Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1904-11-04
it's way back there! Didn't you see

81 didn't want to see it." he said,
shortly.
What do you mean?" she cried.
81 mean that you're not going to get
away from me this time till I've had
my say!''
II won't listen! I won't listen!" She
thrust back her bonnet and put both
hands over her ears.
He drove on quietly, with no attempt
to coax or compel her attention. down
long hill, up the other side and
around a corner.
Its all right, boys" he said to the
horses, as they turned their heads,
with an inquiring look, when the noon
whistle blew at the village. tits all
right" and they plodded along soberly,
perhaps rejecting on the unreasonable
ness of master who set off to market
from a hard forenoon in the field, with
out dinner.
Dora sat, obstinately stopping her
ears, and watched the long mile slip
by, then another, and he showed no
sign of relenting. Once he turned, say
ing politely, Il am afraid the sun is
making it rather uncomfortable for
you. am sorry have no umbrella"
Though she did not hear, Of course,
she scowled an answer.
They made several turns, and she
noted, hopefully, that they seemed 60
ing in the direction of the farm. He
was giving it up? Not so! To her con-
sternation, they finally came out in the
broad road, headed for the village.
You're just scotching me-" she COM
planned.
"Well, you've scotched me often
enough" he growled.
Being so near the noon hour they
had seen few people, but now, down
the road a crowded wagonette whirled
toward them, the tennis party from the
village. She jerked her bonnet over
her face and tumbled fiat on the hay,
moaning: q
"Oh, 1 wouldn't have them see me
for a million dollars!''
When they had passed, with gay
banter at him for deserting them, she
Strengthened up with blazing cheeks
and the fire of battle in her eyes.
Its the silliest, the most ridiculous
thing 1 ever heard Of! And you're the
meanest, meanest man alive! 1 should
think you'd hate yourself to death!'
Il don't aspire to great wisdom or
perfection" he returned, serenely, driv-
ing on.
You know how I've looked forward
to this afternoon, and what plans we've
made for lt!''
eff you hadn't Systematically disar-
ranged so many of my plans 1 might
be more considerate of yours"
"It's so contemplate, your trapping
me like thisv'
You came voluntarily. I've a right
to market my hay when please"
You don't mean" But they
were entering the village, and she
crouched down again out of sight. He
did not stop, and when they had left
the last house behind, she began, pit
eously:
81 was never so hungry in my life!
I'm positively faint!'
you'll know how to sympath
with the poor, then," he suggested.
y
me suffer, and you profess TO-"
She broke off in some confusion, con-
scious that she was too near the brink
Eyes, 1 profess to love you," he fin
ished for her. "Ive never tried to hide
it-and 1 suppose, after all, there is lit
tie need of words. 1 ought to have
understood without having it said.
You've shown me plain enough that it
is useless, and yet" he halted,
meditatively. Some intuition within
him declared that she was not so in
different as she had assumed to be.
"NO," he continued, 81 will have it
in words! Dora, you know 1 love you
devotedly, with all my heart; will you
be my wife?" He turned to her with
a deep tenderness in his face and
shining in his serious eyes.
cousins can't marry" she evaded.
''My stepmother's niece isn't a very
close COUSIN" he commented. But
ought to thank you," he went on, pres
emily, with a rather wan smile. "You
might have been more harsh in your
refusal Of me-"
He turned the horses about, saying:
you will not be very late at the
game" Then he turned his back in a
stolid silence. \ If he suffered. she |
should not see it.
The minutes passed slowly as the
horses logged along the hot, dusty
highway. The sun poured down it's
rays. Nat sat at his post like
a craven image, oblivious alike to the
blistering heat and. the presence of his
pretty and unwilling passenger.
The silence was suddenly broken by
a storm Of sobs from Dora. He writh-
ed anxiously, until he could bear it no
longer, and burst out:
Don't cry, Dora, darling! I'm a
brute, perfect beast! 1 don't know
how to treat girl, even when I love
her so-you did right to refuse mew
"But-but-I haven't refused-y-
you! II said cousins co-couldn't
didn't say"
'DOrap he spoke Sterniy "You must