The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-01-23

lily tree, and-stup, let me see-running
back, as I live. through more genera
tions than | supposed any man In the
state could count but myself Who'd
have thought that dried up'old lawyer
bad SO much blood iii hin:"
mot I certainly, acquiesced Will
lard.
And see, here's the name of Baker
My maternal great-grandmother's mai.
den name was Baker BY Jove, l
shouldn't wonder if we found ourselves
related yeti"
Nor | either. " said Willard drily,
Miss Stiles-is she very handsome2'
inquired the old gentleman.
"Passably. " answered the young hyp-
ocrite.
Then it occurred to the captain to
lecture his grandson Oh the impropri-
ETY. of not having returned the paper to
Nj. Stiles at once. The young man
defended himself with a fib, which the
reader may pardon il he likes He said
the paper had dropped ont of . book he
brought home to read, and of course he
would hand it to Mr.. Stiles the first
thing in the morning.
Next day Willard was sitting in Mr.
Stiles office fumbling over a lawbook
and thinking of Mary when his grand
fathers gig drove mp Willard wished
in his heart it had broken down by the
way. The thing he most dreaded was
the two old gentlemen getting together
and coming to explanations at present.
''Is Mr.. Stiles imp inquired the cap
tain. . a. i
"Yes, sir, " answered the Office boy,
ushering the visitor into the back Office
before Willard had time to tell the lie
he had framed or tip the boy the wink.
Good morning, Mr.. Stiles. " said the
captain blandly.
Good morning, captain, /" returned
the lawyer a little stifiy. Pray be
seated"
The captain excused the stiffness. A
man with a dozen generations at his
back had a right to be stiff.
al come to speak to you ON O matter
Of Importance, " said the captain, taking
the proffered seat. "
The lawyers face frightened at the
prospect of securing a valuable client.
my maternal great-grandmother."
the captain proceeded, WAS q Baker,
and your grandfather
Twas a shoemaker, - the other was
on the point of interrupting. for he
knew the captains hobby and had little
patience with it.
But before the word was spoken,
which would doubtless have led to
the explanation Willard so much fear
ed. q cry of alarm broke of the CONVEX
sation. The two gentlemen reached the
front door in time to see the captains
horse and gig dashing down the street
at a pace that astonished all beholders.
For the first time in 90 years old Roan's
blood was up, and as he tore along in a
gait compounded of equal parts of canter
and stringhalt it was hard TO tell which
ratified most, the dry bones of the horse
or the rickety old gig. The question of
which would go to pieces first was speed
lily settled by one of the hubs striking a
post, which in an instant reduced the
vehicle to its original elements and
brought old Roam up standing. his com
posure completely restored, the crackers
having ceased to pop.
"Who on earth did it?'' reared the
captain.
Willard didn't know unless il was q
sandy haired boy he had just seen dodge
round the corner, with q face too dirty
to be recognized.
What with the excitement and the
gathering up Of the fragments and the
arrangements necessary to get the cap
tain and old Roam home, the object of
the formers visit was for the time for
gotten. Before he found an opportunity
to renew it, a severe attack of govt laid
him up for a season. Meanwhile Will
lard pressed his suit. Mr.. Stiles gave
his consent. Mary's had already been
obtained, and the family tree had
settled all scruples with the captain,
whose only regret was at not being able
to attend the wedding. Whether he ever
found out the true state Of the case is
more than we can tell. If he did, he
said nothing, for Mary's loving grand
daughterly ways soon completely won
his proud old heart, and when little
Observation-Disclosures began to prattle
about his knees it wouldn't have made
much difference what he found out -
Exchange.