Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1903-01-23

When ut last she went, June stood i'm
movable for a moment. Then she flung
herself down by her bedside and cried as
If her heart would break.
CHAPTER vi.
June, scarcely knowing how it happen
ed, found herself in the boat in the garden
lake, while Mr.. Broke was l~eisurely dip
ping the SOULS into the water and rowing
her away to the furthest point from the
house. And when he came to the big
elm, whose branches o%verhung the water
and made a canop above their heads, he
quietly shipped his oars, and, bending a
little forward, said, quite simply and
frankly:
IL am going to take the liberty Of ask
ing you a question. May /"
"Oh, certainly"
"Why won't you, who are so charming
to everyone else, be a little bit kind to
me?'
Am l not kind to your she said, dip
ping her white fingers into the water and
apparently intent on watching them.
"What have l done?"
"You have hardly looked at or spoken
to me since 1 came; indeed, 1 have fancied
that you purposely avoided me-"
~ uttOl Il DOtiIC Il a ulC .
first instinct; but a second coming swiftly
on it's heels, she followed that instead.
You have taken his mothers love from
Tom," she said. "And, whenever you
are together, you always stand in his light
n make him seem-seem-"
But June cannot find the words she
wants.
"At all events, there is one brilliant ex-
ceptiOn to the rule" answered Dallas, in
a piqued tone, losing for a moment his
almost imperturbable good temper. Then,
with a flash in his blue eyes eminently be-
coming to them, 81 assure you, you are
completely mistaken about my aunt's feel
ing for me. She likes me, and I amuse
her; but 1t Is hardly probable that a wom-
an would care more for her nephew than
her Own son."
June is more attracted to Mr.. Broke in
this mood than in any in which she has
yet seen him. 1t Is her turn to assume
that charming one and manner which she
possesses in almost as great q degree as
Dallas himself.
II did not mean to say anything I'M
kind" And she looked at him 80 softly
that his momentary wrath melted away.
But it is a little hard on Tom"
"Tom is the best fellow living" cried
Dallas, "and no one knows it better than
Aunt vi. She is a woman Of the world,
and would like him to have a little
more"
"PolishT 2" suggested June.
THAT is hardly the word; something Of
that sort, 1 suppose. But she knows his
sterling worth as well as anyone"
Sterling worth! yes, how appropriate
those two words are! Yet they have a
dull sound in June's ears this summer af-
ternoon whilst young Apollo's eyes are
meeting hers.
81 imagine" he said, that you will
very soon have all the say here"
The swift blood flew to June's cheeks.
you are mistaken, then" cried June,
holly. 81 am not going to marry him. 1
am not engaged to him. l owe him as my
dearest friend, as ny brother, and moth
ing, nothing more"
Then she sank back in her seat, and a
cold, shamed feeling crept over her that
she had betrayed Tom, ay, more cruelty
than mother or any other living being had
power to do. Dallas was so astonished at
this confession that he let go the bank,
and the boat drifted out into the sunshine.
He had to rise, take a scull and punt back
to the shore.
Had we not better be going imp sug-
gested June, coldly.
mo, not just yet" he answered. do
you know you have positively taken my
breath awayT"
Have IT' said June, with averted eyes,
remorseful and ashamed, and yet feeling
a sort Of satisfaction that she had struck
off her chains and declared her freedom.
II do not know why you should have
thought l was going to marry Tom. /
do not suppose that he told you that l
was.'
"Most certainly not"
"Let us be friends!" he whispered,
bending forward and stretching out his
hand; and she let him take hers. There
was a magnetism in his touch that was
; utterly wanting in Toms; %involuntarily
|, her eyes met his and stayed a moment
longer than was wise, and ~straightway,
June knew that imagination may f~orestal
4 reality, and that the dreams she had cher
ished in summer starlit nights with long.
ing eyes strained heavenward were moi
: only dreams, but that this gross material
earth holds raptures as great as the prom
Use of the skies.
Tom, all unsuspicious, was awaiting
e them ut the landing place, and, as he put
both his hands out to help June from tn,
y boat, he said, with a CHEEKY laugh:
"Well, have you two made up?"
June could not answer, but Dallas re
8 piled gayly:
Eyes, 1 think Miss Rivers has forgiven
me-"
Then he walked up the slope to joir
Mrs. Fetherston, who was coming to NEE
. them. her face wearing ANYTHING but