Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1897-06-10

- dinner Is being Kept waiting nad
settled on the three members of the
Wilkins family assembled before the
drawing room fire. Mrs. wilkins looked
continually from the work on her lap
to the clock on the mantelpiece with
an expression which would have been
more amiable If it had been less con-
trOlled Miss wilkins affected to be
reading a book, but the constant tap
ping of her foot on the carpet showed
that her thoughts were not following
her eyes. Miss Gertie wilkins had less
cOnstlaint She moved restlessly from
the clock to the window, and back
again from the window to the clock
with discomfort in her face and grumh-
ling in her voice At last she broke
out:
''If | were engaged, I'd teach him to
be punctual. Dicks always late"
Her sister did not answer She was
meditating the best manner of exc
cutting judgment on the offender and
had just decided on a course of eX-
treme severity when a ring at the bell
relieved the general tension. There he
Is" said Gertie. "I'll give him a piece
of my mind" and she darted out of the
room Mrs. wilkins and her elder
daughter carefully settled their fea
lures into an expression of cold dis,
pleasure, and waited the arrival Of
their visitor They could hear the
sound of voices below at the street
door; but there was no noise as of the
door closing, or of anyone entering the
house. They had almost forgotten
their displeasure in their curiosity.
when Gertie's step was heard bounding
up the stairs again.
"A telegram, | expect" s;sd Miss
wilkins, wit hil-concealed disappoint-
ment.
Really, that would be most annoy
ing now," her mother remarked.
The next moment Gertie rushed into
the room bearing, not Il telegram. but
n large and expensive bouquet of vel
low chrySanthemums. "A boy brought
these for the lady of the house," she
announced; "and he can't say whom
they're from"
What do you mean?" exclaimed both
ladies in breath, their interest di-
vided between Gertie and the remark
red.
Just what ! say. The boy said he
was ordered to leave the flowers at No.
10, for the lady of the house. and he
doesn't know who sent them. Aren't
they nice"
What curious thng" said Miss
Wilkins.
What beautiful fiowerSw said her
mother. They must have cost at least
10 shlllings. Who can have sent
them?"
why, can't you guess?" Gertic in
quired. ITS as plain as A BIC. Who
could have sent them but Dick? It's n
peace Offering for being late, of
course"
The idea Instantly found favor.
on course, it's Dick" said Miss VIII
kinS.
"Of course II is" said Mrs. wilkins
What very kind thought! But he
should not have spent so much money.
No doubt he had to 80 out of his way
10 get them, and that made him late.
He could not get such flowers every
where. But why send them anony-
mously? Why not bring them with
him."
"Oh, ! suppose he thought 1t would
be fun to make us guess" said Miss
wilkins. You see. he sent the flowers
on first so that our curiosity about the
giyer would be al its height when he
arrived"
AS II to confirm the theory, there was
at that moment ring at the bell. and
Gertie, from the window, announced
that the long-eXpected guest was AT the
door
at would show our appreciation of
the gift," said Mrs. wilkins. If we put
the flowers on the dining table. You
arrange them. Gwenne. dear. will YOU
Will receive Richard. And. Gertie
up dinner"
Immediately afterwards Richard
Johnston entered Mrs. wilkins draw
ing-room with much misglving in his
heart and profusion Of apologies OF
his lips. He knew that he was nearl,
twenty minutes late, and that unpunc
tualtty was one of the most serious o.
offenses In the eyes Of his betrothed
What was his surprise to find TIL
mother of his betrothcd all smiles an,
gractousness. His excuses were quit
unneccssary;" there had been no in
convenience; Sin fact, they had hardl,
noticed that he was late, at ALL" II
was al once conducted into the draw
ing-oom, where his reception by Mis-