The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1888-12-14

frames of the houses seemed sprouting
with holly and "thc ivy green" and no
doubt but mistletoe hung, kiss provok-
ing, within.
her cottage an anagrnm of her name, as
Il was holly deeked everywhere. Nor
was the sacred bough forgotten-"on
the young peoples account" she said,
though Lefty and George had long
ceased to want an excuse for n kiss"
George Poynter was waiting the ar
rival of his friend, Chauncey Gibbs. a
glorious fire blazed within the CRATE; the
table was spread to welcome the coming
guest. for whose delectation n faultless
rumpsteak pie was browning in the oven
The train, punctual TO its time, was
heard screaming into the station close
by, and in a few minutes after the two
friends were together.
IL you are hungry II Is tantalizing to
listen TO the particulars of a dinner you
are not 10 share; If you are sated, you
are bored by the recaeitulation of dain-
ties YOU care not To touch, and therefore
we will allow the friends TO take their
meal i'm peace. Neither will we join
their after revel when two or three old
cronies came in and made night of it,
until George and chauncey sought their
beds fairly tired out with jollity.
When breakfast was over the next
morning, and Chauncey found that
George had excused himself from at
tendance at the timber yard, he said:
II am glad you can give the morning
to me, as have some news for you that
may. perhaps, surprise and annoy YOU.
"Indeedr' replied George. "What
is ity'
II would not touch upon il last night.
although | think some immediate action
should be taken 10y you or your friends"
continued Chauncey. looking very ser
ious.
"Pray speak out" said George.
''Oh yes | must do that, for l have
no tact, never had, TO make an unpleas-
ant matter agreeable. Have you heard
from your uncle lately?
''Nes. two days ago-principally ON
Mr.. Bawk's business, replied George.
"Aiy old boy, your uncle never in
tended YOU amy good when he shut you
up in that log house of Bawk's. He put
YOU there for his own selfish purpose and
nothing else"
"Why do you say thatgr asked George.
"He has led you 10 suppose that you
were to be his heir some day, has he
not.'
"He has never said that in direct terms;
but he certainly has limited at such pos
sibility."
Then he's an old scamp. if he don't
deserve harder name, said Chauncey,
humping the table. 1.-TWO days ago he
did his best TO disinherit You. You may
stare. but saw with my own eyes. heard
with my own cars, that old ragamufiin
marry a bouncing woman of thirty"
"Marryl Uncle Silas marryi"
Fast as st. Mary Axe could do Il, TO
a snuffseller's daughter and then
Chauncey, to the establishment Of his
friend, narrated what we already know
of the wedding at which Mr.. Chauncey
had 50 officiorslv assisted.
This Is indeed terrible blow" said
George, IAN unexpected blow"
"Yes; am afraid, knowing the hands
he has fallen into, that he won't have a
will of his own when n few months have
passed." said Chauncey. II found out
how the matter came about. Old Silas
was very i'll, and wouldn't have doctor;
but-a Beadle, / call him-got at him,
and then introduced his daughter as
nurse. They first physicked him nearly
to DEATH and then brought him round
with bottled porter. They told the old
fool they saved his life, and he be
ieved it; and out of gratitude. and the
want of a nurse, he proposed TO Miss
High-dried, and married her.
This hits me harder than you know,
Chauncey-much harder. Poor Lefty
and l can never hope now
Ol1, HOl~enSEa EGRnGa
Keep your uncle's secret, as he will If
he can. marry Lefty, and let Mother
Green storm afterwards"
George shood his head, and then
said:
"Chauncey, you advise that which is
dishonorable."
"AH fair in love, old boy" replied
Chauncey, with n laugh; ''and if | were
YOU. to gain the woman who loves me.
whom l love, I'd kill my uncle"
Great heaven! what do you say? But
| see-you were Joking. No; my course
is perfectly clear so far as Mrs. Green
and Lefty are concerned. ] go to them
at once, and tell what has taken place
Ii am forbidden to continue my visits
by Mrs. Green she shall be obeyed.
Lefty, know, will be always true TO me;
and when can make home for her, l
can claim her with honor.
"Deviiish pretty speech, said Chaun-
cey," and ali right. | have no doubt.
still say, kill old Silas Cheescman, and
get married; or, stay-perhaps-yes--
YOU shall write to him, ow that he's
honeymoon etruck-tell In you want
to follow his example, an. require ten
tho, nd pounds TO do ii.
81 understand this noEcense, Chaun-
cey," replied George, with n sad smile.
Your friendly chaff is well meant; but
lily Ease - NNIN HGElOuS- ANU 30 BOONl-bN
for an hour or two. You win find me
here after that time"
The road to Mrs. Green's cottage never
seemed so long before to George Poynter
| as it did now that he felt his fate. The
happiness, for a time at least, of his dar-
ling Lefty depended upon the interview
he was seeking with her mother. He
was not without some justification for
the misgivings which beset him, as Mrs.
casually limited at what mothers course
should be to prevent q child marrying
into poverty" Indeed, she had once told
him, when Lefty was not present, how
| glad she was when his uncle's recognition
Of him produced such favorable turn in
Georges fortunes, as it had spared them
all the pain which she should have felt it
her duty to have inflicted. Tho crisis
had only been deferred. There were tears
from Mrs. Green-regrets and pity; but
there were were also cold, cruel words,
xx-l,,nh xx-s,x-, ,,,t -, I,n .,salnce