Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1904-02-12

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ply, eyes and voice full of sympathy.
1--WE have had no news from him for
| more than year." she went on. Mr.
| Kane, report says you know South At
rica like book; is it possible you
could have met Rick.'
There was a wealth of yearning in
her tones, such as Kane would have
liked to see evoked on his own account.
South Africa is wide country,
Miss Dysart," he rejoined. Where
was your brother when you last heard
from him?"
"At Kimberley, think"
"Ah! I suppose he went by his own
! manner" he ventured, and then, in
answer to her glance of surprise, i'm
plying that no Dysart would stoop to
travel under an alias, because, you
know, lots of new chums out there do
drop their civilized patronymics, and
no one thinks the worse of them in
consequence"
Il don't know, I am sure" she re-
piled doubtingly. "Rick never said
anything about it."
You may be certain that If had
ever heard your name out there.
Miss Dysart, recent events would
prove an undoubted reminder. But I
am morally sure 1 never met your
brother. Tell me all you care to-
may be able to help you"
And thus invited, she briefly out
lined for him the story of Rick's exile.
Its a common enough story" said
Kane. Hundreds Of young English
men leave the old country with no bet
ter excuse and no better prospects
than he had, and after few ups and
downs become successful in one of
a dozen ways open to men of courage
and conviction. Take my own case,"
he concluded, smiling.
Her looks frightened, and his CHEEKY
words seemed to give her renewed con-
fidence.
could you show me his picture?"
/ he continued. Il never forget a
face, and if we have ever met I
can tell you in an instant"
"The only photograph I have was
taken long before Rick left England,
and I am afraid it would not assist
your memory, Mr.. Kane. But Miss
Churchill has one which was done in
South Africa less than two years ago,
1 should think
1.-The very thing!'' he exclaimed. ct
purpose riding over to Gatewood, and
will let you know the result
I-we-shall be SO grateful to you,
Mr.. Kane, for any news or encourage
ment. When I sit here. talking to you
about the Cape it seems as if Rick
were not so far away after ALL" And
she flashed him a dazzling smile
through tears which would flow all un-
hidden at the memory of the exile.
Kane rose as if to go, and Stella
rose too. He had started for Denecroft
that morning of set purpose to propose
to the girl, but the conversation was
taking turn that he had not foraeeen,
and one which might or might not
form propitious prelude to what he
wanted to say.
However, he was not the man to
shrink from a slight obstacle, and to
leave Denecroft without having spoken
his rede would seem too much like a
repulse or defeat. So he determined
to make it now or never. But he must
not be too precipitate.
Despite his supreme confidence in his
lucky star, Kane knew perfectly well
that in thus raising his eyes to an al
lance with an English girl of rank and
fortune the chances were dead against
him. A year ago the world did not
know his name. Had they met two
years ago he shuddered to think of
what their relative positions would
have been. He knew very well that it
was his wealth alone which now en-
abled him to meet her on even terms,
and he realized clearly that unless he
could impress his personality and his
manhood upon her, mere money would
profit him nothing.
Could he make himself indispensable
to this gentle and high-born English
maiden-he, the erstwhile adventurer
and outcast? At least, he could try!
1t should be the fight of his life! If
the way to Stella's heart lay through
her regard for the absent and long-lost
brother, why, Rossiter Kane could be
counted upon to play the sympathetic
part desired. So he deftly took up his
cue, saying in answer to her last
words:
ITO say that am highly honored
by your confidence but family ex-
presses my sentiments, Miss Dysart.
Indeed, 1 am glad you confided in me,
for it shows you do not regard me as
an utter outlander."
He paused, and her eyes met his ar
dent gaze. In that moment, in that
glance, the whole of life was changed
for these two.
With woman-like intuition she df-
vined his drift, and although up to
that time she had not distinctly real
lied his passionate admiration of her,
or that she was being wooed, the in
stant's discovery Of it was, If anything,
pleasurable rather than otherwise.
But she did not-could not-reply, and
Kane took up the burden of his tale.
"ForeiVe me il [ speak of mVSelf"