Wallowa chieftain. [volume] (Joseph, Union County, Or.) 1884-1909, 1902-06-26

C' he was familiarly called by his
" associates-was undoubtedly a
more ludicrous than elegant name.
Katherine never knew why he should
he so burdened, except that CORVALLIS
was an old family name, "as though
that we're any reason" she once re-
marked, Indignantly, ito mark man
through life"
She remembered vividly when she
had considered it the most ridiculous
name in the world, but somehow no
day. as she thought of tall, handsome
man she had met on Regent street, in
the morning, the absurd side did not
appeal to her so strongly.
Before that chance meeting it had
been four years since she had seen him
in small town in New Jersey, where,
after leaving Princeton, he had laid his
heart and worldly goods at her feet.
In the interval the Cobb eXchequer
had been materially increased through
the death of near relation. Cornwall
lis, tall and ungainly in those days,
smarting under Katherine's ungracious
refusal shook the dust of his native
town from his feet, and sailed to Ger
many to study.
For the first time, in looking back
over the episode, Katherine realized
how disdainful had been her refusal.
When pressed for a reason, she had
replied with unblushing candor that
she never could care for man whose
name was Corn Cobb, no matter what
merits he possessed
But that morning, when he had al
most stumbled over her in depressing
London fog, he seemed to feel nothing
but the utmost pleasure in the uneX-
pected meeting.
In delicate way he drew from her
the account of her fathers death and
The necessity now laid upon her Of
earning her own living, all of which
was news to him. Her voice and pow
ers of mimicry she told him were her
only gifts, and on the advice of a
friend who had lived abroad she had
come to London and found employment
IN singing coon songs in the drawing
rooms of people Of wealth and title.
Katherine Whitney had come to Lon
don six months before with eager re-
lief, to escape the poverty which faced
her In her own country, but though
well received, she never forgot her pO-
sitlOn; she was hired at so much to
entertain my lady's guests, and when
that was over they had no further use
4 for her.
In former days she had looked upon
the Cobbs with amused tolerance at
'nelr lavish display, feeling an inborn
sense of pride that though poor, she
was Whitney, and one of her ances-
tofs mad signed the Declaration of In
/ dependence.
FROM childhood she had hated power
W II meant to her cramped, narrow
Ale' desires that could not be fulfilled
seherosltes that could not be graft
ned' and yet when way of escape
Aau presented itself in the person OF
corhwallis Cobb she had decided that
'nefe could perhaps be more distastefu
experiences than poverty.
mat night Katherine amused herself
ny reading the society news in the
queen The high-sounding titles inter
ested her and beguiled the time, fol
sue made few friends in London ant
FOUND people not eager to welcome {
stranger.
suddenly among the names that me
ier eye, she saw one that she recog
alzed-it was CORVALLIS Cobb. TIL,
uem read: Mr.. CORVALLIS Cobb, on
VI americas young millionaires, is be
mug entertained by Lady Henry Clay
oorne, at Clayborne manor, Yorkshire
i'ulhor has 1t that a marriage has beel
arranged between Mr.. Cobb and Lad.
uaybornes eldest daughter. Lad,
Marian Clayborne."
katherine could not help a regretfu
Keeling. 1t was like finding a frien
anu then losing him suddenly. Lad
oiayborne was evidently not averse
.ne name of Cobb, and Katherin
laughed little to herself at her forme
Keeling of condescension to the Cobb'
u was nearly ten days before Cob
,aiied, as he had promised. When da
~ Jay passed without any sign froi
MN katherine was conscious of dii
unct sense of disappointment, and sll
Vohcluded his other social duties la
Hlade him forget her.
but one morning there arrived bi
puhch of violets. The maid wi
brought them to her was overcome /
the size.
Laws, Miss" she exclaimed, wit
uellght, they must have cost cap
mat evening Cobb called, and e.
pAihed that he had been summone