Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1898-01-14

| lOC OF them sent down to the farm i'll
the spring" He threw away the fra
grant white flower from his buttonhole
and put the rose in its place. The spell
was broken-the farm had done it,
Miss Carruth thought, bitterly, and
they walked back to the drawing-room.
Spring came, summer passed, and the
Flint Valley hunts were once more
caleIidared. Elliott sent Black Besa
down to the farm and he followed by
train one October night when 1t was
just chilly enough for small blaze IN
the big fireplace. 1t was his visit to
his own farm.
The hunt was at o'clock, with the
hunt breakfast four miles away, and
as Elliott rode Black Bess through the
lane he noticed how beautifully the
lawns were kept. A few chrysanthe-
NUNS were beginning to show their
colors, and bed of pink and white cos
until touched by frost, faunted fairy
faces at him in the sharp wind.
Il will come down here and stay all
next SUMNER" Elliott said to himself,
as Black Bess took the front gate and
dashed away toward the Laurels.
Again Miss Carruth was the leader
of the chase, and again Elliott rode by
her side on the slow return.
"Iou are coming to luncheon with
u.s." she said, as they paced along the
willow road.
YES" and he looked at his watch.
1--WE are early. viii you stop at the
farm and meet Cousin Margaret. I'd
like you to see the place."
The girl was pleased that he wanted
to show her his farm. They entered
the house unannounced, and as they
passed through the wide old hall they
heard some one singing low, quaint
old air to the music of the piano. They
paused at the door of the parlor. A
young girl was seated at the piano, her
back toward them. She was singing a
song which Elliott had heard a we'll
known Irish tenor sing many times:
Give me word of love, Douglas Cor
don,
Just word of pity, Oh, my love-" said
she,
For the bells will ring tomorrow, Doug
las Gordon,
My wedding bells, my love, but not for
you and me-"
Miss Carruth's eyes grew tender as
she listened to the words. She looked
Mt Elliott. He touched her arm and
they walked softly through the hall to
the room beyond, where Cousin Marga-
ret was busy.
You have company, Cousin Marga-
ret Elliott said, after Introducing
Miss Carruth.
Cousin Margaret flushed. "You don't
mind, do you? You see, the piano be-
longed to her and they had to sell it
with all the other things. She's such a
sweet girl. l told her TO come in and
use the piano whenever she liked. 1t
Will keep it in tune, you know"
Cousin Margarets explanation was
not very lucid, but Elliott understood
that the girl was the daughter of the
man who had owned the farm. While
they were still speaking they heard the
hall door close and the girl crossed the
lawn. Miss Carruth, standing by the
window, looked after her, and with the
quick intuition some women have SHE
felt that this girl was to have some
influence over Elliott's life.
Elliott was to remain at the farm fol
the entire hunting season, and now anC
then he caught glimpse of the girl
but she did not come to the house agail
when he was likely to be home. On,
day, however, Black Bess went lam,
and he returned from the first ditch
He heard the sound of the piano as h,
crossed the lawn, and just as he reach
ed the door 1t opened and the girl stoo,
before him.
Although he had not seen her fac
he had known she was beautiful, an,
when she blushed her face was lik
some sweet, delicate flower.
Excuse me-" she said. II didn'
[ know"
: Elliott smiled. You are Mis-
e Thompson. Cousin Margaret told m
+ you came in to awaken the echoe
sometimes. l am glad you do" HI
l. tone was so pleasant that the gil
smiled as she again bowed and passe
e on.