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

"Well, I'm off," says Griselda, poking
her pretty head into the summer house,
where Vera sits reading. 1t is next day,
and very lovely day, too.''
For your ramble," says Vera, laying
down her book. 80 you won't take my
advice? Very good. Go on, and you'll
see that you won't prosper" Her tone is
half gay, half serious. "And don't be
long" entreats Vera, with a sudden rush
Of anxiety. Don't, now. Yes, I'm in
deadly earnest. There is that man all
over the place, let loose, as it were, for
my discontinue, and if he turns up in
this part of the world suppose I shall
have to talk to him."
What a calamity says Griselda, with
little feigned dropping of her mouth
"1n this barren wilderness even mama
may be regarded with rapture-even Sea-
ton! Better any man than no man,
say l."
so say not 1, then" with great spirit
She has leaned forward upon her elbow,
and her eyes are brilliant with a little
suspicion of anger. Give me a desert
Island rather than the society Of a man
whom l know it will require only time to
teach me to detest. And how you can
call him so familiarly 'Seaton,' passes
my"
A pause! An awful pause. Who is it
that has turned the corner of the summer
house, and is looking in at them with a
curious expression round his mouth? Gri-
seida is the first to recover.
isn't it absurd?" she says, smiling
rather lamely. But 1 assure you, Sea-
ton, your sudden appearance quite took
away my breath. You should stamp when
you come to house like this. The grass
ali round is so thick"
TOO thickr says Dysart, with a swift
glance at Vera, who has lost all her color.
For the future I shall try to remember.
I am very sorry startled you" He has
addressed himself entirely to Griselda,
unless that one lightning glance of con-
temptuous reproach cast at Vera could
be counted. But I was ON my way to
one of the farms, and this is the lowest,
the nearest path to it. l shall never cease
to regret"-here he stops dead short, and
turns his eyes unreseryedly On Vera
that did not take the upper one'
He makes both girls a slight bow, and
walks swiftly onward ON the unlucky
path he had chosen.
'Oh, Vera, do somethingT' cries Grisel-
da, in a small agony of CONSERVATION,
clasping her hands. Vera, thus admon-
ished, springs to her feet, and, driven
half by honest shame and half By i'm
pulse, rushes out of the summer house
and runs after Dysart as he Is fast dis.
appearing through the shrubs. Reaching
him, painting and pale with agitation, she
lays her hand timidly upon his arm.
81 am so grieved," she says, her charm,
ing face very panied, her lips white
v-ho ho~
knows what one says, and
There are such moments, certainly" +"
says he, interrupting her remorselessly.
But they can hardly be classed with
those in which the calm condolences of
one sister are exchanged with the other.
And why should you apologize? l assure
you, you need not. l do not seek for or
desire anything Of the kind"
1t almost seems to her that he has
shaken her hand from his arm. Draw
ing back, she sees him proceed upon his
way, and then returns to Griselda.
II really think hate him." says Vera,
vehemently. The recollection of his con-
temptTous glance, the way in which he
had disdained her apology-above all,
that slight he had offered her when he
had displaced her hand from his arm-all
rankle in her breast, and hot flow of
shame renders her usually pale face bril-
liant. .".There. never mind him." she says.
with little frown. He is not stsyiug
long. fortunately. and this episode will
bear good fruit of Cne sort at least He
will not trouble ME with his society while
you are away. Now hurry. Griselda. do "
GriSeida. with a light laugh. drawn ir-
resistibly by the gorgeous lovel.ness of
the lights and shadows Of the land below,
runs down the pathway and is soon lost
to view.
When she returns over an hour la er
she discovers to her amazenlent, that
Vera is still in it.
You are miserable about that wretch
ed affair of the morning." cries Griselda
Never mind it. If you will come to diu-
ner l promise you to do all the talking,
and as it has to be endured do entreat
you to keep up your spirits"
"Oh, yes. There isn't decent chance
Of escape" says Vera, wearily.
"'Sh!' cries Griselda, softly, putting
up her hand; the sound OF coming foot
steps, slow, deliberate footsteps purpose
ly made heavier, smites upon their ears.
''oGod heavens! Here he is,'' says
Griselda, and indeed they have barely
time to put on a carefully unconscious
demeanor, when Seaton Dysart darkens
the door of the summer house, and looks
coldly down on them.
They told me l should find you here"
he says, speaking to Vera. Il have come
TO say good-by.'
But surely you are not goiEs so soon
not before dinner, not tonight" cries
Griselda, thunderstruck by this solution
Of their difficulty, and little sorry, too.