Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1903-11-24
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fused her. A feeling of faintness stole
over her; she put her hand to her brow:
all was strange bewilderment about her.
Still his eyes were fixed upon her; still
he watched eagerly. But over his lips
stole the palor of death; his fine brow
grew cold and white as marble itself,
and on it stood the very dew of agony.
''You yield, then?' he said, in a voice
choked with emotion.
"Yieldw She rose slowly from her
seat: she unclasped his fingers from hers
with despairing strength. "Ah, no! You
mistake! 1 love kim; will be true to
him.
Louis stood with one hand supporting
himself by the table, the other pressed
hard against his side, and his face avert
ed. so that she did not see it's expression.
He did not speak; but the hand resting
upon the table was withdrawn in a mo-
ment and it trembled.
Louis, / have hurt-wounded you;
have been too harsh! Will you not for
give mel" Rose said, gently, and in a
tone that quivered with agitation. She
drew near to him, and laid her hand inn
ploringly upon his arm. "You can but
see that my promise must be kept, and it
panied me that you should urge me to
break it. All, it is sacred, Louis! help
me to keep it So"
There was no reply. But he turned
towards her; he held out his arms; he
gathered her to his breast and held her
there, while his lips were pressed calmly,
silently, tenderly to hers. Then releasing
her, he went out from her presence. The
door closed behind him. A step is heard
without-that of the marquis.
well, my Rose, you are waiting for
me-" he said, cheerily, as he approached
her; "and have been waiting some time,
am afraid, too. What shall 1 say for
myself, eh?" and he seated himself be-
side her. But, what ails you, my child p
he added, with evident concern; you are
illi'
"No-no! am not i'll, sir; but 1 am un-
tiful eyes, swimming with tears, to his
earnest face.
Unhappy? you are young for that,
Rose. Some girlish whim it is, I'll war
rant me-nothing more, and you are max
ing yourself extremely miserable about
it." And he stroked her bright hair gent
ly, as he spoke these words in an enliv-
ening tone.
sadly. II have been doing wrong all this
tirne-,' She could proceed no further
for her tears.
Doing wrong, poor little mouse? and
to make a confession?' smiled the good
then, that must grant absolution before
won't hear any tales against my little
girl"
''Ah, monsieur, you treat it lightly You
do not know how-how-"
''L@don't know, suppose you would
say, how serious an affair it isis that it,
little Rose, eh?"
girl.
Exactly. Well, then, suppose / try
to guess ?"
must read this" And she drew from her
pocket letter, which she was about to
give him; but he put it away. smilingly,
with his hand.
.'You will not allow me to guess, Rose?
then / will not look at your letter. / am
harder than stone, my bird. And now,
Rose,> don't interrupt me. for, as told
you, / mean to guess; and I'll wager q
His good-natured, comicai manner and
lively tone, together with certain sig
nificanee which he threw into his last
words caused her first to smiles and then
to blush, despite her sorrow and agita-
ton. He waited an instant, and then
went on:
Rose ?-well, wedding dress it shall be,
than - cold II will oa vp,dd;pfr
dress, lace, jewels and ALL"
II shall want neither lace nor jewels,
said Rose, half sadly.
''Do not interrupt me, my child!
me see-against pair of
diamond buckles. You see L mean to
make you pay WELL Rose-that l shall
guess rightly"
81 do not understand you, monsieur
said the young girl, wondering, perplexed
and diverted at his manner. sos n&
'You don't? what a pity" There was
mischief in his eyes, that brought the
smile to hers. what pity!' he repeat
ed. "Well, at all events, will COM
and probably, BY the time shall
have finished, you will comprehend my
more fully. In the first place,
then, there is certain young girl-you
see AculIOu AO udLueS, AhOSc-d CSIbdlu
young girl, say, who has lover. You
are listening, presume, my child?'
II am listening, monsieur"
"Good! This young girl. then, is be-
trothed. Very we'll; that is not at all to
be wondered at, as young girls very fire.
luently find themselves in this position.
She is betrothed to poor young mana
we will say he is--a gardener.
Well, these two-the girl and her lover
cannot marry yet, because they are by
no means in suitable circumstances; for
she is quite as poor as he. All, they
must be content to waltz
He paused, and regarded her with
curious smile. She looked up, her eyes
sparkling with fresh-streaming tears.
"Ah, monsieur! you are telling me
my"
The good marquis kissed her.
81 am telling you about two people
whom once knew, my child. will pro-
ceed. Our young gardener, we will say,
goes away; and the girl, who meets with
some slight change of circumstances dur
ng his absence, continues to remember