Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1903-01-02
Cradle or Grave.
AnRs. ARN1sTRONG's modest lit
IkNAl 41n I,nrno ,,raS q hlaze with HCht

IkvnI tie home was ablaZe with light.
ooAThe proud lady was giving
small dance to celebrate her only sons
homecoming from college; and Teddy,
why, he was the happiest young fel-
low in the worldI And why not? Had
he not just emerged from the unlver-
sity with colors flying, and was he not
about to ask the girl of his heart to
gladden. his hearthstone for life?
His mother had said to him during
the day: Don't be too sanguine, Ted
DIV, for Helen has been accepting at
tentions from Mr.. Hawtrey during the
last few months, and he Is rich and
world-weary, and just the sort OF man
to fascinate a young girl fond OF hat
terry and position"
Helen loves me, I'm sure" replied
confident Ted, land, besides, she would
not sell herself"
"Well, my dear, 1 hope you are not
to be disappointed, but the ways or
the girl-of- -the-period are beyond me.
You remember Mabel CoulterT
"Oh, Mabel was a fiirt," broke in
Ted, land it was not to be expected
that she would marry the man she had
led on; but Helen-I only want her
word that she'll wait until I've made
my future sure. She's true blue!
AS for the young lady herself, she
felt sure that Teddy Armstrong wonld
propose that night; and, though she
confessed that her heart was in state
of commotion when she thought or
him, still it would be awful nice to be
Mrs. Bruce Hawtrey and live in the big
mansion, have all sorts of luxurles and
travel in Europe.
And Mr.. Hawtrey. He was Il wild
over, old enough to be Helen's father,
and was voted to be something OF a
cad. "The little Vernon filly," he had
remarked, has lots of go, and young
wife would be a novel plaything, now
that my clubs and life in general are
getting to be something of BORE
The guests had all arrived, and ev-
erything was very jolly. Helen Yer
non, Mr.. Hawtrey and Ted were COW
ertly watched by all, Gs gossip had it
that both men were -tdead set on win
,ing the pretty belle Of M.
One rotund dowager leaned toward
her neighbor and remarked: TEDDY
is so young and Hawtrey SO old that
1t seems q race between the cradle and
the grave" accompanying her words
with a mirthless laugh that made the
sentimental young matron she address
ed, and who hoped that young Arm
strong would be victor, nervous.
Hawtrey, who, to do him justice,
was not so near the grave as the old
gossip implied, took more Of Helen's
dances than good form allows, and
also assumed an air Of proprtetorShip
that made the younger man wild. He
forgot everything, and resolved. I'm
petuously to have it out with Hawtrey,
quite improperly forgetting that the
blase gentleman was his mothers
guest and entitled to every courtesy.
After his rivals second dance with
Helen, Teddy approached him and said
with sort Of challenge in his voice:
Come upstairs, Hawtrey. 1 have
some capital cognac in my rooms. I'd
like your opinion of 1t"
Done, my boy" replied the older
nan Suavely.
Scarcely had they reached the rooms
when Teddy began hotly:
Now see here, Mr.. Hawtrey-"
But he got no farther. Hawtrey
placed one hand on the fiery boys
shoulder and observed coolly:
~ know what you would say; but
LET us not be impolite or hasty. She's
mine if she will or she's yours If she
will. Go in and win her, If you can.
Remember, I'll show you no quarter
'alrs fair in love-"
But she loves me, she's only daz-
zled by your money" asserted Ted,
with amazing frankness.
AZ don't care whom she loves; 1t Is
whom she will marry that interests
me-" answered the older man, with a
cool stare.
by heavens, would you marry n
girl that only"
II would marry any girl to whom 1
took a notion, If the mood pleased me.
Love is an old-fashioned commodity.
Ask Helen, Mr.. Armstrong, when you
get chance; l mean to, during this
next dance"
Poor Teddy was stunned. His ideals
were pure, and he very properly re-
garded honor, love and respect rs a
holy trinity. Suddenly an idea seemed
10 strike him.
"'Alrs fair in love- you say" he re-
marked curtly, and strobe from the
room, saying in a very low voice, as he
passed his big mastiff, who was dozins
ON a rug, Watch him, Dukew
The next waltz was half ended when
Ted strolled up to Miss Vernon and
said. in a tone Of mock surprise:
'Why, Helen, you Of all people to
be sitting out a dancer
The pretty girl blushed and looked a
bit annoyed.
Mr. Hawtrey engaged the number
evidently he has forgotten me-" she
replied.
Finnish 1t with meT'
with pleasure"
Hawtrey did not appear again that
evening, and many were the comments
because of his strange disappea rance
but Teddy looked supremely happy, fol
%I,a sy;rI nf hiS heart had said eyes"