Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1902-10-17

and rise above the mesa walls OF the
little town; sometimes they galloped
through the narrow trails of the re-
moter hills, but always she listened.
smiling half sadly, half raptly, and al
ways he told his quaint jokes, his true
tales of real fairies, and his romances
of the BabyIons she might never see.
One day he got fat letter from the
East, and when he had read 1t and
laughed over it, and held up the check
which it brought, he ran into the hall
way and called for Miss Eulalie. She
had ridden into town, her father said,
''to trade" Maurice went to the cor
raj and saddled his pony. 1t was Sat
urday, his holiday. He galloped gaily
down the dusty road, shifting the hot
wind and twirling his quirt like man
/ with good news. He met Eulalie in
the main street, just mounted upon her
old white pony, and waved his letter
at her.
Aunt Won Werdon is dead, Miss Eu-
lalie," he said, stopping and looking
at her merrily.
THAT one that gave the tea party to
the cats and kittens? But you're sor-
nv. amt you, Mr.. Maurice?" she asked,
wondering at his levity.
"Yes-and no. You see, she had only
two reasons for living-cats and me.
She preferred the cats, and-then she
was old beyond computation-but 1
will say that she did better by me
than l had right to expect. See
/ She has left me $500! 1 shall have
money to burn" And his eyes looked
wistfully up the heat-scourged street,
with It's reeking barrooms, its empty,
wooden sidewalks and it's dreary same
ness of frameshanty stores. Twill
you wait till 1 cash this check, Miss
Eulalie?' he added; "rd like to ride
home with you"
She rode into the shade of the town
we'll and let her pony drink while he
went to the bank. But when he came
back she said: It's train time, Mr..
Maurice" with pouting little grim
ace); ''you know love to see the train
go past The Overland sidetracks here,
and I'd like to look at the people. Then
you might see somebody you know"
He laughed again at her childlike Gu
riosity, and they paced down the street
toward the station. The Overland
whistled as they rode into the space
by the depot and down by the side
track where the red watertank steam
ed in the burning sunlight. He thought
she looked very beautiful as they wait
ed there, for he was accustomed to
the rough buckskin gloves she always
wore, and he knew that the grace
which made her homespun gown seem
picturesque and appropriate, was none
of the dressmaker's art. The choking
sand swept down from the red mesa
and busted her ebon hair as it flutter-
ed abroad in the blistering wind. The
little drops of perspiration that started
and trickled down her brown cheeks
made muddy streaks upon her hand
kerchief as she wiped them away.
The train, groaning and trembling as
it slowed down past them, brought
with 1t a tornado of dust and paper
that hid from him the sweet mouth of
the girl beside him, but when he look
ed up he saw that his face was near
the window of a private car. Within
he could see the white and silver splen-
dor Of the travelling palace. In the
sconces of the walls were cut flowers
and lush vines trailing between the
1 windows. AS the hiss of the engine
ceased he could hear the tinkling mu.
sic of q serenade that he had not heard
since he left New York.
Let's ride up to the forward win.
body is playing the piano."
When they were opposite the win
dow they could see a woman seated
at the instrument, but as their shad
ows fell across the light she rose and
came, facing them, as if to draw the
shades. Eulalie saw the lily white
ness Of her face, the great blue eyes