Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1905-02-24

me. She started back, half fearfully,
as I moved; but something in my face
seemed to reassure her, for the next mo-
ment she again advanced. I brushed
away my tears, rose to my feet and look
ed at her.
She seemed about twenty; her figure
very slight; a sweet pale, melancholy
face; and light, golden hair, that fell in
natural ringlets down upon her shoul-
ders. While 1 looked, a thrill ran
through me. Was l dreaming had my
troubles affected my brain?. No, it was
she: My eager looks again frightened
her.
II heard you sobbing, and 1 thought
you were ILL.," she said, timidly. ''Is
there anything 1 can do for you? If
not, pray pardon my intrusion"
She drew further away from me as
she spoke. No; could doubt no more.
That soft, musical voice, that had haunt
ed me in my sleep-whose tones had new
er ceased reverberating in my soul, from
the hour in which l had first heard them
was still the same, although the face
and form had grown older.
'Do you not remember me" I cried,
in trembling, eager voice.
She thought was mad, and look of
fear crept over her, but no sign Of rec
ognition.
/ ."Do you not remember Bury st. Ed
| mund' s-the night I met you under the
old gateway-fve years next month";"
At the mention of Bury st. Edmund's
I could see her face quiver. She paused
| for a moment after had finished speak
| ing; then she came close to me and look
ed steadfastly into my face.
Eyes; it is the same" she said, In a
low voice. "How strange that we should
meet again! L have often thought of
you" III MI
81 have never ceased thinking of your
I answered. And 1 could not help my
tone being passionate one.
She did not appear to remark my
manner, but seemed half lost in reverie.
We were now walking away from that
dismal spot; the keepers were clearing
the park.
"Do you know" she said, speaking
suddenly, that 1 thought you were go
ing to throw yourself into the canal, and
that was why l spoke to you? Your
eyes were fixed with such a strange look
upon the water, and you were moaning
SO sadly"
1 shuddered. Already, the thought of
my meditated crime terrified me. The
despair was lifted off my heart in the
last few moments, and life seemed worth
preserving, after all.
; She seemed to read my guilt in my
|, tell-tale looks.
"But for you, I should now be lying
t at the bottom of that canalw I answer.
!. ed, in low tone, and my tears fell fast
They relieved my sudden revulsion o1
! feeling.
"And l have saved you from such 6
: wicked deed! 1t makes me so happy te
think SOL" she murmured. But why die
you wish to drown yourself?" she asked
because my life was so wretched, 81
unendura urable-because l have no friends
, no employment no hopev' I answered
+ mournfully.
'I have no friends" she answered, il
sad voice; "but l have never wished
to destroy myself; it would be SO wick
ed"
, "Oh, I will never think oS it again.!
$ I said, eagerly.
"But if you have no friends and NJ
$ employment, you must want money.
E can spare it; indeed I can. 1 give ava.
good DEAL 1t will please me so mucl
1 if you take it.
e This was said in such simple plead
Y ing tone, SO unconscious of offense, tina
I it could not have mortified the most sen
d sitiye delicacy. But could not accept
t ssPlease not to ask me; l cannot tax
g it, I said.
We walked on until we came to
d street of small pretty houses.
= 81 live there" she said, pointing t
i one which appeared to have been re
: Gently built 81 am late tonight; Mrs
r Wilson will wonder where I am
: SIS she your sister," I asked, has
t. arding a guess.
e "Oh, no-my landlady. AS I told yo1
It I have no friends"
e "How very remarkable the coincidene
has been!' 1 said, after an awkwar
pause "Do you remember when frs
we metz"
it "You must not talk of that, please,
r; she interrupted, hastily, with a shut
,e der; ''nor set me thinking of that tim
to OF shall see them all night in my sleel
IL But l must wish you good night"
ir 'And shall I not see you again?"
% said, mournfully.
l "You shall come and see me, if ye
le like" she said, innocently; but adde
ir next moment, in a doubtful tone, 81 {
le not know what Mrs. Wilson will So
Id about it. Perhaps it is wrong. 81
,e knows all these things SO much bett
I'd than I do"
n Ny countenance fell, and she obser
or ed it, for she went on in a compassio
r, ate tone: "But it is SO hard to have j
a friend-no one to speak to, and no er
I'd ployment! l am SO much better off thu
ut you! have good, kind friend to ia
III to, and to be good to me, in Mrs. w
ne son; and then 1 have plenty of wor
IN You shall come and see me, and I'll co,
a her to be good to you."
he 1t was now quite dark. I could ha
he fingered there all night listening to b
". voice, gazing upon her face But s
ad held out her hand. I pressed it, Al
we parted.
he But could not quit the street. Ii
g; gered about long time, until lights
he gan to appear in the bedrooms Of t
ch houses. arrived at Rackstraw's bui
it, ings a little before eleven. Martha W
VII quite uneasy. for I had never befo
,b- been later than 10 o'clock. I told
by that I had lost my way.
"Why, you don't mean to say you
rs. been wandering about ever since? Whe