Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1899-06-03

speaker stood in an admiring
attitude before the picture of a young
elrl' While the one questioned answer
ed briefly: my sister,"
20, | say, Paul, that won't do. We
don't put our sisters pictures in
frames like that"
Don't we? Well, l do. o, hang it,
Burt, don't you see that I'm busy. 1
can't work while your tongue is wag-
glng. Get out Of here now, and If you
won't show your face here again to-
day you shall spend the month of July
with me at my home, and then YOU
Shall judge for yourself whether that
frame is too good for my sisters pic
ture," and Paul Reynolds gave his
chum a good-natured push toward the
door,
do you mean that? Hurrah. Why,
that would be worth lifetime Danish
ment-no offense to you, old fellow"
ana Burton Smith mildly expressed his
delight by turning somersaults across
the room, walking back on his hands,
then, bringing his feet to the floor, he
shot upwards and, catching hold Of
bar above his head, he drew himself
up and whirled around the bar with
the proficiency of an acrobat, dropping
to the floor with a shout of overfowing
mirth.
Get out of this, you rattleheadw
And, having him outside, Paul shut the
door in his face, and heard him go
downstairs at breakneck pace which
brought the good old landlady to the
door in alarm, expecting to find some
body at the bottom with broken neck.
"Sakes alive! That Mr.. Smith againw
she exclaimed.
Burton's walk home had a tendency
to quiet his hilarity, but that face was
still before him, and after sitting in
deep thought for an hour he sprang up
with alacrity.
'I'll do it, by Jove! She can't feel
deeply offended anyway, and I'll sign
only part Of my name. Better for the
futures sake to be on the safe side.
There, that'll do, think"
Belle Reynolds stood with an open
letter in her hand, and her eyes fash
ed angrily as she spoke her thoughts
aloud. "Soft-headed idiot! Heard Of
me through d friend, indeed! This
stranger"
Then something like the truth swept
through her mind and her fun-loving
mind reasserted itself, and, going to
her desk, she wrote:
"Mr. Charles Burt-Your most extra
ordinary letter savors strongly Of the
Wedding Bells class, but you forgot to
state whether your motive was for
pleasure, pastime, or with view to
matrimony.' Whatever your object
may be, permit me to say that you are
guilty of gross impertinence. My friend,
Matilda Brindle, would call you sassy.
"Are you aware, sir, of the risk you
incur by asking to correspond with a
spinster of the tender age Of 81? Let
me enlighten you. l will honestly de-
scribe the picture which my mirror re-
fleets, and then, perhaps, you will con-
graduate yourself on having found a
person so frank as myself, My red
dish-yellow hair, already thin on top
hangs in ringlets about my full-sized
ears, my freckled nose is elevated by
nature to a high degree, my teeth are
conspicuous by the absence Of not o
few, and my greenish-gra eyes would
be my one redeeming feature If were
not cross-eyed. am tall and command
ing-most emphatically commanding
NV Joints are too large to allow my
wearing rings, so don't send any.
am n strong-min1ed woman, sir, sc
think well before you further commit
vo,rself. B. R."
When Burton Smith received this
mocking epistle he dove both hands
into his trousers pockets and stood gaz
ing at his feet with most detected air
No acrobatic performances now. o, no
No occasion for them. But as the humol
of the whole affair struck him, he
threw back his head and laughed-he
roared.
",The little mink! Serves me right
though. But how foolish she could
make q fellow feel. Smith, you're al
ASST
The June days passed, the eagerly
anticipated vacation drew near, and a
last Paul Reynolds and Burton Smitl
found themselves in the quaint ole
town of Castone, where they were hap
PLY welcomed.
At first Burton rather stood in aw'
or beautiful Belle Reynolds. Her love