Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1895-04-05


lily tguc, unu-sinp, let aie seo-rutuiing
back, as / live, through more genera.
tions than / supposed any man in tho
state couid count but myself Who'd
have Thought that dried up old lawyer
had so much blood in himf'
mot l certainly, acquiesced Will
lard.
"And see, here's tho name OF Baker.
My maternal great-grandmother's mai
den name was Baker. BY Jove, |
shouldn't wonder IL we found ourselves
related YETI
''Nor l either. " said Willard drily.
"Miss Stiles-is she very handsomeg'
inquired the old gentleman.
"Passably, +" answered the young hyp-
ocrite
Then it occurred to the captain to
lecture his grandson on the impropri-
ETY. Of not having returned the paper to
Mr.. Stiles at once. The young man
defended himself with a fb, which the
reader may pardon if he likes. He said
the paper had dropped u Of a book he
brought home 20 read, and Of course ho
would hand it to Mr.. Stiles tho first
thing ia the morning.
Next day Willard was sitting in Mr..
! Stiles office fumbling over a lawbook
aud thinking Of Mary whom his grand
fathers gig drove up Willard wished
in his heart il had broken down by the
way. The thing he most dreaded was
the two old gentlemen getting together
and coming to explanations at present
us Mr.. Stiles in?" inquired the cap
tain.
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 tho boy the wink.
GOOD morning, Mr.. Stiles, said the
captain blandly.
Good morning, captain, 3" returned
the lawyer q little stifiy. Pray DO
seated"
The captain excused the stiffness. A
man with a dozen generations at his
back had q right to DO stiff.
Il come to speak to you ON a matter
Of importance, " said the captain, taking
the proffered scat.
Tho lawyers face frightened at the
prospect Of securing \ valuable client.
MY maternal great.grandmother,"
the captain proceeded, was q Baker,
and your grandfather"-
"Was n shoemaker. " the other was
on she point Of ~intcrruptine, for he
know the captains hobby and had litsle
patience with it.
But before the word was spoken
which would doubtless have led %
the explanation Willard 50 much fear.
ed, q CRY Of alarm broke OF the oonver-
sation. The two gentlemen reached the
front door in time 20 SEQ the captain
horse and gig dashing down the street
ut a pace that astOnished all beholders
For the first timo in 20 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 riokety old gig. The question of
which would so 70 piecss first wa speed
lily settled by one of the hubs striking q
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 is?" roared the
captain.
Willard didn't know unless it was q
sandy haired boy he had just seen dodge
round the corner, with q face too dirty
to DO 2~scognized.
What with the excitement and tn
gathering up Of the fragments and tn
arrangements necessary to get the cap
tain aud old Roam home, the object OF
the formers visit was for the time for.
gotten. Before he found an opportunity
to renew it, o severe attack of govt lait
him up for q season. Meanwhile Will.
lard pressed his suit. Mr.. Stiles gave
his consent. Mary's had already beer
obtained, and the family tree" had
settled all scruples with the captain.
whose only regret wal at not being ablt
to attend the wedding. Whether he evel
found out the true state Of the case il
moro than we can tell. II no did, h'
said nothing, for Mary's loving grand
daughterly ways soon completely woI
his proud old heart, and when littll
great-graudchildren began to prattlI
about his knees it wouldn't have mad
much difference what he found ont. -
Exchange.