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

good luck to him which stopping away
would, and wish him good luck-always
| anyhow. But then we should have
heard from him; isn't he as truthful as
you are"
He may have missed a post" she an
swered, evasively-"have postponed tell
ing us humble folk of the good fortune
that has come to him. Good news will
keep, you know"
There was a long pause after this,
broken at last by Mr.. Jennings saying:
You don't want him back, then,
Lucy?'
"Not If he will be happier away"
| "Well, if he has gone, you've worried
our best friend away, for you always
would interfere, and preach to him.
HE isn't our best friend"
| "Yes, 1 know what you're going to
say" said her brother, feebly; 'of course,
| but I'm not speaking of that. And Reu-
ben-here he is! Hurrah!'
And Mr.. Jennings, forgetting his ap-
athy, ran down his front garden and
went. bareh eaded and in his shirt sleeves,
at full speed down Hope street, leaving
his sister in charge of the premises.
| Reuben Culwick and John Jennings
came into the parlor together a few
minutes later, and the latter with a
croak of triumph exclaimed: ''There,
Lucy-who is right now?" as the former
| advanced to shake hands with her.
Lucy looked up into the face of the
big-chested, healthful man, and smiled
| family in response to the CHEEKY ex-
preston which she saw there.
'You have kept your word, then, Mr..
! Reuben" she said, placing her hand in
his; and a very cold hand, with not much
(, life blood in it, it. was that lay in his
brown palms.
But you didn't think that 1 should -
he cried.
"No," was the fearless reply, as the
thin lips closed together.
"Now, what does she deserve, to face
man and a brother, and a frst-foor
lodger of long and honorable standing,
with this odious greeting?' he said, turn
ing to John Jennings.
Reuben Culwick was in boisterous spir-
it's, or he would have never committed
the indiscretion of suddenly lifting up the
prim Miss Jennings in his arms and kiss
ing her. In all his life he had never kiss
ed her before-never dreamed of taking
such liberty with his landlords sister
but his high spirits carried him away,
and he lifted Lucy Jennings as high as
the ceiling before he kissed her lightly,
and placed her, as he might have done a
child. in her chair again, where she glared
at him in amazement, with her eyes dis
tended and her face not destitute of color
now.
"You-have been drinking" she gasp
ed forth, Indignantly, cor you would have
never done that"
mo, l haven't been drinking, Lucy"
said Reuben, quietly; ''but this is home,
and l am glad to get back to it."
'Ah! l dare say you are" she added,
| with irony.
"Skepticalr' he cried; "John, what
| shall do now?'
kiss her again." said John.
"No-I will not have any more of that
| foolery," said Miss Jennings, with intense
acerbity pervading her plain speaking
Il wouldn't if she Objects" said John
| "if she doesn't see the joke of it. 1
| don't think anybody has ever kissed her
except Tots. She's not used to that kind
of thing-she really isn't"
Nothing seemed to distress or disturb
the eQuanimity of Reuben Culwick. He
was glad to- get back, or he was one of
! the artfulest hypocrites in the County of
Surrey. He understood these two better
taken the trouble to study and be inter
| ested in their eccentricities long before
well, you have set up and kept fire
burning for man who was not expect
ed" said Reuben: but you don't ask
me how l have Jared in the country, what
adventures l have had, what WORK! I nave
| done. what luck l have encountered"
I'VE shall be glad to hear how YOU
| have got on in Worcester'' she said, a
| womanly curiosity exhibiting itself; 1--WE
do not attempt to deny that we are in
| terested in you-always interested in YOU
| poor as we are"
Yes, but don't begin about your poy-
erty again, please-poverty may be a
blessing in disguise for what you, and !,
| and John know to the contrary" said
Reuben; 1.-The poorest and most afflicted
woman was the happiest mortal whom
met in Worcestershire, and the richest
and most prosperous man l found as mis-
cradle and mean as ever"
Are YOU speaking of your father
now?" asked Miss Jennings, anxiously.
"Yes-the gentleman whom you talked
ME into visiting, prodigal son fashion
but who didn't take me to his breast and
weep over me, and order his fattest calf
to be killed in my honor" cried Reuben,
little bitterly. II was humble and con-
trite, but he was as hard as nails, and
the whole experiment was a tremendous
failure. Did 1 not say before 1 started
that this would be the result?"
Yes" said John, 'you certainly said
that. ] am very sorry-I am awfully
sorry-what a funny man he must be-"
Extremely funny" said Reuben Gull
wick, dryly; you would die of laughing
at his humor."
do you regret that you have offered
to sink bitter quarrel" inquired Lucy
Jennings, land to make peace?'
NO"
you are glad that you have been to
Worcester, are you not, despite this mis-
cradle result?''
"Yes."
''Then the fault lies with him, as it
did, before you went, with you. And.
Mr.. Reuben" she added, very earnestly,
you have one sin the less, think"
Amen to that"
Lucy Jennings regarded him keenly,
as if a suspicion that he was ridiculing
har hoA 49,