Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1902-05-27

friend. You know wish yen wen,
lad. and that I'd do all for you that
broken old chap can do; but there's no
sense, tina knows. and no policy In
sticking here VII nought TO do-not
even courting. You love lass, and, of
course, naturally, hang about her; Dus,
deuce take it, lad, what do you expect
to get by hanging about the place when
she's miles and miles awayf Is it that
the ground whereon her gentle feet
have trod-eh? Come now, lad, let's
talk the thing out; We can't ha, the
folk about here that used to think so
much of you getting to look at you as
sort o. harmless luney."
"There is at least one person IN the
village said 1, somewhat neetied,
| ssthat does not believe me harmless,
whether he thinks me lunatic or
not. -
"Weli," said he, ''you munna be
offended at my saying that"
"No, certainly said 1. II there
| is one man who could never offend me,
it is you, Mr.. Birley. But, when
think of it, I am not surprised that
people should begin to look upon me as
a maniac, since nobody but myself
knows altogether what I keep staying
here for"
"Ah, we'll, of course" said he, look
ing mystifed, "but talking on at
venture, according to his wont. "you
know your own affairs best-but You
think nobody else knows this alto
gether. Well, 1 daresay-'
s'I daresay," said /, interrupting
him. 81 am monomaniac." The inn
pulse siezed me to take him into my
confidence; felt it would relieve and
cheer me to talk to him about the mat
ters that occupied my thought so much !;
he must know them sooner or later,
and, by knowing them at that juncture
he might give me useful hint. Per
haps," said I, "you will think me mad
/ if / tell you what really keeps me here.
1t is not, as you imaigne, that I am in
love with your ward, or with the
ground she has walked on; don't deny
that [ am in that condition-but it is
not that keeps me here. l wish to tell
YOU what it is, but you must promise
me to keep it locked up in yourself. "
"Nay, lad, if it's some very private
affair of your own, do not tell me. -
"But,'' said I, "it is no private affair
of my own; indeed, it concerns you at
least quite as much as me; and think,
perhaps, you might help me little on
it."
1 then related my story, point by
point, not even omitting mention Of
Louise's repeated dream, or of my OWE
recent adventure in the chemical
works. The effect my story had on
him caused me great anxiety. Being
by nature, more of talker than a list
ener, he could not refrain, at first, from
breaking in now and then with "Fe
he sure g Just so,n or anS2aAh,yef
there you are;' but aa the point o
the story took hold of him, his talking
: instinct took vent in occasional grunts
:. while he became paler and paler, ant
!, more and more moved. He did not fol
! a moment doubt that my suspicion!
= pointed to the truth; he adopted then
= at once, and was enraged that he hat
: not formed them for himself before.
!. = "Stupid old IDIOT" he exclaimed
= "that was, not to ha' guessed afor
!, that Manuel would stick at nothing t
;, get Paul eaten completely up! AM
= Paul was hot temper, and, if he ha'
y words wi '' Manuel, there would be tn
devil to settle! And, of course, Pau
was likely to come home unexpected
=, to catch Manuel on TIL hop, SO to say
:. VII that confounded patent again
:, Lord, Lord! if had only thought c
y y all that year ago, it might ha' bee
= easier to clean it up! Well, now, whs
= can we do-eh? what can we do?"
y 1 answered that had been strivin
- for weeks to discover what next to do
. but had not yet discovered it. / wa
\ anxious, too, new, l said, about Louise
- =, "Oh," said he, "I expect she's a
4 right with my sister, in TIL Isle {
70 Man." -
'1 1 az think" said L, "it's rash ever
: expect that anything is altogether rigf
that Steinhardt is concerned in
- - "True for you, lad" said he.
= "Besides,"I continued, "she prom
=. ised to write to me, and she has nt
y written; a week or more ago, when
- found out the Douglas address, wro
- and asked her to send me only line
70 - ailay my anxiety-but 1 have hs
=. none"
., He looked very grave.