Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1903-11-24

born peasare, who had no desires, no as
pirations, above his condition; if you had
become the bride OF such a one, and for
saken us and our love and care for you,
after we have all been so happy here to-
gether, and cast away from you all that
belongs to you in your present position;
had suffered that finer mind. those quick
sensibilities, that loftier. that more ele-
waited and refined nature. to mate with
the coarse, gross, blunt composition of
mere tiller of the soil. a rude, uncultivat-
ed peasant, then, my child, confess that
it would have been a bitter, bitter thing
to me. 1t would have been the hardest
blow this heart has borne for many q
long year. Rose!' And his voice grew
husky, and faltered, and the tears, de-
spite his manhood, gathered in his eyes.
II have learned to love you, my darling"
he said, with a fathers affection. / had
little child once, Rose, and l lost her.
You seem to bring to my mind what she
would have been; you grow more like
that ideal daily-hourly! You have taken
her place in my heart; you are dear to
me, Rose, as she would have been!'
He clasped her tenderly to him; and
the young girl, most deeply touched by
his words and manner, wept silently up
on his breast.
''But, my .child,'' he continued, when he
had become calmer, sit was no clown
whom you promised to wed. You have
been always sensible of that
"Oh, yes, monsieurv' she responded,
raising her head and speaking earnestly
seriously. "Robin was different from
those about him. He was better-more
noble than they. He was" She broke
off in the midst of her words, blushing
and confused at her own animation.
"Nay, my child, you need have no
shame" said the marquis. kindly; "this
young man was, indeed, something more
than those whom one is accustomed to
meet in that class to which he was allied.
confess that your preference for him
is no mystery to me, and do not at all
disapprove of it."
"Ah, how good you are, monsieur"
uttered the young girl, gratefully, an
she pressed his hand to her lips.
{. st is no merit to me, Rose, that my
own honest convictions force me to ac-
knowledge his superiority, and the good
sense you have displayed in your choice.
And now," he added, while the old
laughing glance shone in his eyes, II dare
say you are dying with curiosity to know
how I came into possession Of all this
knowledge"
Indeed, sir, it is a matter of curiosity
to me-" she answered, frankly.
"What, then, viii you say, if assure
you that Robin himself told to me the
greater part of it all, and that OWNED
only a very little bitch, Rose?' he ask
ed.
"Robin, sir? ah, then you have seen
nm! SAID hose, with hardly suppressed
JOY.
have seen him, my child"
And lately
Quite lately, he returned, pleased and
amused at her innocent betrayal of de-
light.
''May l ask when it was, monsieur"
1t was yesterday; nay-I have seen
him as lately as to-day"
To-day? ah. then. he is yery nearr'
she said. in subdued vet ioyful tone.
and with her eyes bent to the floor. as
in meditation. Suddenly raising them,
she asked: .sWhere was IL. monsieur?"
s.Too many questions. Rose" laughed
the marouis-"too many questions
mnst Leen h;s wberaahouts ma+tar NJ
secrecy for short t;man
- Ah. mOQSipurV said Rose. gently. and
with Drettv air of deprecation
"Jndaed NV dear child If will do Won
No harm Wait till to-morrow only TO-
morrow and will tell Won whore ha ia.
nav more-vou shah see him. Yon will
GRANT mo mil then y,
..WilIinplv
..Noxx Won can eas;,v toll how 7 onessad
Of tho ob;act of vow GRAND +h;tber 70.
,,;oh+,,
e..
Sihce noeih toiu you al aDout tnis'
sne sa.u' win shsh. anu enasm,ns
oiusn' you must nave nao 'ieele usncuty
III oivMihg my PURPOSE Wneh' at you.
question: this morning. ackho"ieoeed
tnat lt was 10 say TO you sometning I'M
meoiateiy connected with myseif tnat
Desired TO meet you mere.
h2acly, ROSE saio the marquis'
galiy ELL my darhng' we nave mace
our conressions-nave we not! and rney
We're not sucn terrioie CONCESSIONS ailet
an. hoDln' l honestly declare TO you' !
lke, ana am proud OF. l nave invited
hlm mere tomorrow: but Rose, ana ne
took ner manu- n'. N "a ms. you must not eA'
pect 70 oenoiu Tue iihen piouse anu ser
VlcedDie garments III WQlcQ you were