Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1894-06-07
A MODERN NOVEL.
Which Shows In the Present Style the Court
ship of Homer Fort.

dress, and as he leaned forward and caught
glimpse of his face in a mirror he was sur
prised to see that he was pale. But he felt |
it to be the supreme moment of his life-the |
one on which his whole future hung-for |
had he not decided to ask BeatriX that even |
ing to be his wife? He heard the rustic of
kilken skirts and drew quick, involuntary |
breath. But it was Mrs. Hildehart, the |
mother of Beatrix, who entered. She was
q widow and lived alone with her daughter.
"Ah, Mr.. Fort" said the lady, extending
her hand graciously, you are quite desert
ed here, are you not"
mo, not that, Mrs. Hildehart," answered
Homer. 81 found the place deserted and
coonized it and base my claim on priority
of settlement. But encourage immigra-
tion," he added quickly.
The lady smiled as she sank into chair
and looked at the young man.
"Your daughter" continued Homer; "she
is well?"
Quite so and much interested in her
charitable work. We have had very hard
winter, and, alas there are many poor. BY
the way, Mr.. Fort, there is matter on
which wish to speak to you"
Indeed" said the young man as he felt
the color again flying from his face. The
lady sat up on the edge of her chair, ad-
| iusted pair of gold trimmed eyeglasses and
looked at him narrowly.
"Yes, a matter of great Importance. l
have had it in mind some time, and al
though it is an awkward and painful sub
ject it cannot be avoided longer"
Homer faltered an inarticulate reply and
swallowed a lump in his throat.
"You have now, Mr.. Fort, been visiting
my daughter BeatriX for almost a year.
Your calls become more frequent, and they
grow longer. You do not deny this, / fancy,
Mr.. FortI"
Poor Homer shook his head and clung to
the arms of his chair. He could feel his
heart throbbing in his bosom like some
great piece of machinery.
II apprehended that you would not. Be
atrix does not. Mr.. Fort, as you know, !
have been 70 considerable expense durino
the past year in visiting the Worlds fair
and repairing my carriage house. This
added to the notorious stringency of the
times, has seriously reduced my purse
Now, Mr.. Fort, you must know that in sit
ting up here so often and so late with Bea
trix you have burned out a great deal o.
wood during the winter. / do not ask you
Mr.. Fort, to furnish this wood; but, my
dear young sir. must insist on your saw
ing it in the future. You will of cours
comply with my wishes in the matter"
She swept out of the room Homer For
hid his face in his hands.
r How long he sat thus he could not guess
, but he was aroused by a soft touch on hi
head He started up, and with a little or
Beatrix shrank back.
II thought you were asleep, Mr.. Fort,
. she said, blushes jostling one another o
her face AS she stood there in the mello,
D light she seemed more beautiful than evel
and she was known to be the most beaut
full girl in Binghamton.
Q With strong effort Homer spoke.
Y "Do you kow all!" he asked.
"All," she replied, and her eyes sougf
n the floor.
+ What can l sayP Tell me-"
She tapped the toe of her boot impatien
ly on the soft carpet but did not raise h,
eyes.
@Say nothing" she replied, replied, with inteni
earnestness. "Say nothing, but saw wood
n She turned and walked to the sofa, al
n from under it drew large red bucksa'
d with glittering blade and great, jagge
l. savage teeth. She held it up toward d
IL young man.
,t "Saw wood" she repeated.
:, He sank back in his chair and looked
'. her as in a dream.
10 See" she cried, speaking rapidly al
90 controlling herself with an effort as s
reached behind little bronze Barge on t
I'd mantel and took up bacon rind dainti
er between her thumb and finger-"see, 1t W
he grease the bladel ! smuggled it from
If breakfast table this morning in my bomb
"a box" She rubbed the rind up and do,
~ the blade with nervous haste saw woo6
's- she said again. "You know you were C,
'r- ter rush at college year ago, and the ri
ch will help, oh, so muchW
pt Homer Fort, though young was m
of Jf resolution. He rose and drew hims
to up to his full six feet.
,;s ~ am ready" he said slowly, scare
We parting his lips The words came from
very depths of his SOUL
oh He followed her through the kitchen a
into the woodshed. There he found I
CO, of shellbark hickory wood and a sawhor
by Beatrix held the lamp. Then for two ho
he the saw rasped and tore and ripped till
m. cool air of the wood shed was foggy W
,;s. sawdust Sometimes he would stop fo
l., moment, and the girl would apply the
- con rind to the hot and quivering blade.
'so would hiss and sputter, but in a nom
the saw would be leaping like living tn
through a hickory knot. At last 1t pau
for lack of food
as' He stood by the young girl, with his
We flushed.
ETY. "Beatrix," he said softly, but his v,
lei did not falter. my Beatrix, with you
WV my side could saw wood-foreverr'
the She looked up into his face, trust
She happiness deeper than words could
shining from her eyes.
,s AS they went into the house he saw a
iiie ture as in vision stretching away be
Inns him, but through all the years he could
ow- no parting from the woman by his 6
iter The hoarse growl of a cat followed Il
sed. from the wood shed.
drs Tom has found the bacon rind," "
4 30 pered the girl.-New York Tribune.
Not Unreasonable,