Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1904-07-15

yond the place, she stopped and inquired
of him.
"Oh, yes; 1 can tell you, certainly. Go
straight forward, pass DR.. Elfenstein's
cottage, when you will come to a grove
of willows; pass that, and then the
railroad track, and about one quarter of
| mile beyond, you will see row of
houses; that is the commencement of the
real village proper, and there you will
find several stores"
Thanking the boy, Ethel opened her
parasol, for the afternoon was warm and
sultry, and followed the path pointed
out. When she reached the cottage, her
eyes wandered over it's small hower-bor-
| dered garden, its pretty vine-covered
porch, and open windows, with their
bowed blinds, just revealing the dainty,
cool-looking, lace curtains within, that
| waited back and forth, gently, in the
| faintest of all breezes.
"How differently DR.. Elfenstein i'm
presses me, with his manly bearing, his
open countenance, and kindly eyes, even
| though his manners are reserved and
| quiet, from that vain, egotistical Robert
Glendenning," she thought. Il cannot
| understand exactly why l detest that
| person SO thoroughly, nor why l admire
| the young physician so much. One thing,
perhaps, influences me; 1 always loved
| usefulness in man; DR.. Elfenstein la
bors for the welfare of others; young
| Glendenning is an idle spendthrift, liv-
ing merely to crafty the pleasures of his
own handsome self. One. constantly do
ing good, the other-1 should judge by
his looks and acts, evilly disposed, and
| reckless in all his ways"
Nh;lo th,1S fhinkinv Sho Ssad the
| willow grove, and the railroad track, and
soon reached the stores. where the pur-
| chases were made to her entire satisfac-
| tion. Then she retraced her steps, walk
ing slowly, in order more fully to enjoy a
| cooler breeze that was springing up; but
as she neared the railroad she quickened
her steps, for she knew that train was
nearly due.
Soon the place was reached, and in
stepping over it, to her horror she found
the heel of her shoe fastened tightly in
one of the frogs. With desperate haste
she strove to loosen it; in vain! Every
struggle only made it, as it seemed, more
firmly wedged.
| Hark! What was that rumbling? With
pallid lips and trembling form, she heard
q distant whistle tell of the swiftly COM
ing train.
| In despair, she stopped to unbutton the
| shoe; but it was a new one, and therefore
hard to manage, while her trembling fin
gers sought to undo the fastening, but
she found them powerless to accomplish
| the task.
| On, on came the engine. She could
| feel the rails vibrate with their motion,
and still her foot was fast and she could
not move. Then, one wild shrek of ter
1 hn oir md hkl-
| fore it died away a mans feet came run
ming to the spot
BE calm! l will save you! Do not
struggle-stand perfectly stillv' said a
| voice in her ear.
On came the cars; even then they could
be seen in the distance. One moment
more and she would be under the fearful
wheels; but a strong hand caught the
foot wrenched open the buttons, then,
as the hot breath of the engine was al
most upon her, she was drawn from the
perilous position and knew no more.
When she opened her eyes, she was ly-
ing on the green grass, a short distance
from the spot, while her head reclined
| upon some gentleman's shoulder and the
same person was gently tanning her with
folded newspaper. Looking up, she
met the earnest eyes of DR.. Eifenstein
bent upon hers, and saw that he was
thus kindly supporting her.
sit is all right now, Miss Nevergail
You are safe, and will be yourself in one
moment" he said.
"Oh, but that was terrible, terribler'
she murmured, with shudder, as her
eyes closed again, at the mere remem-
brance.
at was, truly! While got to you in
time, thank heaven, there was not a
second to spare"'
'Oh, doctor, 1 can never thank you
for know now that it was you who sav.
ed mev'
'Do not try, Miss Nevergail; will not
be thanked. My fright, 1 assure you
was nearly equal to your own"
"How did you get the shoe OFF," she
asked, at length, as she raised herself
from his arm, and glanced at her foot.
81 never can tell; it was so stiff and
tight it took all my strength. But now
since you are better, 1 will see what
has become of that obstinate little boot ,
In a few moments, he smilingly return
ed with it's dilapidated remains in his
hand.
"You will scarcely know your OWL
property" he remarked. sit is so crushed
and torn. The action of the heavy trair
loosened it. and thus 1 came off with
the spoil"
"My poor, poor SHOE" said Ethel, s
faint smile lowering around her pale lips
well, it may better be crushed thar
my foot; but, really, though scarcely
wearable, 1 must put it on" and SHE
reached out her hand for the torn OBJ
ject.
Nay, allow me to restore it to it
place." said the doctor, kneeling beside
her. MY poor child, you have scarcel!
strength enough yet for such task"
With the greatest tenderness and care
he drew the boot over one of the smalles
little feet he had ever seen supporting
woman, and as he finished buttoning tht
. very few buttons that remained. he arose
and begged her to keep seated until h
brought hither his horse and gig, as h,
told her he should insist upon carryin.
her home, as she was, he knew, still
weak from fright.
| Looking around, Ethel saw, for tn,
first time, his horse standing quietly b.