Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1903-06-12

certain misgivings, took the radiant
Club down to her cabin and cried
over him a little. The story Of her
being the heiress to the Fraser mil
lions was noised about all over the
ship. For the last two years Celinda
industriously studied up the family
pedigree. and there was no faw in the
evidence AS far back as 1850 Fraser
of Ochiltree's eldest son had emil
grated to Canada. When Fraser of
Ochiltree died his son had never
claimed his money, which presumably
continued to accumulate. One of the
Montreal papers said that it amounted
to four millions. All Celinda had to
do was to prove her identity and bring
back the money. She wanted to settle
down in the Judges house and show
people what she thought Of them. But
when the vessel got outside Quebec.
ser millions to be back at Four Cor
ners.
But Ia time she recovered. Club
(he declined to be seasick) made vio-
lent love to the captain, whom he per-
sisted in looking upon as a parent,
greatly to that worthy's embarrass-
ment. He was a married man, and
told Club so; but Club only laughed
and gurgled, and wanted him to "tiss
mummy"-a proposal which sent a
blush to the young widows pretty
cheeks.
When Celinda reached Liverpool the
captain obtained permission from his
owners to take her up to town, and
leave his first officer in charge. Ce-
linda had refused to marry the first
officer four times, the second officer
twice, the third officer thrice, but they
none of them bore malice, except to
pity the captain for being a married
man. You see," said the first officer
to his companions in misfortune. I'VE
can afford to look down on him, be-
cause he's out Of Unmarried. Now, IL
the widow comes back with us for the
return trip. we can go on proposing
until she gets tired and takes one
Of US. 1t looked at first as II the old
man had the bulge on US, but you just
W aAS AAt4A AO SOS0 AVAAV 0AN kC4x6 u3H
wife all about it"
Sim Parker went into what had once
been Celinda's pretty house and gazed
at it with an air of satisfaction. Ey-
erything was just as it had been be-
fore Celinda went away to fetch the
hypothetical four millions. Clubs
cradle, already aired, stood in one cor
ner. Sim gave it a thoughtful push
with his foot and set 1t rocking. Some
interesting works of art on the wall
shone in fresh frames. The rooms had
been repapered and the kitchen ceiling
whitewashed. At the sale Sim had
been the only bidder for Ave photo
graphs Of the late unlamented Dick
Marston. With a certain delicacy he
took them into the kitchen and put
them in the stove. as II he thought
they would thus rejoin the person
whom they portrayed. The hired
grip wore a new frock, presented to
her by Sim. Celinda's little pig, no
longer an outcast, in spite of his pit
eous entrea ties, had been scrubbed by
Sim into state of pinky perfection, in
case Club wanted to 'love him." The
black and white cow looked out from
her stall and lowed to pretty little
black and white calf which had mys-
teriously appeared upon the scene The
calf wore a collar with the word
"Chub" in brass letters.
80 far that's all right" said Sim,
as he went round the veranda and
noticed a belated humming bird how
ering over a big fuschia In It's green
tub. "Now, If parson and his wife will
only come in time Celinda III git here
just after dark. and nobody be any the
wiser"
He looked at a telegram from his
agent in Montreal, and smiled. Then
he frowned.
81 dunno" he mused. 81 dunno as
it's fair to Celinda to force her into
it. Reckon she'll be feelin' pretty
bad"
He heard the whistle of the night
boat as she fused up to the long
wharf. I'd like to wiring the neck of
that whip-poor-will." unused Sim, tax
ing his position against the tree he
had mentioned to Celinda. Makes me
feel that lonesome. 1t gives me the
chills."
The inhabitants of Four Corners
were all indoors enjoying their even
ing meal, and the stage, after vain
ly waiting at the wharf to bring up
passengers. crawled emptily into Four
Corners.
"Juss so," said Sim, placidly contin-
ling to smoke. 'tJuss so. She amt
soin' to come up in the stage, and have
half the place rushin' out to jeer at
her. Not much. No. sir. Not much.
By and large. Celinda's pretty cute.'
"Are you there. Sim?' asked pleas
ant voice, as the parsons wife ap-
preached tree.
"You bet I'm here, Mrs. Clarke"
said Sim. with a smile; "but it's sort
Of lonesome"
you'll be very gentle with her,"
hesitated the minister's pretty wife.
You'll be very gentle with her, Sim.
True love is never harsh or unkind.'