Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1895-01-17

fly tree, and-stop, let me see-runnine
back, as 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
had so much blood in him?"
mot / certainly" acquiesced Will
lard.
"And see, here's the name Of Baker.
My maternal great grandmother mai
den name was Baker. By Jove, /
shouldn't wonder if we found ourselves
related yetl''
Nor either, said Willard drily.
Miss Stiles-is she very handsome?"
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. Tho young man
defended himself with a fib, which the
reader may pardon if he likes. He said
the paper had dropped out 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 lawbook
and thinking of Mary when his grand
fathers gig drove up. 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 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 the boy the wink.
Good morning, Mr.. Stiles, " said the
captain blandly.
GOOD morning, captain, " returned
the lawyer little stifay Pray be
seated" :"
The captain excused the stiffness. A
man with dozen generations at his
back had right to be stiff.
II come to speak to you on a matter
of Importance, said the captain, taking
the proffered seat.
The lawyers face frightened at the
prospect of securing valuable client.
My maternal great grandmother. "
the captain proceeded, was Baker,
and your grandfather"-
"Was a shoemaker, the other was
on the point Of interruptipg, 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, cry of alarm broke off the conver-
sation. The two gentlemen reached the
front door in time to see the captain S
horse and gig dashing down the street
at pace that astonished all beholders.
For the first time in 90 years old Roam 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 reducad 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?" roared the
captain.
Willard didn't know unless it was q
sandy haired boy be had just seen dodge
round the corner, with 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. severe attack Of gout laid
him up for 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, be
said nothing, for Mary's loving grand
daughterly ways soon completely won
his proud old heart, and when little
great grandchildren began to prattle
about his knees it Wouldn't have made
much difference what he found out -
Exchange