Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1904-02-16

Cannot you give me little hope?"
he urged. will you marry me,
StelIa?"
Stella Dysart was NO mere chit of a
girl in her teens. Men had made love
to her. and even proposed to her, be-
fore this, but never the right man
From the first she had been interested
In Rossiter Kane. There was a siren
uous air about him, the quiet insistence
of ''masterful man" who will carry
his point in the end, that appeals to
every masterless woman.
Now that the question Of questions
was put and demanded an answer, she
was surprised to find that what she
had deemed mere friendly feeling and
interest really deserved a much near
er and dearer name She found in
her own heart smoldering response
to his appeal which leaped into flame
at his behest.
Quietly he waited for her answer.
But still the little head was bent He
drew her to him, and caressingly tilted
her chin so that she must perforce lift
her eyes to his.
Her face was suffused with rosy
color, and her eyelashes were wet. but
surely they were happy tears, and it
was with smiling lips that she whis-
pered as she nestled to his side
"If you wish it-yes!"
'Wish it! Oh my darling, my
Queen!" he exclaimed, and his lips met
hnr in f,,Ct
He was in no haste to be gone now,
but led her to tete-a-tete and took
his place beside her.
Il am the happiest man in England"
he said fervidly, devouring her with
his eyes. For answer she breath ed a
happy sigh.
''Sir Arthur must be told, suppose"
he said tentatively, after an inter-
change of sweet confessions and con-
fidences.
"Oh, not yet, please" she pleaded.
mot Tor few days. l feel SO selfish.
enjoying all this happiness, when at
this moment poor Rick may be in trou-
BILE or in danger!"
"Counfound your Rick" was Kane's
inward objurgation, but outwardly he
was all sympathy and interest.
I'VE must find him." he said, in
quietly confident tones. HE is 4, my
brother now, you know" A rosy
blush flooded face and forehead at
these words, but timidly seeking his
hand she exclaimed:
eff you want to make me sincerely
happy and leave no cloud between us.
you will ind my brother! Then you
may speak to Sir Arthur as soon as
you Nke!" nodding her head vivacious-
ly.
"It is o bargain" Kane returned. and
with a farewell caress he took his
leave. elated, happy, triumphant.
better man in thought and intention
than he had ever been before.
Mounting his horse, he rode rapidly
through the park to Gatswood. and
found Marcia Churchill at home, by
whom he was graciously received as
a whilom acquaintance and now a
near neighbor.
After presenting his invitation to the
coming ball at The Csdars he broached
the second object of his call.
Miss Dysart was speaking about her
brother Richard this morning." he
said, "and she wondered II had ever
met him at the Cape. could not re-
call him by name, but asked her for a
photograph. She sent me here. saying
you possessed one taken since he went
abroad. May see IT."
Surely" she said. n Will get 1t
for you"
The abrupt naming of Richards
name by a comparative stranger un-
nerved this usually strong and self
contained nature. and her agitation
was perceived and noted BY Rossiter
Kane, who drew his own sapient con-
clusions.
Marcia rose and went to side table.
saying the while, to cover her show OF
feeling
1--WE were children together. Mr..
Kane, and We all love Richard very
dearly"
She returned. bearing in her hand
q carte-de-visite. which she gave him.
saying simply:
Here is his latest picture. 1t was
taken in Cape Town. as you see, nearly
two years ago"
Kane took the bit of pasteboard. and
with ceremonious Pardon mel" went
to the window the better to see.
1t was lucky for him that he did this,
and that his face was turned from Mar
cia's watchful eyes, Quickened by love
and eager with hope deferred, for,
strong man and iron-willed as he was,
Kane staggered and would have fallen
but for a timely grasp of the heavy
window;-curtain.
He held in his hand the picture of
the face he remembered only too we'll
the features of which, distorted in
agony, were ever before him, branded
On his eyeballs in hues of fire night
and day, and which he had last seen
for few tragic moments in ruddy
glare by the Mooi river many months
before!
The sweat stood ON his forehead in