Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1903-02-20

b't oiIu anu oulu al
very like a woman" that he did not care
whether she was injured by going to Lon
don; to which he, after kissing away her
tears, replied with sound good sense that
it was not by his wish she was going, and
he would gladly put down five hundred
pounds there and then if she would relin-
quish the idea.
But this ner ladyship was not dispos-
ed to do. Her mother-in-law had told her
that this step was due to her position,
and June, being young and keenly dis
posed for pleasure M enjoyment, had
rather set her heart on a London season.
Tom gave in to everything she wished,
except about the baby. If she had known
that Toms obstinacy was being f~ostered
by Agnes, she would probably have set
very vigorously to work to counterbal-
ance that amiable young lady's influence.
Agnes affected an u%nbounded devotion
to Toms son and heir; perhaps she felt
it. She ingratiated herself with the
nurse, waylaid her when she walked
abroad, paid constant visits to the nur-
sery at such times as June was likely to
be out driving. This brought her into fire.
quent contact with Sir Thomas, and he
became quite grateful for her devotion to
his child and entirely forgave and forgot
the bad turn she had lone him in trying
to delay his marriage. She made little
~lnnuendoes, accentuated by signs or notes
of exclamation. How could June leave
that darling? How could anyone, sur
rounded by such blessings, with such a
child, such a husband, want to quit them
for a life such as people led in London
heartless, selfish, unsatisfying? What
could compensate for home joys. For her
part, 1t was utterly incomprehensible to
her. Tom defended his wife-said she
was young n beautiful and fond Of
pleasure; what more natural than that she
should like to go into society? Besides,
1t was chiefly his mothers doing, who had
persuaded her. But Agnes words GER
tainly stabbed him in a tender spot.
But for both of you to go away and
leave that darling!" cried Agnes, with a
tear in her eye. Suppose he should be
seized with commissions, or something were
to happen to him? Servants are never
of any use in an emergency"
"Oh," said Tom, not without a sense Of
alarm at her words, II shall be here most
Of the time"
"June will not let you. She will not
stay in London without you. l wonder il
does not occur to her how dreadful it is to
leave that angel to h%irelings!'
June wants to take him with us: she
Is most anxious not to be parted from
him."
But it would be madness to take him
to London. Here, you know, he has tho
purest milk from your own cows. and 7
have heard that hundreds and thousands
of babies die in London of typhoid fever
from impure milk"
Tom, only too ready to take alarm. VOW
ed to himself that, whatever happened.
that precious life should not be ~endanger-
ed by n visit to the metropolis.
"One thing" said Agnes, with fervor
L shall go up to the Hall every day TO
see the darling, and l don't think onv-
thing will escape my eye. l. suppose,
hesitating, June will not consider mo foo
of!icious, will she?"
"Oficious" replied Tom, heartily: "sbe
VIII be tremendously grateful to Won"
"And-and when you are in town sbou
l write you about him? / could tell Won
a thousand particulars about your darling
that servants would not think of writing
And writing is naturally Il great effort 70
them.' "
viii your cried Tom. "That will be
awfully good of YOU
d shall write to you," proceeded Agnes
IN a low voice. II suppose June will NOT
mind. We are cousins, you know"