any longer. Our uncle,
who was our guardian, Is gone and
she has risen to her feet and Is looking
at him in sore distress-"I have wanted
to speak to you about it for long time;
l thought, perhaps, you would help US
| to find another home" He can see that
she suffers terribly in having to throw
herself upon his good nature, to openly
demand his assistance. 1--WE must leave
this, and at once" says she. stammering
a little, and with a slight miserable break
in her voice.
you will not have to look for another
home" says he; "this is your own
house"
"Oh, no" drawing back with a naughty
gesture; 81 have told you it is impossi-
BILE. l shall certainly not stay here"
"As you will" quite as haughtily. lt
will be in your power for the future to re.
side exactly where you please, but if the
fear Of seeing me here is deciding you
against this place, pray be satisfied on
that point; have no longer the smallest
ufxaysh hAr
Warned by a change in his manner,
Vera looks at him.
Something has happened?" she says,
abruptly.
Yes; something 1 find it difficult to e1-
plain to YOU"
Still he manages 20 tell her all and to
show her her grandfather's will-the will
which his father had suppressed all these
years.
But this is horrible" she says, faint
ly, when be had 6pished. II won't have
it!' She throws out her hands as though
in renunciation. why should l deprive
you Of your home? Give me enough to
live ON elsewhere with Griselda, but
you are quick to fall into error" says
he, grimly. Il have begged you already
to try to grasp the situation. It 10 I,
it appears, whe"-he hesitates, and
after finding it impossible to speak Of
his father, goes on-"who have deprived
you of your home. You must see that.
beg" slowly, that you will not permit
yourself any further foolish discussion
on this subject"
lie turns away abruptly. There Is
something SO solitary, so utterly alone in
his whole air. that without giving her
self time for thought she springs to her
feet and calls to him.
Where are you going? To sit alone
To brood over all this? Oh, do not
Why" going swiftly to him and standing
before him with downcast lips and trem
bling fingers and quickened breath, "why
not stay here with me for a little while
and let US discuss all this together and
try to see a way out Of itT'
My way is plain before me; it wants
no discussion" says Dysart, resolutely
refusing to look at her.
You mean." tremulouly, that yol
will not stay?" One white hand hanging
at her side closes upon q fold of her sof
-, black gown and crushes it convulsively
81 mean" in an incorporating tone
that I fully understand your mistakes
=, kindness-the sacrifice of your inclina
4! tons you would make-and decline t.
pront by II.
You are disingenuous. What yo'
really mean is" in a low tone, that 70,
will not forgive"
: There is nothing to forgive, save m
> presumption"
He opens the door deliberately an
closes 1t with a firm hand behind him
Vera, left standing thus cavaherly in tn
t middle of the room, with the knowledg
full upon her that she has been siiahted
y spurned, her kind intentions ruthlessl
hung back upon her, let's the quick, pat
r sionate blood rise upward, until 1t dye
It cheek and brow. She presses her han
= upon her throbbing heart. and then all q
d once it comes to her that she Is no loni
er poor, forlorn, but rich, one of the rict
. est commoners In England. And wit
IL this comes, too, a sense of deeper dest
!, lation than she has as yet known. Drol
d ping into a chair, she covers her fac
lie with her hands and cries as il her heal
1t is broken.