Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1904-03-18
prosperine. and that used to keep my

RAOSeSA~--9s
heart light"
"Ay-it did," said Sarah, sorrowfuily.
"And I'm very much obliged to Sally,
said Tom, with a sudden grin that was as
spasmodic as clockwork figures; some
sisters would have backbited brother
while he was away, and set his relatives
against him; but you didn't, Sally?
"No."
"Not that you have been talking much
about me lately, / understand" said
Tom, 'tsince the dear old lady has come
into fortune. But you did once-and
I'm grateful to the last day of my ife.' y
He leaned across the table in order
that he might peer more closely into her
face, and Sarah answered slowly:
1--WE will talk of the past-and of the
future-at fitting time"
"As you please. Take your own time,
Sarah" was the reply; ''you will find me
and the Captain In the picture gallery
presently. The Captain is a follower of
the arts himself.
"Oh, Thomasp' said the Captain, rails
ing both hands deprecatingly, "an ad-
mirer of themAthat is ALL"
"a composer, genuine composer!'
cried Tom Easbell, slapping his hand I'M
tremendously on his friends music book.
81 beg pardon, grandmother; 1 am in
good spirits to-night-that's ALL" said
Tom, deferentially; "Sarah's back, and
for a moment I had forgotten my be-
reavement."
"What bereavement? ah! your wife, -
said Sarah; sis she dead then?"
Dead and gone, poor soul. Don't .ou
see how deep my mourning is?''
Don't give way, Tom-don't give
way" said Captain Peterson, as he took
his friends arm and led him sobbing from
the room.
Hasn't he left the door open? 2" asked
Mrs. Eastbell. 81 thought so by the
blowing down the back of my neck. It's
a pity he doesn't know better than to
leave all the doors open, but I soppose
they're used to wind at sea, Sally"
Eyes, grandmother"
''Now that they've gone, / want to
know about your wild-goose, chase-to
scold you for ito ask after that suck
up fellow Reuben, who
"Presently-presently must see
those men at once" cried Sarah, start
ing up, with eyes cleaning and hands
clenched.
She lost not many minutes in follow
ing her brother and his friend to the
picture gallery. Thomas Eastteil. sprawl
ed in Simon Culwick's chair, with his
legs ungracefully dangling over the left
arm. Captain Peterson, reserved in the
presence of his particular friend, sat with
his chair tilted against the marble man
telpiece. .
Come in. Sarah, don't be bashful.' -
said Thomas Eastbell.. "You are very
welcome, assure you."
Sarah shut the door at this invitation:
and walked quickly toward the visitors,
taking q seat close to her brother, and
looking sternly and fixedly at him.
"Why do you come? What do you
want? You are here with a purpose"
said Sarah persistently; Estate it, if you
please"
"It is very simple" her brother said,
coolly. .--5
81 am not the child was; have learn
ed to know the world, and to take my
part in it. I know you, Thomas East
bell. know of no good or honest action
that you have ever done. Knowing that,
1 will not have you and your friend in
this house. You play a dangerous game
in your defiance of me, for I am mistress
here"
"Oh, indeed!- d!-that's it, is it 2" said her
brother with a sneer; Il am to tell my
grandmother that she's a cipher in her
own house-that she's nobody, and want
to grab all her money when she died"
'Tell her what you WILL" said Sarah !;
"the answer which strips the veil from
your bad life will be sufficient to drive
you from u.s."
CTo be continued)