Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1899-09-29
The lady gave him a smile, and an:

here. Are there any conveyances to
be hired at this place, do you know"
81 do not, indeed" returned Jack,
astonished. "But l come from Wood
side myself. l, too, expected to meet
lady who has not arrved-Mrs. Der
mott"
The lady smiled again, and said,
brightly:
ooh, then we are all right! l am
Mrs. Captain Dermott, and you must
be the friend Sam wrote they were ex-
pecting from the city"
81 am Sans friend, certainly, but
but-there is some mistake" stammer-
ed Jack. "I-I came to meet Sans
grandmother, very old lady"
A merry little laugh was his answer.
81 think there is no mistake, Mr."
Cameron" Jack barely had sense to
supply.
THANK you, Mr.. Cameron; then I be-
lieve it is all right! l am Sans grand
mother, though perhaps not so old as
might have been expected. Did you
ever know that Captain Dermott was
married only two years before his
death? And l was not sorry, even If
he was an old man, for he was so good
to me-" she added, honestly, regret
full look coming over her sweet face.
Jack made out to stammer again:
'I-I never heard. did not-I was
not-oh, excuse me, miss-madam, !
mean-but am really knocked off my
pins, il you will forgive the slang, with
this surprise. I was prepared for d
white-haired, feeble old lady, who
would need help in getting off the
train. but not-not this, you see!'
Another merry laugh from Mrs. Der.
mott.
81 wonder Sam or Mime did not tell
you better. Why did not Sam come
with you"
Had to go over to Cloverton on
somebody's lawsuit. So l took his
place. And really, Mrs. Dermott, I'm
not always such a fool Pardon me,
and tell me where to find your bag
gage. l will see to having it sent out"
"Thank you. There is only one
trunk. Here is the check"
She gave it to him, and he had pres
emily engaged the wagon to bring 1t to
the farm, had put her into the buggy,
and was driving back to Woodside,
for once in his life almost dumb. He
simply could not talk, he was so pro-
voked at himself for making so great
Ounce of himself, and at Sam, whom
he saw had played a clever trick on
him.
Il know now what he laughed at this
morning" he thought, savagely. "Oh,
but I'll get even with him for this, If
| have to be his grandfather to do itv
When they stopped at the door Mime
came running out to meet them.
You found her, did you"
"Yes, 1 did, and l made a big fool of
myself, Miss Mime, and 1 believe you
and Sam planned it all, too"'
Then they all three broke into a
laugh, and when Mrs. Dermott, after
she had kissed Mime, held out her
white hand and said, pleasantly, "But
you mustn't be angry with me, Mr..
Cameron, for l was as innocent as
yourself. Shall we be friendsY" he
could do nothing but extend his own
and say, humbly:
1T shall not be my fault If we are
anything else, l don't care whose
grandmother you arev'
But when he was alone with Sam
that night, didn't Sam catch 1t?
Il declare, never thought but what
you knew" he said, when Jack would
let him speak at all. Grandfather
Dermott married young girl few
years before he died, and of course by
law she Is our grandmother"
"She don't look like girl who would
make that kind of marriage" said
Jack, thoughtfully.
1T was not that kind of q maria ge'
as you mean 1t. Grandfather was
alone, and needed woman's care and
love. Cora gave 1t because she pitied
him, much more than because she
knew he would leave her a fortune
when he died. She's lovely woman,
and might have made several good
matches since grandfather went, but
she wouldn't listen to them. Jack. she'd
suit you to a dot"
Perhaps l wouldn't suit her. though.
Sam, when you saw l did not know
this morning, why didn't you tell me? ~
well, then, must confess it struck
me to carry out the joke, and let you
find out for yourself, so stopped Mime
when she was going to tell. Don't be
mad, old fellow"
IL won't promise; 1t depends. I'll
tell you what will do, If she don't say