The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1902-07-19
BY JOHN GASTcN
1NETHO IS the distinguished look
&copzrssht, 1901, by Authors syndicate.)
ing man who came in the
n. T-,>I,oIJ

Robert Gordon. He is the fellow
about whom the newspapers are say
ing so much-the lobbyist from New
York who has succeeded in getting the
Consolidated Telephone ordinances
through the council. Handsome, isn't
be?''
<"Remarka bly, so. Still, on closer
View his expression is not entirely
pleasant, and I should say thai he
bears marks of dissi ipation-nOt gross
ly, but there is some thing that sug
gests wine, women and song at unholy
hours-or am I mistaken? Is that
pallor natural?"
A woman standing near bent a keen
glance at the man as his name was
mentioned, and the slightest sUgges-
&ipa of a flush appeared eli her che eks'
II was the first time she had laid eyes
on him since the night she had jlted
hina for Frederick MAJ alkham. That was
19 years ago. They we're both young
about 18-and had been sweethearts
from childhood. He was still in col
Aege, a brilliant boy and career pre-
dicted for him. But the career was a
long ways Off and Gordon had little
other than expectations.
Frederick Markham was rich and
xvell-connected and ten years her
senior. lie offered her all the things
ao'dear to the girl just budding into So
ciety, and she had accepted him and
thrown Gordon over. She had not an
4icipa ted such scene. however, Is fol-
lowed when she tod him that she was
to marry Markham. de accused her
bitterly Of heartiesSness and OF delib-
erately leading him on for the sake of
amusement. He swore that she had
ruined his life and for the wreck that
moaald follow she was responsible by
every Jaw of God and of man. He told
ber shat he would never again believe
iE the sincerity of human creature.
He Nould live, he declared, solely to
CRAFTY his senses, and he wished her
much Joy in the sale she had made Of
herself It was the speech of hot
headed, high spirited, disappointed
boy It all came up before her this
n5g1aG many years later with startling
wip0saess as she looked at him across
Ehe reception hall.
And it had eventuated much as he
had predicted. He had finished his col
2ege course and studied law, while
plugging into extreme dissipa tons.
HIS great natural abilities had carried
him through and he had settled in New
York, where, instead OF devoting him
self to his profession, he had used his
brilliant qualities to forward all sorts
OF questionable schemes.. He had be-
come 4 very succe ssful lobbyist.
He had never visited the home city
since his inte view with the woman
nn&a3 this time. when he had come to
force through the city council the most
a auGacious and notorious measure that
had ever been attempted in the city.
AID he had succeeded and it was wills
pered thai he had secured a small for
sumo for his york
She was surprised at the great
change in the man, and still more sur
prises7 at the unchanged resemblance
to the iD"enuous, enthusiast youth
she had Known. He looked scarcely
older, excepting for the prematurely
gray h2ir, although the face had lost
white ~ h PaLlor.
While a.! this flashed through her
mind Robert Gordon and Mr.. Campbell
were surrounded by a merry party of
ladies ard gentlemen, to whom the
formsr ~~s being presented. When
Mrs. am glanced toward the
party tA~ on was being presented to
her daa. =, . tai, handsome, viva
cious l6. The mother noted the
look He'd recognition in his eyes
(the o-"l - perfect prototype Of her
moth he same age), and noted
also d. ~ flush in his pale cheek
The Il a'.. Indifference had vanished
from his "-cs and he entered al, once
into an minated conversation with
TIE Ct. " expression of anxiety
came he face of Mrs. Markham
and H.: drw Of great apprehen-
sion Co.,, her heart. Then she
strai ! herself haughtily and
mutt herself:
"'Wl ga. must be going into
secon1 Aood." .
Dur ., entire evening Gordon
mon. Miss Markham's atten-
ton. the close handed her to
the e. al to the considerable
disco her mother.
Re l. ia NOT return z once
to \, he had announced pre-
viou KS faded into men hs
and coupled the handsoI~est
suite . r&i and hang cver the
5aih1 -..- s the young heiress- of.
the -ortune. Mrs. Markham
frett, ,Nyed, but. her expostula--
lions .uheeding ears. The girl
felt attraction toward ne
hand II the world ever felt
by q toward the men who
have .GauccessfuI suitors for
their 2aHds; and as for Mark
ham. med by the dominant
perse w Yorker.
Tbt qprehensions were
not However, and one day
the Il oke to the situate
and 49, - . most serious talk
betut arents. 1t was fully
ayio ri was madly in
love ant lobbyist, and
wher was talked over
Free l saw at once that