Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1900-12-14

stamp of her foot, and he was, as ii
were, stricken dumb.
you are what the world calls a rich
man, Mr.. Deane. You own rows of
houses, piles of bank stock, railroad
shares, bonds and mortgages-who
knows what? My aunt has nothing
support her by copying. Now, if this
case be carried into a court of law, my
poor ailing aunt will be sufferer
you would emerge unscathed and
profiting. You are not a bad man, Mr..
Deane; you have great many noble
qualities, and l like you for them"
She paused an instant and looked in
tently and gravely at Mr.. Deane. The
| color rose to his cheek-it was not dis
agreeable to be told by pretty young
girl that she liked him, on any terms,
yet she had INDUCED In pretty plain
speaking. 81 have heard" she went
on, 'of your doing kind actions when
you were in the humor of it. You can
do them, and you shall in this instance.
You are cross this morning, you know
you are! Hush, no excuse; you are
selfish and irritable and overbearing! If
| We're your mother. and you a little
boy, | should certainly put you in a
corner until you promised to be good"
Mr.. Deane smiled, although he was
getting angry. Olive went on with the
utmost composure.
But as it is, | shall only keep you
here a prisoner until you have behav-
ed. and given me your word not to an
noy my aunt again for rent until she
is able to pay you. Then, and not I'M
til then, will you receive your money.
Do you promise? Yes or no?
81 certainly shall agree to no such
terms" said Mr.. Deane. tartly.
Very well, sir, l can wait"
Miss Mellen deposited the key in the
pocket of her gray dress and sat down
to her copying. Had she been a man
Mr.. Deane would probably have knock
ed her down-as 1t was, she wore an in
visible armor of power in the very fact
that she was a fragile, slight woman.
and she knew it.
Miss Olive" he said, sternly. 'let
us terminate this mummery. Unlock
that door,
"Mr. Deane, 1 will notv'
Il shall shout and alarm the neigh
borhood then, or call a policeman"
VERY well, Mr.. Deane, do so, if YOU
please"
She dipped her pen in the ink and
began on fresh page. Matthew sat
down, puzzled and discounted, and
watched the 0nglashed eyes and faint
ly tinted cheek of his keeper. She was
very pretty-what pity she was so
obstinate.
Miss Oliver
"Sr?"
"The clock has Just struck 12."
81 heard it,"
81 should like to go out to get some
lunch"
81 am sorry that that luxury is out
of your power"
But I'm confounded hungry"
"Are you?'
"And I'm not going to stand this sort
of thing any longer"
"NoY
"How provokingly nonchalant she
was. Mr.. Deane eyed the pocket of
the gray dress greedily and walked I'D
and down the room pettishly.
81 have an appointment at l."
Indeed! What pity you will be
unable to keep it,"
He took another turn across the room
Olive looked up with a smile.
well, are you ready to promiseY"
Hang it, yes! What else can do?"
"You promise?"
81 do, because l can't help myself"
Olive drew the key from her pocket
with softened eyes.
"You have made me very happy, Mr..
Deane. l dare say you think me un-
womanly and unfeminine, but indeed
you do not know to what extremities
we are driven by poverty. Good morn
ing. SIR"
Mr.. Deane sailed forth with a curl
Gus complication of thoughts and emo
tlons struggling through his brain, in
which gray dresses, long-lashed blue
eyes and scarlet ribbons played prom
inent part.
did you get the money. sir?" asked
the clerk, when he walked into the
office.
mind your business, sir" was the
tart response
IL pity her husband" thought Mr..
Deane as he turned the papers over on
his desk. How she will henpeck him.
By the way, wonder who her hus-
band will be?"
The next day he called at the Widow
Clarkson's to assure Miss Mellen that
he had no idea Of breaking his promise,
and the next but one after that he
came to tell the young lady she need