Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1902-02-11
CHAPTER VI.

the old clock in the haihas. Seaton Dysart
enters the drawing rooHK The extreme
dinginess and gloom OF that melancholy
apartment sinks into hi6A as he moves
rather discontentedly, but with mans
unfailing instinct, toward the hearth-rug
1t is not all gloom. however, as he pres
emily discovers, in this dreary place. Some
one rises languidly from a low chair-~a
girl, lovely GIRL as ne instantly admits
and advances aboat the eighth part OF
an ordinary foot toward him.
They are wonderfully alike, the father
and son, and yet how wonderfully un'
like. 1t seems impossible that with ex
pressons so utterly at Variance so strong
a resemblance can exist, yet it is there
The one, the old face. meaak cringins
suspicious, wicked; the other! bid, honor
able. earnest and beautifully The girl
watching him with distrust in her eyes
reluctantly acknowledged this last fact.
I'm extremely sorry if I've kept yor
waiting for dinner" he says, advancing
at quicker pace, once he sees the pretty
girl in white, and holding out his hand
But the fact is was dreadfully tired
when l arrived, and I'm rather afraid
fell asleep"
"The day is warm" says she, coldly
The likeness to his father seems clearer
to her as he speaks, and kills for her all
the charm of his face.
every; but don't fancy my absurd tit
Of lazines arose from that. Rather from
the fact that haven't had a wink OF
sleep for the last two nights
1.-TWO nights!' says she with a faint
accession of interest. "Toothache? Sick
.friend?'
"Oh, no. Ball-cards." returns he, con
cisely.
"Ah" says she, this time rather short
ly.
you are Griselda, supposeT' says
he, pleasantly.
"Why should you suppose it?'' asks she
with faint smile.
'"True Why should I?' returns he
laughing. perhaps BECAUSE" with q
steady look at her, II have been told that
my cousin Griselda is a person possessed
Of a considerable amount of-of charac-
ter" .
''By that you mean that you have heard
Griselda is self-willed," says she, calmly.
"And as it is evident you think look the
part also, l am afraid you must prepare
yourself to meet two self-willed cousins
I am not Grise!da."
II she had fanced that this announce
ment would have put him out, she is un-
deceived in a moment.
"No?" says he, looking distinctly anus
ed There is comfort in the thought that
/ cannot again fall into error, because you
must be Vera
"Yes, l am Vera" slowly.
81 fear you will find it very dull down
here
"Your father has been very good to us
more than kind" interrupts she, gently,
but with decision. He has given US a
home"
''I should think he would be very glad
to get you here" says he. At this mo-
ment Grise!da enters the room. A charm.
ing Griselda, in white, like her sister, and
with a flower in her sunny hair. She
trips up to Seaton and gives him her hand
and frank smile, that has just the cor.
rect amount of coquettish shyness in it.
A man. to Griselda, no matter out OF
what obnoxious tribe he may have
sprung, is always a creature to be gently
treated, smiled upon and encouraged.
$50 you've come at last to this Castle
Of Despair" says she, saucily. II mus,
say, you took time to look US up. But l
don't blame you; life down her is too live
and me-"
The dismal sound of a cracked old din
ner gong breaks in at this instant on Gri-
selda's speech. They all rise and cross
the hall to the dining room, but just in
side it a momentary hesitation takes
place. Dysart going to the foot of the
table. Vera stops short, as if in some
surprise, to look at him, question in her
eyes.
You will take the head Of the table,
] hope" says he, in a low tone, divining
her perplexity.
But" quickly. and then a pause
eff you wish it, of course" she says, with
a swift uplifting of the brows and an al,
most impercepdble shrug.
Her manner somehow irritates him.
Il wish it, certainly" says he, coldly
"But | wish still more to see you do only
that which you like"
Il have few likes and diSlikes," replies
she, still in that utterly emotionless tone
and sweeping past him. she seats herself
at the head OF the table.
As for Gr:selda, the little jar in the go
cial atmosphere around her goes by un
noticed. so overcome is she by the un
wOu;ed nagnifeence of the sight before
Il
She looks round her and loses herself 8
little in the touch of fairyland the room
presents. 1t is, as il were, an echo from
the past. a glimpse into the old life when
her farther still lived. that she hardly
knew was dear to her until she had lost
1t. The glitter of the silver, the glass
the intense perfume OF the glowing tiow
ers, the rich tint of the fruits, all seem
part of a dream; sweet one. too.
Mr.. Dysart is wondering why both girls
should have taken SO instantaneous a dis
like to him. AS rule. women were civi
enough: yet here were two to whom he
was an utter stranger, and aggressive
was the only word he could apply to theil
looks and words, though both were stu
dously polite.
DO you stay longT" asks Griselda pres
entity. looking at her cousin.
II don't know how you may view it
I return to town the day after to-mor
row-very early on that day. Whether
l must or must not work for my living
is thing that does not concern ME.
work-you will hardly believe it in thi:
prosaic age-but l actually seek aftel
fame. l should like to get on in my pro
fession; to be more chan a mere triier.'
You are charming" says Griselda