Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1903-08-07

II whats the matter, Joe?'
" You know Ellen Pickering?"
Yes; lovely girl"
Il want her. She Is very advan-
tageous match. Help me to get her"
How can 1 help you?"
Uncle, you are devoted to her moth
er-don't deny it-and the widow is
devoted to you. Your influence will
turn the scale in my favor"
Pooh, boy! Do you suppose man
of 45, an old bach, is a proper person
to Interfere in love affairs? Besides,
are you sure Miss Pickering wishes to
marry you?''
No 1 wish your intercession with
her. too"
Very well; 1 will see what 1 can
do"
The next evening Major Joseph
Stone, feeling in honor bound to keep
his pledge to his nephew, called at
Mrs. Pickerings.
II have come to plead a cause" he
said nervously Your daughter is
lovely woman, and L have come with
reference to a proposal-from one
whose heart
The major broke down.
''IndeedT The lady looked curious
and pleased. Il have noticed the gen
tleman's attentions to my daughter. L
am not surprised"
He may be little off as to age"
'"That would be no objection, I as
sure you"
Then his income is very limited;
but, you see, /"
Il see very clearly, major. The in
come is of no consequence. My daugh-
ter is very we'll off. What she wishes
is man she can respect and love and
be proud of. The hero Of
Pardon me. Heroism has moth
Not another word, major. Modesty
is the most charming of qualities. You
will find Ellen in the music room. Go
and plead your cause with her, and
may you have every success. I shall
be proud
The major disappeared in the music
room, and at the same moment Miss
Pickering opened the door Of the par
lor, where she had left her mother.
''Oh, Ellen, 1 thought you were in
there. Your hero has come to propose
for you. Fortunate girl! He is re-
turning. will leave you here" And
as the major re-entered the mother dis
appeared.
Mamma was mistaken, major. Here
1 am"
81 am glad to see you looking so
charming, for a woman cannot well
look charming without feeling charm
ing. This will make easier a delicate
mission 1 have to execute"
Il am listening"
II came to plead cause, the cause
of one who loves you
"Oh, majorv dropping her eyes.
"Yet one who admits that he needs
some friend to help him."
HE needs no one but my mother
If she is pleased, there Is no one else
to be considered"
''Your mother sent me to you, wish.
ing me success. She has noticed the
drift of this affair, and she will be de
lighted with the match. You see, you
have very good quality, while the man
though trife young for you.'
"Ha, ha! What a pleasant irony
The man is just the age could choose
You know am a young thing of 2S."
HE has many estimable qualities,
can assure you. He is-weil, he is 6
bit of trifer-"
A
trifler You are stumbling along as
you stumbled up San Juan hill"
"That was an easy job compared
with this" taking out his handkerchief
and wiping the perspiration.
II always said, major, even when s
little girl, that 1 would marry none
but a hero"
'sThat's too bad" disappointed. "Tht
heroism in this case-the heroism OF
physical courage never yet beer
proved, but 1 dare say upon opportu
nifty"
.You dear major! You say that a.
innocently as IL it were really true
Doubtless you think it so. The great
est heroes are the least aware of thei
heroism. One thing I will admit-be
cause man is a military hero it doe.
not follow that he has courage in tell
ing a woman he loves her."
'1 confess there is some cowardic,
in this case. A man should not EN-
ploy any one but himself to plead hi
cause with a woman"
.But mamma doesn't count, yol
know. You can't be accused of COW
ardice for speaking to her first. Major
you are as utterly untitled for prop
osition of this kind as you proved your
self fitted to lead men in battle''
well, then, to cut the matter short
you acceptY
81 do, most assuredly, and with M
whole heart"
Then, having nothing more to dc
j shall wish you a very good evenin
and much happiness" moving away.
Nothing more to do, major? draw
ing very near and looking up at hin
reproachfully.
Nothing whatever. It's all settled.
''Then have something to do"
Throwing her arms about the major
-cha drew his face down till his lin