Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1903-07-21

old bethought himself of calling on the
Champions, and Mr.. Hastings volunteer
ed to accompany him. They found Lord
Lancing and his sister playing croquet
| with Flora and Reginald Champion, and
on invitation Joined in the game. 1t was
curious enough that, although Flora look
| ed handsome, and used all the arts they
had once thought fascinating, both these
men contrasted her unfavorably with her
cousin.
| The two gentlemen did not arrive at
Endon Vale until it was time to dress
| for dinner, and only just appeared in
the drawing room as the gong sounded
| for the second time. Sir Clayton gave
his arm TO the old French lady. Mr..
/ Hastings took his hostess, and Lord Har-
old followed with Winifred. They sat
side by side at dinner, and Enrol felt as
! if he could scarcely take his eyes off her.
She laughed and talked with Lord Harold
in a low, almost caressing voice, Mr..
Hastings thought; and it made his blood
boil.
Enrol had, of course, never heard Miss
Eyre sing. When they went into the
drawing room he said to her:
Il hear you sing very beautifully, Miss
Eyre. Will you give me the pleasure of
hearing your volce!
Il do not think my singing would give
you any pleasure" she answered, coldly.
You are, of course, accustomed to hear
highly cultivated voices-mine is only
rude, untaught, country one"
He drew back, wounded to the quick.
do come and sing, Winifred," ex-
claimed Lord Harold.
Sitting down to the piano, she sang her
most touching, plaintive songs, one after
the other, with pathos that went to the
heart of each one who listened. She new
er sang more beautifully than on that
night, and Enrol leaned against the en-
brasure of the window. where his face
was screened from observation, and
drank in every tone of the voice, which
was not only beautiful in itself, but
which he loved. He never loved her be-
fore or afterward as he loved her that
night, listening for the first time to the
exquisite tenderness of her voice.
When Winifred finally left the piano.
she passed close to the curtain, and Enrol
came forward She spoke ON the innpalse
of the moment. u
After ali. my singing was not worth
your thanks
you did not sing for me-" he answer
ed, bitterly.
Later, thinking over the events of the
evening, he found it an utter impossible
ity to arrive at any definite conclusion
as to the feelings and motives which in
fuenced Winifred's conduct toward him.
Was his presence really hateful to herr
did she bear an unrelenting anger toward
him for his unworthy treatment of her
long ago?-and had every vestige of the
love he knew she had once borne him
died out?
"Bahr' he thought, 81 am a fool for my
pains. Is it possible that 1, who am to
all intents and purposes a man of the
world, should find myself eating my heart
out for the love of a simple little coun-
try girl? Tomorrow shall decide my fu-
ture course of action, and if see she does
not care for me will school myself to
meet her with Indifference"
At breakfast, the following morning
both Sir Clayton and Lady Grace Far
quhar pressed him to stay Nntil the next
day, and he consented.
''And now,'' said Lady Grace, ''you
young people must go for long ride this
lovely morning, and l shall shut myself
up with my husband and his learned
folios.''
Lord Harold went to order the horses.
Winifred no longer rode the quiet old bay
horse, but handsome chestnut Sir Clay
ton had bought for her. Until the previ-
Gus day Winifred had never in her life
been provoking or a firt. but of course
those qualities must have been dormant
somewhere in her heart, or they would
scarcely have cropped up like the drag
on's teeth at a moments notice. The
whole ride through she flattered and firt-
ed with Lord Harold, and uttered little
malicious, biting remarks to Mr. Hast
ings, with the most naive, unconscious
innocence
The ride must have been fraught with
considerable enjoyment for Enrol, as ev-
cry turning. every fence, every heath
seemed to bring to WinifredIs mind
some agreeable reminscenee connected
with her other companion. As they were
nearing the park gates, a farmer stopped
Lord Harold TO speak about some busi-
ness, and Mr.. Hastings and Winifred
rode on. Errol bent, down toward her
presently.
Miss Eyre, have | no hope that you
will ever feel kinder toward me than
you do now?"
II have no unkind feeling toward you.
Mr.. Hastings"
linen SudH i say less lHOlHerenL!
"Can one help feeling Indifferent" re-
torted Winifred.
He turned away, stung to the quick.
Winifred kept up the same demeanor
toHard- fhe two men during the whole
ride; and then at night, when she went
to her room, she cried bitterly, and hated
and reproached herself unreasenably.
I do love him do love himi' she
sobbed to herself over and over again;
but the next morning she was as cold
and reeelient to him as ever, and would
hardly wish him good-by before he mount
ed and rode away.
The afternoons post bag contained two
letters in the same handwriting-one for
Winifred, the other for Lady Grace The
correspondent was Mrs. Clayton
Dear Winifred' (she wrote to the for
mer)-1sDo ask Lady Grace Farquhar to
spare you to me for week. Mr.. Clayton
has taken a villa on the Thames for the
summer, and am going to spend a few
days there before we go to town for the
season. I expect to be very dull and
quiet, so that if you come to me you will