The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1902-07-19
with the girl, who was told

interview with the girl, who was told
plainly the character of the man
| She resented it passionately, and the
result was that few days later
Robert Gordon formally proposed to
Markham for the hand of his daugh.
ter. In reply to the indignant re.
fusal OF the father Gordon coolly in,
| formed him that he already had the
| consent of the girl and proposed to
marry her in any event-with the
| parental consent if possible, without
it if necessary. Clare when consult
ed cast her lot with Gordon. All
revelations concerning Gordon's ca
reer and record were without avail
Then the mother in desperation
went to Gordon's apartments at the
Royal and made pathetic appeal to
him.
There can be no happiness in such
| a match" she said. "When she awak-
ems to the realities she will be heart
broken-as you well know. There is
no happiness in such marriage
either for her or for you. I do not
know what you are after. I will not
insult you by intimating that you
seek her money. If you do it shall be
yours without a marriage. In any
event | conjure you by a mothers
love; by the memory of the old times
when we were friends-more than
friends, do not destroy my daugh-
ter's life"
Rising from his chair where he had
sat nonchalant and unconcerned dur
ing the interview, Gordon advanced
directly in front of the excited wom-
an who stood with clasped hands
and flushed face pouring out her
heart, and said in a voice hoarse
with emotion:
"It has been my dream for 10
years to see you in front of me
pleading for something dear to your
heart: I never dared to hope. the
dream would come true-certainly
not in the manner it has. Let me tell
you, will give you your hearts de-
sire just as you gave me mine 10
years ago. You chose deliberate-
ly to ruin my life. You were merci-
less-even scornful. What [ am, I am
as result of your heartlessness.
What l an not is the result of your
faithlessness. All the reasons that
make me in your estimation an unfit
husband for your daughter are the
result of your ambition and your ad-
vice. l was not a man of bad in
stincts in the old days. 1 was not
void of ambition. All this you delib-
erately killed. You sapped all the
good out of my nature and threw
me aside, mere husk. Now you ap-
peal to the moral nature you de-
stroyed. I mover dreamed of so per-
feet revenge until 1 saw the girl
your very second self, and then I saw
the way to make you suffer even as I
have suffered. And you must suffer
to the end I will not spare you. Go
and tell the girl what L have said
and that I am your old lover, if you
please. She will not believe it and I
will deny it. 1t is your turn to walk
the floor now. I have done it for
10 years. Oh, I will lead your
proud and sensitive girl pretty
dance, l promise you.''
He caught her as she tainted, and
after applying restoratives showed
her to her carriage.
The wedding was swell affair and
the newly-wedded pair went abroad
for honeymoon tour.
1t was ten months later at Venice,
when the crisis came. They had
fingered there for five weeks enjoying
the soft languor of the italian skies.
The months had been a revelation to
Gordon. Never had he supposed earth
held such Joy as he had found in the
golden weeks that had slipped by
since his marriage. AS he penetrated
further and further into the nature
of the woman who had married him
despite warning and evil report, he
sounded. depths of tenderness that
he never expected had existed Far
from carrying out his threat and in
tention to break her heart, he be-
came. inspired day by day with the
deepest reverence for her. This soft
evening in Venice the climax came.
He crossed over to where his wife
sat and said:
"Clare, I have confession to
make. / cannot go on in this way
with lie IN my heart. 1 did not
marry you with clean soul and from
a pure love. All they have said about
me is true. Your mother knew me
better than any living person, and
she told you the truth. Since I have
known you as wife I have come to
learn somewhat Of your real worth,
and great loathing of myself has
taken possession of me until life
seems only tolerable on the condition
that cease to act lie and that YOU
know me as 1 am. Forgive me? I
was cruelty hurt by a woman once
and charged it to all womankind. I
win make any amends you say. I
will leave you if you will it-any-
thing. anything, no matter how hard
so 1 stand at least honest in your
sight"
With broken sob he sank on one
knee and buried his face in his hands.
In an instant she was beside him
with both arms about his neck.
'tI knew you better than you knew