Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1904-09-30
WHAT HAPPENS IN BOOKS.

der the trees, and there was no one
near. He slipped his arm round hel
and kissed her.
Are you really sorry, darling?" he
said
She laughed again.
Yes. dreadfully. Tomorrow. it'll
all be cleared up"
Cleared up?
She put her hand on his arm and
drew him further under the trees.
Yes. Come. I'll tell you all about
1t. Who's that?'
He peered at two figures in light
dresses vanishing in front Of him.
Miss Vining and somebody 1 don't
know. They're gone now."
She laughed again.
Miss Vining! -" Oh, it's too
lovely"
He glanced at her suspiciously once
more.
'Too lovely-what's too lovely?
thought Miss Vining was a great
friend of yours"
$50 she is. Don't you think it's
very nice for me to have friend like
Mamie Vining-such a rich friend
to take me about and be nice to mel"
II suppose so," he said, without en-
thusiasm. She's very rich-of
course"
Immensely! Moneys nothing to
her. She's dear, too-a real dear"
she added, affectionately.
He did not answer. The subject
seemed to embarrass him.
"At least" she amended, "she is,
you know, only-I'm getting mixed.
But 1 must tell you tonight, some
how"
What"
She patted his arm softly with her
fingers.
Il should have liked to have kept
it secret until the last moment" she
said, until l had to give you a we'd
ding present. you know" He WINGED
under the light touch of her fingers.
why are you squirming about like
that, Dick? l shall have to give you
a wedding present. It's quite the
proper thing. Bride to bridegroom-a
for She broke off with q little
triumphant smile. "Pm not sure 1
can tell you-it's so delicious to think
you don't know"
He was silent for a minute. She
was really very puzzling-and distract
ingly pretty. He bent and kissed her
again.
She looked up suddenly.
"You do care-don't you, Dick?" she
said. You do really carer
II care more than anything in the
world" he said earnestly.
After all, there was time to break it
off quietly before"
"Yes. know you do" she said soft
ly. That's why I'm going to. tell you.
You see, we are good friends always.
and one of us was rich, and one of US
was poor. and the one that was rich
decided to come to England. and take
the one that was poor with her"
"YesY' he said. incomprehensively,
as she paused.
well, you know, in books, when
there are two girls like that, they play
a trick At least, they did in
a book we were reading just then"
what trick?" he said, with grow
ing uneaSineSS.
"They change places. The rich girl
takes the poor girls place. and"
His quick movement startled her.
She looked up. but it was too dark to
see his face clearly.
"What's the matter. Dick?"
Nothing" he said. in an odd voice.
"Go on"
And said. oh. do let us do that
and she didn't mind-she said it would
be rather fun. SO we did"
"Did what?" he said, desperately.
Changed places-what dear old
stupid you are! Changed names. I'm
Mamie Vining."
There was dead silence. The
mans face wore an indescribable ex-
pression-if she could have seen it.
DO you mind my having such a
lot of money!" she said. u know you
don't think much of money-you've
said so more than once. Don't you re-
member what you said about people
who marry for money? Well, you
won't marry me for mine. at any
rate"
There was light step behind. They
turned to find the girl who was not
Mamie Vining standing beside them.
Her friend held out her hand to her
"Oh. Helen. l want to tell you-I
want you to be the first to know" she
said. I'm engaged to Dick. Will you
congratulate us. please?'
Helen stood still and looked at them.
There was a great pity in her eyes.
No" she said. slowly; 81 don't
think l will"
Mamie Vining stared.
why not?"
Her friend put an arm around her.
and drew her away from the man. who
stood motionless under the shadow Of
the trees.
Because Mr.. Vance proposed to me