Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1905-03-17
CHAPTER XVII.

CHAPTER XVII.
I was strong in brave resolves when
knocked at the door of the little house.
But they were sadly shaken the moment
it was opened by Clara herself. The
sight of her sweet face, smiling upon
me, cowed my bravery. Have l come
here to look upon her for the last time
to bid adieu to that smile foreverg" l
asked myself; and my heart sank, but it
gave no response.
"We are all alone" she said, as we
went into the parlor. "Mary is out, and
so is Mrs. Wilson, wonderful to say"
She was working hard at her paint
ing, as usual. l sat down upon foot
stool at her feet, and gazed furtively
up at her face. Never, methought, had
she looked so lovely as she did that morn
ing. in the soft, hazy, autumn sunlight
Half an hour passed away, and we
had not exchanged half a dozen words !;
but that was not at all uncommon, for
l loved better to gaze and dream than to
but little. She dropped one Of her
brushes; and as gave it to her, held
her hand for moment fast locked in
mine. When she looked down at me
smilingly and saw me in tears, a look
Of concern came across her countenance.
"Would it make you very unhappy if
were to tell you that you might never
see me again after this day?' I spoke
in low, choked voice, and the gathered
tears burst forth from my eyelids, and
fell upon her hand.
She did not appear to comprehend my
words, as she saked, in tone of trou-
bled wonder, what do you mean?"
repeated my question, in vet more
trembling tone. l felt her hand more
passive in mine, and her eyes drooped,
and the carnatiou. tinge deepened In her
cheeks, as she answered, softly, "1t
would make me very unhappy to think
so."
"Listen to me-" I cried. kneeling al
her feet, and clasping both her hands
in mine. "From the time of our meet
ing, five years ago, 1 ave loved you; from
| the time of our meeting a few weeks
back 1 have adored you! Oh, tell me
| do you love me? Answer me but one
word, my darling, my love" I cried
| again.
| She raised her eyes for a moment tt
mine, and then dropped them, with hel
cheek as crimson as my own. Il dt
love you, dearest-very much,'' she an
| swered, in her low, soft voice.
| l took her in my arms, and kissed he
fervently; and her sweet, blushing face
nestled upon my bosom like a bird seek
| ing for shelter.
! Where were my resolutions now?-
my heroic self-sacrifce, my stoicism
Melted-gone disappeared like snow be
fore a fire, in the fervid ecstacy Of tina
moment. I had come to pronounce al
eternal farewell; stayed to pronounc
ar inward oath that 1 would swee]
away every obstacle, and win her We
for my'own undisputed prize in the fac
of the whole world.
After time we sat together near tn
window with my arm around he
| waist, and her hand clasped In mine
And thus we sat, silent-she, in one o
her dreamy reveries; I, filed with gloom
forebodings. For, now that the frs
ecstaey was passed-now knew tha
her love was mine-the unnatural excite
ment of my brain subsided. the tensio
of my nerves relaxed, and the misers
BILE rashness of what 1 had done wa
revealed to me in the gloomiest color
had sealed her misery, and increase
my own tenfold.
"Do you not think" she said, sudder
ly,. that we are very strange peopl,
you and I? l mean, that we are yer
unlike other peopleT'
II have often thought so," I said.
, "Do you not fancy the rest of th
, world would think US very silly people
, Now, you do not even know my name.
. "But you know nothing of me, so "
, are well paired. I know but little m.
j self. but that you shall know"
t mot now, please, dear. Some da,
when am very brave, l viii tell you a
about myself
D Immediately afterwards, Mrs. Wilso
!, returned, looking very cross. Il new,
I did know such a gossiping creature
: that servant next door-always talkir
i to men, too. l don't know, / am sur
;. what her mistress is about to keep he
+ There she is, talking now to son
strange, queer-looking man; and l a
v sure she is talking about US, for l sa
s him point to this house, and then
: said something, and she laughed; 81
e had better not laugh at my house;
e won't put up with her impudence.'
n A strange man pointing to the hous
;, What was there in such commonpla
y circumstance to trouble me? But it di
II went to the window, but he was u
4 visible from there. l went to the doc
Z both he and the servant had disappeare
: came in again and asked what the n.i
% was like.
"Oh, don't know. l never mott
r such people. A foreign-looking fello
= with long hair" she answered. huff1ly.
le