Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1903-12-01
/ The Contrabandist; :#$:z 5$:s ):
/ One Life'S Secret! ,ssss. ,sS3z :;

I
| he leaned forward towards the marquis.
Suddenly the latter, aroused by some
movement of Rose, turned and beheld her,
! and Immediately, after whispering sim
| gle word to his companion, advanced to
meet the young girl. There was an arch
! smile on his countenance as he bent down
to kiss her.
"Rose, my pet" he said, simply, ''yon
der is Robin; go and meet him." And he
passed her directly, leaving the apart
ment and closing the door behind him.
THAT Robin?'' Rose, in her astonish-
ment, could neither speak nor move.
''That Robin?" was her inward query.
| For, forgetting the warning of the mar
| quis, she had looked for Robin Of the
olden memory, and the change bewilder-
ed her, until recollection came.
| Here, indeed, was no sturdy figure, in
its linen blouse, its heavy boots, no large
hat, such as had covered the gardeners
head, and shaded his face from the sun;
no peasants garb, or peasants air; and
| yeti was Robin!
| 'Why does he not speak?" said the
young girl, tremblingly to herself.
| But suddenly the gentleman raised his
hand, passed it across his brow, and held
| it there for an instant; then, laying aside
the writing materials which he held,
turned and advanced to meet her.
! A low, glad cry escaped the lips of
Rose ON beholding that face-Robin's
| face, and then she was silent-she turn
ed pale. What was this change which
she beheld as he came nearer? what coun-
tenance was it? Did she indeed behold
Robin himself, Or The cloak dropped
from his shoulders.
i r ,sanD -
| with emotion.
'Well, which is it?" With the same
light, beaming, sunshiny smile that she
had met every day for the last two weeks
| with the familiar voice and air that
blended in one two characters hitherto
distinct, he came forward, and taking her
hands into the gentle yet firm clasp Of
| his own, while he drew her to his breast,
! repeated: (Which is it, Rose? Doubling
| and believing, too? Tell me my name,
mignonne"
"Ah, Louis-Louis, tell me what this
means?" she cried, in an imploring tone.
''Then you declare that I am Louis ?"
| he said laughingly; "but see-see how au-
dacious he has grownw' And the young
man, with daring tenderness, pressed his
lips to hers. (Which is it now, Rose?'
| "It is-Robin-it is Louis; either, and
both. I cannot tell. am bewildered!'
She covered her face with her hands.
"My Rose-my little, faithful, noble
hearted darling!' Louis murmured, low
ingly, and with the softest emotion in his
tones, as he led her to seat. "My gem
erous-brave Rose, will you forgive this
long and leavy trial? You have conquer
ed-nobl! conquered! You are victorious,
love. Lttok up and speak to me. Let me
see, at least, that Louis has not lost the
heart that Robin won."
She did look up. The sweet face, tinged
with reddest bushes, sparkled with blend
ed tears and smiles.
| "You deceived me, Louis. see it now;
| I understand it all. But you deceived
me most cruellyv' she said.
"And almost broke my own heart,
Rose, as well as your own. All, if you
new how l suffered last night, you would
| forgive me"
And Rose could but do so. The period
) of probation was passed. The unhappi-
ness to which each had been subjected,
| in it's duration, was terminated now
Louis d'Artois had perfected his scheme,
and tested it fully, to his own satisfac-
| ton. The outward charms of the woman
| he loved were nobly equalled by her
1
er ambition, nor pride, nor cupidity, had
tempted her, for one instant, to swerve
from her faith. She had remained true
| to the humble lover who had won her
| first affection.
| "Rose, do you love me? will you take
Louis now?" asked the count, with arch
| tenderness.
Chow can I take Louis? I am prom.
ised to Robin returned she, gravely. 81
| came here to meet Robin; he has vanish
| ed and you are answerable for his disap-
| pearance. | refused Louis last night"
| "Nay, then-I will become a gardener
again, for your sake, love. l will put on
my peasants dress once more and take
my spade, and toll in the garden from
morning till night; while you sit, as you
used to sit, just by the cottage door and
sing to me while you sew. What pret-
ty cottage girl you were, Rose! ! believe
I loved you the first time we met
"And | thought"
"Ah, what, Rose?'
| 'sThat you loved Helen" she answered.
| blushing.
Helen, thou little mouse, what put
that thought into thy pretty head?"
''It came there, Louis; l do not know
well how. I suspect the idea was a very
natural one. She is so beautiful
"My pet, Helen must never hear You
acknowledge that little piece of innocent
| audacity. Helen? All, she would smile
with amusement at the mere mention of
such thing! She would not marry me,
Rose. I do like her very dearly. She
| likes me, also, quite as well, believe;
but 1 should as soon contemplate an alli-
ance with a queen as with her.
"You make me smile, Louis. How mod
est you are! You mean to say that
/ Helen
81 mean to say, Rose, that my proud
| and lovely cousin will be content to re-
main unwedded all her days rather than
wed with so humble parsonage as my
| self. She is a dear cousin, Rose; but l
think that, secretly, she is ambitious.
| Francis Egerton loves her, I am sure;
but do you not see that she treats him
coldly?"
81 thought it was so" said Rose, in a
| half-musing tone.
/ "And, speaking Of that same Francis
Egerton, do you know, Rose, that came
near being jealous of him on the first
evening Of my return hither? He was
continually near you. He seemed chain
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