Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1903-06-02

certainly you may come IN, sne an
swered, coldly; ''you might have done SO
when you pleased before. | was not par
ticularly engaged"
"Oh! you did see me, then? l. thought
you were too much occupied with your
fine new friend to look at me-"
Winifred was beginning to get angry;
this man had never presumed to use such
tone to her before.
''Do you want to see my father?' she
asked abruptly.
''No, 1 don't; I left him not an hour
ago in the turnip field want to see
you"
"Oh, very WE'LL" remarked Winifred;
"but please let me know at once what
you want of me. it is time to go In and
see about the tea"
''Oh, you weren't in such~a hurry just
now, when you had that puppy of a
Hastings here" said Mr.. Fenner, wrath
fully.
Winifred rose like young Juno, with
such an imperial air of amazed indigna-
ton that her companion quailed.
Mr.. Fenner." she said have you
any idea of what you are talking aboutT'
Look here, Miss Winifredp' uttered
Fenner, with great earnestness-'its no
use your pretending not to understand
me, because you can't have mistaken my
meaning this last month. I've loved you
for this year back. And so to-day, in the
turnip field, / spoke to Mr.. Eyre, and
he said he had no objection, provided you
liked me, and I said | wasn't afraid Of
that, for you had always been so kind
in your ways to me, which you wouldn't
have been il you hadn't meant as | did"
How dare you say l know what you
meant or gave you encouragement she
exclaimed, passionately.
Because you didv' he returned, with
temper. eff you didn't mean anything
by your smiles, and tricks, and ways,
you must be as false as fair
Enough of this!' cried Winifred. impe-
riously, understand, once for all, that
never had and never shall have, the re-
motest feeling Of love for you; and if you
wish me to entertain the slightest regard
for you, you will never again adopt such
tone to me as you have done to-day"
So" he said, in an insolent tone, ''you
could be all very well to Tom Fenner, the
farmer, until your fine new lover came
along; but you must turn high and mighty
directly you've been seen with London
swell. But l can tell you one thing,
Miss Winifred,' he added, with an in
sulting air that was indescribable,. Hast
ings of Hazel Court don't mate with
farmers daughters"
you insolent, mean-spirited coward"'
she cried, stamping her foot; leave this
place Immediately, and never presume to
enter it again. and she turned into the
house and shut the door. Then she ran
up to her room and, throwing herself on
her knees by her bedside, she sobbed and
cried passionately.
At last she rose and went to her piano.
She sat there until it grew quite dark,
singing low, sweet songs to herself, un-
from her face, and bright thoughts be-
gan to bring smiles in place of tears
He must care a little for me-" she
thought, ''or he would not have held my
hand so long, and looked into my face
as he did"
Her thoughts were suddenly interrupt
ed by ring at the bell, and she paused
in her playing.
''Some books for Miss Eyre, with Mr.
Hastings compliments said a mans
voice, to the servant who answered the
door.
when II WAS cloSeu again Sue jumped
up and called:
''Elizabethv'
Eyes, miss
"Give them to me, and bring the lamp,
please"
And she began with eager delight to
examine the handsomely bound volumes.
It was happy evening; her new occu-
patton chased all unpleasant memories
away, and when she went to bed she had
even forgotten the existence of Mr.. Fen
ner.
But the next day poor Winifred was
plunged into the depths of sadness again,
for Mr. Hastings passed, bending per his
saddle to talk TO her stately cousin. and
had never once turned to look for her.
t1'o be continuedl