Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1894-03-22

MISS Mallory, young lady visiting
lis, went out for an early walk this
morning and has not returned. 1t is
possible she may have lost her way
among your wheat. Have you seen
anything of herr"
Dawson raised his eyes from his work
and glanced slowly around at his COM
panions as if taking the heavy scene of
the assembly. One or two shook their
heads mechanically, and returned to
their suspended labor. He said coolly:
Nobody here seems to-"
She felt that they were lying. She
was only a woman against five men; she
was only petty domestic tyrant. She
might have been larger one, but she
had all the courage of that possibility.
"Maj. Randolph and my son are
away" she went on, drawing herself
erect. But know that the major will
pay literally if these men will search
the field, besides making it all right
with your employers for the loss of
time"
Dawson uttered single word in a low
voice to the man nearest him, who ap-
parently communicated it to the others.
for the four men stopped unloading and
moved away one after the other, even
the driver joining in the exodus. Mrs.
Randolph smiled sareastically; it was
plain that these people with all their
boasted independence were quite amen
able to pecuniary considerations. Never.
theless, as Dawson remained looking
quietly at her, she saidl
"Then suppose they've concluded to
go and see?"
"No, I've sent them away so that they
couldn't hear"
"Hear WHAT"
"What I've got to say to you"
She looked at him suddenly. Then
she said with disdainful glance around
her: 81 see l am helpless here, and,
thanks to your trickery, alone. Have a
care, sir. l warn You that you will have
to answer to Maj. Randolph for any in
science"
~ reckon you won't tell Maj. Ran
dolph what have to say to you," he re-
turned coolly.
Her lips ', ere nearly grayish hue,
but she said scornfully: "And why not?
Do you know who you are talking tor
The man came lazily forward to the
carryall, carelessly brushed aside the
slack reins, and resting his elbows on
the horses back laid his chin on his
hands as he looked up in the woman's
face.
"Yes, l know who I'm talking to-" he
said coolly. But as the major don't,
reckon you won't tell him."
"Stand away from that horse" she
said, her whole face taking the grayish
color of her lips, but her black eyes
growing smaller and brighter. Hand
ME those reins and let me pass. What
canaille are you to stop mel"
81 thought So" returned the mar
without altering his position. "You
don't know me. You never saw me be-
fore. Well, Pm Jim Dawson, the nephew
Of L'Hommadieu. your old masterr'
She gripped the iron rail of the seat as
If to leap from it, but checked herself
and leaned back with set
smile on her mouth that seemed stamped
there. 1t was remarkable that with that
smile she flung away her old affectation
of superciliousness for an older and
ruder audacity, and that not only the
expression but the type Of her face ap-
peared to have changed.
81 don't say" continued the man
quietly, 'that he didn't marry you before
he died. But you know as we'll as l do
that the laws of his state didn't recog-
nize the marriage of master with his
slave. And you know as well
as l do that even if he had freed you he
change your blood. Why, if
I'd been willing to stay at Avoyelles to
be a niger driver Mke him the planta-
ton of "De Fontages," whose name
you have taken, would have been left ta
me. If you had staid there you might
have been my property instead of your
owning square man like Randolph.
You didn't think of that when you came
here, did you?" he added composedly.