Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1903-10-20
CHAPTER yII.-tContinued.)


A few days after the first visit of Rob-
in, he came again to the cottage. This
time he announced to Hugh and Rose
that he had obtained work at the farm
of Antoine Lebrun, the first place at
which he had applied. 1t is needless to
say that both were glad to hear of his
good fortune.
1t was at sunset when Robin came. He
had come Immediately ON finishing his
days work, and Hugh invited him to stay
with them an hour or two. This invi-
tation Robin was nothing 10th to accept;
for it was given with a degree Of cor
.diality that was rare with Hugh; and
whether the beauty and shy grace of
young Rose had any influence in Robins
decision to remain, we leave others to
judge. At all events, when he had stay
ed perhaps two hours, and was taking his
departure, Hugh invited him to repeat
the visit. And Robin answered, quietly:
"You are very good, monsieur, and l
confess that I am only too glad to come;
for | am somewhat strange yet among
the work-people on the farm, and being
in a new place, it makes one rather lone
ly. And | feel more acquainted with
you, perhaps, because this was the first
place at which | sought for work.
shall be pleased to come, monsieur, and
then, it may be, if 1 come early enough.
that mademoiselle," glancing towards
Rose, Twill show me her garden, of which
i hear you speak"
Hugh promised that this should be the
case. And Robin departed
On the third day, in the middle of the
afternoon, Robin appeared. Hugh was
surprised at seeing him so much earlier
than tho uclo1 hour for loo "
ing work was at sunset. But Robin said
that Antoine Lebrun had allowed him to
come earlier, because he had done more
work on the two preceding days than any
other of the men. And he had wished
to see mademoiselle's garden in full day
light.
So Robin was conducted to the garden,
and here, although he praised it's beauty,
yet he also found ample space for i'm
provement, and volunteered, if Hugh was
willing, to come down and work in it
occasionally.
AS there appeared to be no serious OBJ
lection to such proceeding, the arrange
ment was made; and nearly every after
noon. thenceforth, Robin came half an
hour before sunset and with spade, rake,
scissors and pruning knife, busted him
self in the garden, making such altera-
tions for the better and training the ia
verite flowers of Rose so skillfully that
they became even finer and more abun-
dant than they had been in the earlier
part Of the season, when they seemed to
want no addition to their beauty.
And while Robin worked among the
flower beds, Rose sat at the garden door.
with her sewing or embroidery, or, per-
haps, a book; for Robin, she was pleas
Gv,I - Ioo ho,,
self, and many a pleasant half-hour was
passed thus by them. Robin had no faith
er, no mother, no sisters, nor a home,
such as others had, and he told them
that this seemed like home to him. He
always FASTENED to the cottage as soon
as he was released from work and had
eaten his supper, and not unfrequently
remained a part of the evening with
them. These visits were pleasant ones.
Robin enjoyed them, and Rose always
liked to see him coming; while Hugh
Lamonte, though he said little on the sub
ject now, seemed to regard him as well
come visitor. Rose sometimes wondered
at his evident liking for the young man.,
being usually, as he was, of a mood SO
.unsocial; but she could not but admit that
for one so handsome. so amiable and
kind-hearted as Robin, to win the friend
ship of those about him, was not at all
strange, and, therefore, it was less sur
prising, that as every one else seemed to
like him so well, that her father should
be also attracted towards him.
The Marquis of Montauban, late one
afternoon, made his appearance at the
cottage of Hugh Lamonte. This was no
common occurrence; for visitors were
H. generally rather repelled than attracted
by the reserve and taciturnity of Hugh.
This afternoon, Hugh Lamonte, with
Robin, who had just come from the farm,
and our pretty Rose, were together in the
garden, when knocking was heard with
in the kitchen, and Rose, being nearest
the door, ran in to see who was there.
The marquis was standing by the case
ment.
"Good evening, my child,'' he said,
kindly, as she entered. 81 have come to
see your father. Is he at homer
Eyes, monsieur" answered Rose. 'I
will call him.
She went out and informed her father
of the desire of the marquis, and while
he entered the kitchen, proceeded to as
sist Robin in tying up rose bush, which
had been bent down by q shower on the
previous day.
It was twilight time when the marquis
left Hugh, and getting into his carriage,
drove away in the direction Of the cha
teau. They heard him go away-Robin
and Rose. But Hugh did not come out
again; and when they went in, they found
him seated by the table, in the gathering
dusk, and leaning forward on it, with his
face buried in his hands.
He rose Immediately on their entrance,
and went to get light; but he did not
speak, and as the flare of the light shone
on his countenance, both observed that
it was unusually pale. Perceiving his si-
lence and depression, Robin, filled with
sympathy for him, shortly withdrew,
without inquiring into its cause; for he
saw plainly that Hugh was not i'll, but
that something unpleasant pressed upon
his mind had taken place within the last
hour.
As soon as Robin was gone, Rose went
to her father and sitting down by him,
begged him to tell her the cause of his
downcast appearance. But he would not
reply to her troubled inquiries.
''Rose, my dear child" he said, tender
ly and sadly 81 cannot tell you what it