The- Daily Reporter,
rovoiiecieU v. ¡,<»7 VM,n..î'HTu7i.'iù3 lm’.i ii.iu
of intercourse, and what strong friend­
ships are sometimes formed even in a
D. C. IKE LAND A CO. PUBLISHERS,
single week or fortnight when people
are
shut up together in a rather ♦nely
McMinnville, Or. - - Feb. 15, 1887 country-house.
This was the "state of
things among us all on the morning
when Mr. Sutherland called tue to his
study. Zillah wanted to go likewise.
À
“Not to-day.” he answered her. very
gently and smilingly. "1 have business
to talk over with Miss Pryor.” 1 knew
»
lie said “Miss Pryor” out of respect,
yet it hurt me—1 had been “Cassia”
AN OLD GOVERNESS'S TALE-
with him so many years. Perhaps he
thought I was outgrowing my baby
FOUNDED ON FACT.
name now.)
The business he wished to speak of
was about Zillah’s coming of age next
week, and what was to be done on the
occasion. “Should he, ought he. to give
BY MISS MULOCJÍ.
a ball, a dinner, anything of that sort?
we drove to the lodge
„ gates.
„
An Would Zillah like it?”
English country-house is always fair to
This was a great concession, for in
see; this was very beautiful—Í remem­ old times he always disliked society. I
bered it seven years ago, only that it answered that L did not think such dis­
was autumn, and now spring. Zillah play necessary, but 1 would try to tind
remembered it likewise; sne drew back, out Zillah’s mind.
and I heard her whisper uneasily:
1 did so. It was an inn »cent, girlish
“Now we shall soon see Mr. Suther­ mind, keenly alive to pleasure, and new
land.”
to everything. The consequences were
I did not answer her a word.
natural—the ball must be. A little she
* We rolled up ths avenue under the hesitated when I hinted at her guard­
larra chestnut-trees.. I saw some one ian's neculiarities. and then she offered
maue me aitxy, ror án gién indistinct, cheerfully to renounce her delight. But
except a firm, kind hand holding tne as he, his eyes beaming with a deeper de-
I stepped down, and the words. “Take
still, would not consent. So the
care, my dear Cassia!" It was Mr. light
thing was settled.
Sutherland!
It was a very brilliant affair, for Mr.
He scarcely observed Zillah, till in the
spared no expense, He
hall I introduced her to him. He Sutherland
to show a restless eagerness in
seemed surprised, startled, pleated. seemed
providing for his yotuig favorite every­
Talking of her io me khat eveniag, he thing
she could desire. Nay, in answer
said, he had not thought she would to her wayward entreaties, he even con­
have grown up thus; and I aokiced him sented to open the ball with her. though
look at her at times with a pensive saying “ he was sure he should make
kindness. Mrs. Sutherland whispered an old simpleton of himself.” That was
tome that the lady he had been engaged not likely!
to was a half-caste like Zillah, which
I watched them walk down the room
accounted for it. His mother's prophe­ together, and heard may people say
cy had been right; he had eome back as with a smile what a handsome pair
he went out—unmarried.
they were, notwithstanding the consid­
When Zillah went to bed she was full erable difference of age.
■of admiration for her guardian. He
It was a very quiet evening to me.
was so tall, so stately. Then his thick, Being strange to almost everyone there.
curling fair hair—just like a young I sat near old Mrs. Sutherland in a cor­
man’s, with scarcely a shadow of gray. ner. Mr. Sutherland asked me to dance
She would not believe that he was over once, but I did not feel strong, and in­
forty—ten years older than myself—un­ deed for the last few years I had almost
til by some pertinacity I had impressed given up dancing. He laughed, and
this fact upon her. And then she said said merrily: “It was not fair for him
it did not signify, as 31ie liked such to be beginning life just when I ended
“dear old souls” as him and me much it.” A true word spoken in a jest!
better than any young people. Her But I only smiled.
fervor of admiration made me smile,
The ball produced results not unlike­
but after this night I observed that the ly, when one considered that it was
expression of it gradually ceased.
meant for the introduction into society
Though I was not so demonstrative of a young woman, handsome, attract­
as Zillah, it will not be supposed but ive, and an heiress. A week or two af­
that I was truly glad to see my old ter Zillah’s birthday Mr. Sutherland
friend, Mr. Sutherland. He was very called me once more into his study.
kind, talked to me long of past things,
1 noticed he looked rather paler and
and as he cast a glance on my black less composed than usual, lie forgot
dress, I saw his lips quiver; he took my even to ask me to sit down, and we
hand and pressed it like a brother. God stood together by the tire-place, which 1
bless him ror that!
