Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-05-21
Cobb's Love Story.
4 oRNwALLIs coBB-corn Cobb,
" associates-was undoubtedly q

be 80 burdened, except that CORVALLIS
was an old family name, "as though
that were any reason" she once re-
through life"
She remembered wildly when she
had considered 1t the most ridiculous
name In the world. but somehow to-
day, as she thought II tall. handsome
man she had met OH Regent street. in
the morning, the absurd side did not
appeal to her so strongly.
Before that chance meeting it had
been four years since she had seen him
In small town In New Jersey, where,
after leaving Princeton, lie had laid his
heart and worldly goods ut her feet.
In the interval the Cobb eXchequer
had been materially increased through
the death of near relation. Cornwall
lis, tall and ungainly lin those days,
smarting under katherine's ungracious
refusal, shook the dust of his native
town from his feet, and sailed to Ger
many to study.
For the first time, in looking back
over the episode. Katherine realized
how disdainful had been her refusal.
When pressed for reason, she had
replied with unblusling candor that
she never could care for man whose
name was Corn Cobb no matter what
merits he possessed.
But that morning, when he had al
most stumbled over her in depressing
London fog, he seemed to feel nothing
hut the utmost pleasure In the unex-
pected meeting.
In delicate way he drew from her
the account of her fathers death and
the necessity now laid upon her of
earning her own living, all of which
was news to him. Her voice and pow
ers of mimicry she told him We're her
only gifts, and on the advice of a
friend who had lived abroad she had
come to London and found employment
in singing coon songs in the drawing
rooms of people of wealth and title.
Katherine Whitney had come to Lon
don six months before with eager re-
lief, to escape the poverty which faced
! her in her own country, but though
well received, she never forgot her po-
sition; she was hired at SO much to
entertain my lady's guests, and when
that was over they had no further use
for her.
In former days she had looked upon
the Cobbs with amused tolerance at
their lavish display, feeling an Unborn
sense of pride that though poor, she
was a Whitney, and one of her ances-
tors had signed the Declaration of In
dependence.
From childhood she had hated power
ty; 1t meant to her cramped, narrow
life; desires that could not be fulfilled,
generosittes that could not be graft
fed. and yet when way of escape
had presented itself in the person Of
CORVALLIS Cobb, she had decided that
there could perhaps be more distasteful
experiences than poverty.
That night katherine amused herself
by reading the society news in the
Queen. The high-sounding titles inter-
csted her and beguiled the time, for
she made few friends in London and
found people not eager to welcome n
stranger.
Suddenly among the names that met
her eye, she saw one that she recog-
nized-it was CORVALLIS Cobb. The
item read: mfr CORVALLIS Cobb, one
of Americas young millionaires, is be-
ing entertained by Lady Henry Clay
borne, at Clayborne manor, Yorkshire.
Rumor has 1t that marriage has been
arranged between Mr.. Cobb and Lady
Clayborne's eldest daughter, Lady
Marian Clayborne."
katherine could not help regretful
feeling. 1t was like finding a friend
and then losing him suddenly. Lady
Clayborne was evidently not ayerse to
the name of Cobb, and katherine
laughed a little to herself at her former
Feeling of condescension to the Cobbs.
1t was nearly ten days before Cobb
called, as he had promised. When day
by day passed without any sign from
him Katherine was conscious Of dis.
tinct sense of disappointment, and she
concluded his other social duties had
made him forget her.
But one morning there arrived big
bunch of yiolets. The maid who
brought them to her was overcome by
the size.
Laws, Miss" she exclaimed, with
delight, "they must have cost cap"
That evening Cobb called, and ex-
planned that he had been summoned
to Paris suddenly the day after he had
last seen her, and had just come back.
1t was wonderful how many things
they had to talk about as they sat there
In the shabby little back drawing room.
Katherine seemed to forget, she had
never shown him so much of herself
before, 1t was SO natural to be talking
ito him about things that interested her
most.
1t was a fortnight later that she was
engaged to sing Mt Lady Leeland's re-
ception. Her head achcd, and her eyes
We're dazzled by the blaze of lights and
jewels.
Suddenly she saw moving across the
room CORVALLIS Cobb, on whose arm
leaned tall, pretty girl. Some one
nearby whispered it was Lady Marian
Clayborne.
For a moment her heart beat violent.
~, and then Lady Iceland moved over
and motioned her to sing. 1t was a
catchy little coon song, and when she
finished 1t was greeted with well-bred
annlauso LADY Marian hod oop,n OF
near that she could hear her remark to
her companion:
"Clever little thing quite an all
about her!"
Katherine took elaborate care not to
look in their direction, and did not hear