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

MT montgomery QlQ not eVluCe at
the news the pleasure or the excitement
that l expected; but a quiet smile of
malignant satisfaction stole over his
face. He merely remarked. "Then the
Rev. Mr.. Porter will have visitor next
Sunday that he little expects. Let me
see," unused the Professor. BURY St
Edmund's. 1 can take the early train
on Sunday morning, and get back at
night I shall have plenty of time to
do my business, and his, too"
what do you mean to do?" asked
Josiah.
"Never you mind; l will tell you all
about it when l get back"
"Oh, what jolly revenge it will be.
for all he made us suffer, to bowl the
old hypocrite ont SO clean" cried Josiah,
gleefully. "You can give mine and
Silas' compliments"
mo, no; for heavens sake, do not
mention my name in any way!' [ ex-
claimed excitedly.
"Why not?' asked Mr.. Montgomery,
turning sharply round and casting upon
me one Of his old scrutinizing glances.S
"Because-because- l could not
give a reason. "Oh, please to promise
that you will not speak of me!' 1 plead
ed.
He did promise. But, somehow. put
very little faith in his keeping his word.
when I was at old Browns, the
printers" said Josiah, 81 heard "A good
many things about our reverend pastor,
who was not in very good odor. except
among his own sect, In spite of his sane
timoniousness. When he first came into
the town, he was an open air preacher,
with no chapel or congregation; but he
managed to ingratiate himself into the
good graces Of a bevy Of old women;
and upon the death Of the minister Of
Little Bethlehem, which happened about
the same time, the elders or deacons, or
whatever they call themselves, of the
chapel got him appointed. So he set
himself up as a converted cobbler; and,
as converted reprobates Of all kinds were
the rage just then, he dropped into tidy
thing"
While we were yet talking, old Mr..
Jennings came downstairs to go to his
mornings work. We had sat up the
whole night. 1t was just 5 o'clock
Spite of my new anxieties, l fell asleep
the moment my head touched the pillow
and woke about FIVE hours afterwards
Martha had good laugh at my misera
BILE looks when I went in to breakfast
Neither Mr.. Montgomery nor Josiah ap
peared until much later. They took &
newspaper between them and discussed
it over their breakfast. While 'the Fro
fessor" was languidly scanning the ad
vertisement sheet, he suddenly uttered
an exclamation of surprise, and reat
something with keen attention.
Just cast your eye over that" hi
said, handing me the sheet, and pointing
with his finger to particular advertise
ment. With the utmost dismay, | reat
the following:
"Absconded, from Tabernacle House
near Bury st. Edmund, young man
nineteen years Of age, about five fee
nine in height, slightly built, long, darl
hair and dark eyes. small features, yer.
pale complexion. Whoever will send in
formation that will lead to the appre
hension of the same to the Rev. Nj
Porter shall be handsomely rewarded
N. B.-Should this meet his eve. no ful
ther proceedings will be taken agains
him il he at once returns; but shcul
he be apprehended, he will be proceeds
against on grave charge. The polio
are on his track"
The newspaper dropped from my han
and / thought I should have tainted
Martha was obliged to bathe my fac
with cold water to recover me. Thi
little scene was not lost to the shar
eyes of Mr.. Montgomery. / saw hiI
quietly noting it, but he made no re
mark. Josiah began to hector, and bcas
what he would do if he were in m
place.
was to see Clara in the afternoon
and, for the first time, I felt 10th t
meet her. That advertisement reused u
train of painful thoughts. What wa
l doing feeding a mad love for OF
woman, while another could claim m
as her husbandi How could 1t all en-,
but in misery? If Clara should lear
to love me, and then discover all, whs
a monster she would think me.
In the face of such impending dal
ger, but one course was open to me:
see her for the last time, bid her adie
and then fly from her forever. Yes.
would do it, if my heart broke in the e
fort. I called in at Martha's as pass,
by for something l had left there. M
Montgomery proposed to bear me COZ
pany as fan as our roads lay together.
.Don't you make yourself unea
about that advertisement" he said,
we walked along. "It is half gas; G
pecially that part about the police. I
must set some value upon you to NAL
this fuss There's something more
this than you know of, or choose to tell
he added, with sharp look. 81 kno
Bill Stokes so well; heNwouldn't take
this trouble without some very go
reason. But, as 1 said before dol
frighten yourself. 1t is more than lii
iy, before this day week. that he may
advertised for as 'absconded.'
Had / looked through the newspap
that morning, should have seen t,
other advertisements that concerned I
equally with the one did read. o
ran thus:
IF the young man named s.
c., who left T. House, ne
b st. E., on the 31st of Augr
last, will communicate with Messrs. F
n nufck sa1icifnrS Grov,o Trp