remember was filled with a great vase
But one thing struck me—a thing I < of lilacs that Zillah had insisted on plac­
I
had not calculated on—the alteration ing there. It filled the room with a
seven years had made in us both. When strong.-rich scent, which now I never
he took me down to dinner, I accident­ I I perceive without its bringing back to
ally caught sight of our two figures in my mind that room and that day.
the large pier-glass. Age tells so differ­
He said: “I have had a letter to-day
ently on man and woman; I remember on which I wish to consult with you be­
the time when he was a grown man, and fore showing it to Miss Le Poer.” (I
I a mere girl; now he looked a stately was rather startled by the formal
gentleman in the prime of life, and I a words, since he usually called her “Zil­
middle-aged, old-maidish woman. Per­ lah” as was natural.)
haps something more than years had
“It is a letter—scarcely surprising-
done this; yet it was quite natural, only in fact to be expected after what I no­
I had never thought of it before.
ticed at the dinner-party yesterday; in
So, when the first meeting was over, fact---- But you had better read it your­
with the excitement, pleasurable or self.”
otherwise, which as a matter of course
He took the-letter from his desk and
it brought to us all—when we had sev­ gave it to me. It was an earnest and
erally bidden each other good-night, apparently sincere application for the
and Mr. Sutherland had said smilingly hand of his ward. Tne suitor, the lion.
that he was glad it was onlygood-nignt, Henry French, was of good family and
not good-bye—when the whole house moderate prospects. I had noticed he
was quiet and asleep—to use the psalm­ was very attentive to Zillah at the ball,
ist’s solemn words, “At night on my and on some occasions since; still I was
bed I communed with my own heart in a good deal surprised, more so even than
chamber and wm still.”
was Mr. Sutherland, who had evidently
“Cassia. 1 want to speak to you par­ watched her far closer than I. I gave
ticularly,” said Mr. Sutherland to me him back the letter in silence, and
one morning, as after breakfast ne was avoided looking at his face.
about to go into his study. Zillah
“Well, Cassia,” he said after a pause,
placed herself in the doorway with the and with an appearance of gavety.
pretty obstinacy, half womanish, half "what is to bo done? You women ard
girlish, that she sometimes used with the best counselors in tnese matters.”
her guardian—much to my surprise.
I smiled, but both he and I very soon
Zillah was on excellent terms with him. became grave once more.
considering their brief acquaintance of
“It is a thing to be expected,” con­
three weeks. In that time she had tinued he in a voice rather formal and
treated him as I in my whole life-time hard. “With Zillah’s personal attrac­
had never ventured to do—willfully, tions and large fortune she was sure to
jestingly, even crossly, yet he seemed receive many offers. Still it is early to
to like tt. They were very social and begin these affairs.”
merry, for his disposition had apparent­
I reminded him that she was twenty*
ly grown more cheerful as he advanced one.
in life. Their relation was scarcely
“True, true. She might, under other
like guardian and ward, butthat of per­ circumstances, have been married long
fect equality—pleasant and confidential, before this. Do you think that she
which somewhat surprised. m*^nntil I
THE HALF-CASTE.
I suppose he was going to ask me
The rare and “beautiful snow"
whether I thought she was likely to ac­
cept Mr. French, or had hitherto formed fell in San Francisco the other
any attachment. But probably delica­
cy withheld him. for he suddenly day. An earthquake, or a big
stopi»ed and omitted the question. tire or a chicken tight, could not
Soon he went on in the same steady
have excited more interest.
tone:
“I think Zillah ought to be made ac­
quainted with this circumstance. Mr.
NEW TO-DAY.
French states that this letter to me it
the first confession of his feelings.
JOHN J. SAX.
That was honorable on his »art. He is
a gentleman ot good standing, though
Has his
far her inferior in fortune. People
might say that he wanted her property
to patch up the decayed estates at
Weston-Brook.”
This was spoken bitterly, very bitter­
ly for a man of such kind nature as
Andrew Sutherland, lie seemed con­
—AND—
scious of it and added: “I may wrong
him, and if so I regret it. But do you Will chop Feed for $2 per ton
not think. Cassia, that of all things it
or one-tenth toll.
must be most despicable, most mean,
most galling to a man of any pride or
---------(o)---------
honest feeling, the thought of the
Farmers
and
others having grain to chop
world's saying that he married his wife
come to my mill, and attend to any
for money, as a prop to his falling for­ oan
business in the city to better advantage than
tunes, or a shield to his crumbling hon­ driving two miles out of town to get their
or? I would die a thousand deaths chopping done.
JOHN J. SAX.
McMinnville, Or.
first.”
In the passion of the moment the red
color rusned violently to his cheek, and
then he became more pallid than ever.
