Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1902-01-28
CHAPTER II,

ward an armchair at the upper end OF
| the room in which a figure is seated. She
sees an old man, shrunken, enfeebled
| with face that is positively CHASTITY, be-
| cause of its excessive pallor; a liyins
corpse, save for two eyes that burn anG
CLEAN and glitter with an almost devilist
| brilliancy.
$50 you've come,r he says, without
making any attempt to rise from his
chair. Shut that door, will you? What
vile draught! And don't stand staring
like that, it makes me nervous"
| His voice is cold, clear, freezing. II
seems to the tired girls standing before
him as if breath of icy air had suddenly
| fallen into the hot and sitting room.
Vera, 1 presume" says Mr.. Dysart
holding out his 1.-THE white hand to permit
her to press it. And you are Griselda
| | need not ask what lunatic chose your
names, as 1 was well acquainted with
your mother many years ago.
| Il feel that l must think you at once
| Uncle Gregory, for your kindness to u.s.
says Miss Dysart, gravely, still standing
"Ay, ay. You acknowledge that" says
he, quickly. Il have been your best
friend, after all, eh?"
You have given us a home," continues
| Miss Dysart, in tones that tremble lit.
| tie. But for you
Yes, yes-go on" He thrusts out his
| old mserly face as If athirst for further
words. But for me you would both
| have been cast upon the worlds highway
| to live or die as chance dictated. To me-
| to me you are indebted for everything
| You owe me much. Each day you live
you shall owe me more. have befriend
ed you; have been the means of saving
| you from starvation"
| If so corpse-like face could show signs
of excitement it shows it now, as he seeks
to prove by word and gesture that he is
their benefactor to an UNLIMITED extent
The hateful emotion he betrays raises in
Griselda's breast feelings of repugnance
| and disgust.
Il have consented to adopt you," he
goes on presently, his cold voice now cut.
| ting like a knife. But do not expect
much from me. 1t is we'll to come to q
proper understanding at the start. and
so save future argument. Honesty has
| made me poor. You have been, l hear
| accustomed to lead a useless. luxurious
! existence. Your father all his life kept ul
most extravagant menage, and dying
| left you paupers" He almost misses out
the last cruel word.
Griselda starts to her feet.
| The honesty of which you boast is moi
everything" she says, in burning tone
Let ME remind you that courtesy, too
| has its claims upon you
''Hah. The word pauper is unpleasing
| it seems, says he. unmoved. Before We
! quit this point, however one last word
You are beneath my roof; shall expect
you to conform to my rules. / see no one
| | permit no one To enter my doors save
my son. l will not have people spyins
| out the nakedness of the land, and specu
lating over what they are pleased to cal
my eccentricities. They will have me
rich. but l am poor, poor, l tell you. Al
ways remember that"
| GriSelda's features having settled them
selves into rather alarming expression
| Miss Dysart hurriedly breaks into tn,
| conversation.
If you will permit u.s. she says, faint
ly, I'VE should like to go to our rooms, II
rest little. 1t has been a long journey
Her uncle turns and touches the bel
near him, and Immediately, so immedi
ately as to suggest the idea that she hal