Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1903-09-29

turn the attack.
Come, you want some more, my fine
fellow, think" said the gentleman. '1f
that is the case, / can finish you as well
now as any time. You deserve a sound
thrashing, and I am quite willing to adj
minister it. Are you ready to receive it?'
The man gave a vengeful glance, an
other warning with that clenehed hand,
and, turning, walked rapidly down the
ascent, without uttering a word.
The count looked after him an instant,
and then joined Rose, who, with blended
fear and interest, had watched this brief
scene.
"Ah, monsieur, I thank you very
much!' she said, gratefully, as he ad-
vanced towards her.
'And l am very glad that l happened
to be near" he returned, with a frank
smile, "to chastise the ipsolent fellow.
Why, he was over-bold, Rose! Who is
| hep
"a worthless cousin Of mine, mon
sieur," replied Rose, who has under
| taken to annoy me occasionally of late.
hope his well-deserved punishment will
| teach him better manners for the fu-
| ture."
Il hope so; but it will be best to be-
ware of him now. You must keep, as
much as possible, out of his way"
| ''That / have always done, monsieur.
But he has never been so daring before"
II think heard him mention me, Rose.
What did he say?'' asked the young
count.
Rose Lamonte blushed slightly, as she
replied.
HE said that you should never come
to the cottage again.
"Ah, yes; heard it; remember now.
| And he knew of my visit by the foot
| prints? He must have been watching
me closely. Yet, where could he have
seen me? 1 only completed the journey
from Lyons last night
| The good marquis was standing on the
| terrace steps as they went up.
Good morning, nay child" he said,
kindly to Rose. "Out so early with your
| roses"
Eyes, monsieur; and they are very fine
ones. Seen'
Eyes, indeed. And you have brought
a rare supply of them. But, after all,
| you win carry back more than you bring.
Your walk has done you good, see;;'
and he smilingly stroked her damask
4 cheek. EU WHICH, IuG GAcICISCS anu l1Lllc
excitement together, had indeed brought
| the sweetest of roses.
| Coloring still more deeply, our heroine,
with laughing eyes, ran up the steps, and
| disappeared within the entrance Of the
| chateau.
The young count related to his uncle
| the incident which had occurred during
his mornings ramble. The good marquis
+, listened with interested attention, and
strongly evinced sympathy.
''The rascalr' he said, Indignantly, as
he heard of Gasparde's rudeness. Il am
glad you gave him suitable correction.
That fellow marry Rose!'
"It is to be supposed that her father
| will resent his insolence."
| 80, neutrality-suspicious. Louis.
He is stern man, that Hugh Lamonte,
and will teach Gasparde his business af-
| ter this. He is a strange, stern man, si-
lent and reserved. and almost a hermit.
| as one might say. He seldom leaves
home; works in his little garden, and tills
the thrifty patch of soil adjoining it from
morning till night, or cuts in the forest
| the wood which is to serve for his win
ter's fuel, and often load to carry to
| the town ON market days, with the pro-
duce from his land, as may not be requir-
ed for his own use. He has, think, no
| enemies; yet he-seems disinclined to court
| the friendship of any, though the few
neighbors about him, among the farm
houses, are kindly disposed toward him.
and every one of them loves little Rose.
| He is apart from them-a distant charac-
ter"
"And a peculiar one, from your descrip-
ton"
Precisely. He lives peasants life,
and wears a peasants garb, and yet he
can assume-ay, and he does, at times,
the bearing of a very king. The humility
of his position is belied by the spirit and
demeanor of the man. He is uncommuni-
cative, distant, almost naughty, toward
all others; to his child, he is the tender
est, most affectionate of parents"
You interest me, uncle. How long
have you known this man."
"He came into the neighborhood some
twelve or thirteen years ago, and settled
in the place where he dwells at present,
remote from every other habitation. His
wife, it is supposed, or has been gather
ed from some remarks made by him or
Rose, was dead. Rose herself was then
little creature of, perhaps, three or four
years. A peasant he may be by birth.
but 1 cannot treat him like one. l con-
fess, he perplexes me.
81 do not marvel at it. What a mys-
terry the man must be! / have the great
est curiosity to behold him."
That you will doubtless do, sooner or
later, though it will be with difficulty
think, that you will obtain communica-
tion with him. But here comes our Rose
of the Wilderness
And, as he spoke, the young girl ap-
peared ut the door.
Uncle" said Louis, ST must go back
with her, to see her safely to the end of
her way. She may meet that insolent
fellow again."
You are. right, my dear boy-you are
right" returned the marquis.
Louis could not help observing how
much more beautiful, if possible. looked
Rose this morning, than when he had
first seen her, although, even then, it was
as il he had suddenly come upon some
lovely picture touched with the warmest
coloring and most perfect grace of the
painters art.
How pretty she is!'' thought the count;
"and she is only sixteen"
And II was nof har fapa alnne that