I watched him; my eyes were opened
now. I held fast by the marble chim­
ney-piece, so that I could stand quite
upright, firm and quiet. He walked
hurriedly to the winnow, and flung it
McMinnville, Oregon.
open, saying the scent of the lilacs was
F. Multner, Prop.
too strong. When he came back, we
were both ready to talk again. I be­
(Late of the St. Charles.)
lieve I spoke first—to save him the pain
of doing so.
This Hotel han just been retitted and new­
“I have no idea,” said I, and I said ly refurnished throughout, and will be kept
truly, “what answer Zillah will give to m a first class style.
this letter. Hitherto I have known all The table is supplied with nil the piarket
her feelings, and am confident that affords, and guests can rely upon good olean
while she stayed with me her heart was beds, and oonifortable rooms.
Speoinl aooomodntiona for commercial
untouched.”
Here I waited for him to speak, but travelers.
he did not. 1 went on:
“Mr. French is very agreeable, and
SEVENTH ANNUAL
she seems to like him; but a girl’s
heart, if of any value at all, is rarely
won in three meetings. 1 think, how­
ever, that Zillah ought to be made ac­
quainted with this letter. Will you tell
her, or shall I?”
“Go you and do it—a woman can best
deal with a woman in these cases.
And,” he added, rising slowly and look­
ing down upon me with that grave and
self-possessed smile which was likewise
as sweet as any woman’s, “tell Zillah
from me, that though I wish her to
marry in her own rank and with near
equality of fortune, to save her from all
those dangers of mercenary offers to
which an heiress is so cruelly exposed,
still, both now and at all times. I leave
her to the dictates of her own affections
and her happiness will ever be my ehief
consideration in life.”
He spoke with formal serenity until
the latter words, when his voice faltered
a little. Then he led me to the door Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday,
and 1 went out.
¿.man lay on a sofa reading a love-
February 22d, 23d and 24th,
story. Iler crisp black hair was tossed
1887,
about the crimson cushions, and her
whole figure was that of rich Eastern
luxuriance. She had always rather a
LIST OF PRIZES.
fantastic way of dress, and now she
looked almost like a princess out of the
There will be prizes Riven on the following
Arabian N ights. Even though her skin named exhibits:
1st end 2d prize for beet and 2d beet ex­
was that of half-caste, and her little
hands were not white but brown, there hibit of Keneington painting.
let mid 2d prize, for beet and 2d best ex­
was no denying that she was a very
of Keneington eiubroideiw.
beautiful woman. I felt it—saw it— hibit
let
mid
2d prize, for beet mid 2d beet ex­
knew it!
hibit of outline work by n child under 14
After a minute's pause I went to her yeare
of age.
side; she jumped up and kissed
Igt nnd 2d beet, for beet and 2d beat ex­
she was rather fond of doing. I half hibit of work of any kind by a boy under 14
shrank back—her kisses were very pain­ yeare of age.
ful to me just then. I came as quickly . let and 2d prize, for beet and 2d beet ex*
as possible to my errand, and gave her hibit of qrayort work.
The're will‘also'be a prize given for the
the letter to read.
As she glanced through it her cheeks heaviest, lightest and prettiest baby under 1
flushed and her lips began to curl. She year of age.
Following is a list of prizes offered: For the
threw the letter on my lap, and said ab­ prettiest
baby, gold neoklaoe; lighteet and
ruptly, “Well, and what of that?”
heaviest
baby
under one year of age, eaob a
I began a few necessary explanations. gold ring; outline
work by a ohild under
Zillah stopped me—
fourteen years, first prise, ear rings, second
“Oh, I heard something of the sort prize, serap book; Kensington embroidery,
from Mr. French last night. I did not □rat prize, napkin ring, seoond prize, box
believe him, nor do I now. He is only writing paper; kensington painting, first
making a jest of me.”
prize, manicure set, seoond prize, braoket:.
I answered that this was impossible. crayon work, first prize, paper holder, seoond
In my own mind I was surprised at Zil­ Cze, pitcher: boy’s work, first prize, paper
Ider, seoond prize, inkstand.
lah’s having known the matter before,
and having kept it so quietly. Mr. Parade of Firemen Tuesday ai*
French’s statement about his honorable
tern oan.
reticence toward the lady of his devo­
tions must have been untrue. Still this Doors will be open at 7 o’clock,
was not so remarkable as Zillah’s own
p. m. dally, daring the
MCEBGXjjJxMitlifiL haviuir a lover.
Fair.
To be Continued.
—All arc invited to Attend—
Feed. Chopping Mill
In Running Order,
The Central Hotel,
Dining Station of the 0. C. R. R.
Garrison Opera House,
11.50 in advance! for the Reporter for
1887, means just what it wye—or idva « cb .
Not a month after the beginning.
Admission 25 Cents.
By Order of
CoMMim.