Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1903-08-04

fattered; the Princess de Zelikoff's cold
e ness and Indifference to mems attentio
q has almost become a proverb in Paris
L am surprised you do not prefer a high
bred, graceful woman of the world, t
an uninformed, simple country girl lik
that Miss Eyre. You see l have discov
/, cred your secret
Some men are foolish enough to prefe
l innocence in women to a knowledge o
{ the world, Dora," Mr.. Hastings an
! swered coldly.
"Some men are foolish enough for any
thing" retorted Lady Dora, pettishly.
CHAPTER XVI
More than once Sir Howard Champion
had met his granddaughter, Winifree
Eyre, in society. He had spoken yer!
little; and the result of his quiet scru
tiny was that he felt unfeignedly pleased
with her. She was graceful natural and
ladylike, and possessed certain frank
ness of manner which could not fail te
win for her liking and admiral ton.
One day he called on Lady Grace Far
quhar. She and Winifred were sitting
alone together in the drawing room.
MY DEAR" he said to Winifred, 1--WE
must not be strangers any longer. My
other granddaughters are coming to stay
with me in Hurstshire after the season is
over, and l want Lady Grace to spare
you. You will not refuse?'
Il think you would like to go, dear,
would you not?" Lady Grace said, quick
ly.
Winifred answered a little hesitating-
~ in the affirmative. She would rather
not have gone; but she could not bear to
| seem stubborn, or as if she bore malice.
The London season was over, the park
| deserted, the handsome carriages gone
! from the streets. Winifred was staying
| at Hurst Manor with all her cousins
| Flora and Reginald Champion, and
Laura and Ada Fordyce, Lady Valan-
tons daughters. She had met the two
| latter constantly in town, and been on
| speaking terms with them; but nothing
| more. The elder was rather plain, but
arlstocratlc looking, and very proud. Ada,
| the younger, was petty, good-tempered
and unaffected. She took to Winifred at
once, and soon became very fond of her;
but her sister Joined with Flora in be-
ing disdainful and cold to the farmers
daughter. There were two or three young
men, friends of Reginald's, staying in the
house. and Mr.. Maxwell, to whom Miss
Champion was now formally engaged.
L have news for you, Laura" said
Reginald one day, entering the room in
which were his sisters and cousins: sim
deed, news for you all. Hastings is not
going to Norway in his yacht, but is COM
ing down to the Court, and has invited
several people with him, so we shall all
be enlivened little, hope, in this dull
hole. Lady Dora Amnesty is to play
hostess, SO there is sure to be plenty of
fun
Some days after Lady Dora Amnesty
arrived at the Court with her husband. a
young, good-tempered man, very fond of
her, and not in the least inclined to be
jealous.
There had been a very decided f1irta-
ton between Mr.. Hastings and Lady
Dora some years ago, before she was
married or engaged; they sometimes re-
vived it even now. He let her have her
own wayward will in the matter of COM
ing to stay at the Court and inviting
guests and turning the old house upside |
down for private theatrica1s, and in re-
turn she was very bright and kind to /
him and consulted his pleasure in every |
possible way.
Lady Dora made all her plans and Err |
rol carried them out. He called on Mrs.
Champion, gave her some hints about the |
tableaus and desire for her co-opera-
ton. She responded Immediately by |
calling on Lady Dora, and two days af-
terward Dora appeared at Hurst Manor.
The ladies, especially the young ones.
were charmed with her, she was so |
bright, so fascinating
There were great many calls, CONVEX
sations, hints, proposals and suggestions.
and finally everything was arranged pre-
cisely as the mistress of the ceremonies
had intended it should be- Then. of
course, there were rehearsals at the
Court; lunches, dinner parties, all man.
ler of pretexts for getting the young
people together to perfect their parts.
Scenery and dresses came down from
london. Mr.. Hastings spared neither
rouble nor expense, and the Court ball
'oom was transformed into an elegant
heater. All the country round was in
rited; there were to be two hundred
quests.
Winifred's heart beat fast for the first
ime she visited HAZEL Court. She re.
nembered how in the olden days that
tately gray mansion into which she had
leyer hoped to enter had been invested
\, her ehildlike dreams with all the ro-
nance which she had read of or fancied. {.
Afterward it had been dearer still as the
ome of the man who had beens to her
hero, demigod. The time came to her
Vhen she had been the simple farmers
laughter, so proud, so happy to be no. ,
iced by the handsome master of Hazell
jourt. How her heart had sunk within
er as she saw him paying court to the
eautiful, aristocratic women who SEEM
q then so far above her; and how little
he had dreamed of the advent of time (
yhen she should be a more honored, more &
guest than they? ,
Mr.. Hastings came out to meet the par c
= of ladies who had ridden over to the
'ourt. He went up to, Winifred first,
nd took her in his strong arms and lifted
er from the saddle. I
"Welcome!' he whispered; ''this is a !.
me have often longed for.'' l
One day she had ridden over to the
ourt to rehearse with Lady Dora. Mr.. i
-astings came in from drive and found E
$ cousin alone in the morning room.
Pray, don't come in, Errol,' she ex-
aimed; Il must not be interrupted, or
g. L r. = =