Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1904-10-19

those supposed to have intermar-
ried, whose names are further unit
ed by other lines to those Of their
offspring.
81 have itw was Willard Spcnce's
exclamation as his eye fell on this
leaf lying loose in the volume he
was reading one day.
That evening it was accidentally
dropped in his grandfather's way
"What's this 2" asked the ole
gentleman, picking it up and put
ting on his specs.
"A paper l found in one of Mr..
Stiles books" was the innocent res
ply. !
"Humphl A copy Of the Stiles
family tree, and-stop, let me see
running back, as ! live, through
more generations than l supposed
any man in the state could count
but myself Who'd have thought
that dried up old lawyer had so
much blood in him."
"Not I certainly" acquiesced VIII
lard.
"And see, here's the name Of
Baker. My maternal great-grand-
mothers maiden name was Baker.
BY Jove, I shouldn't wonder if we
found ourselves related yeti"
"Miss Stiles-is she very hand
some?" inquired the old gentleman.
"Passably," answered the young
hypocrite.
Then it occurred to the captain
to lecture his grandson on the i'm
propriety of not having returned
the paper to Mr.. Stiles at once. The
young man defended himself with a
fb, which the reader may pardon
if he likes. He said the paper had
dropped out of a book he brought
home to read, and Of course he
would hand it to Mr.. Stiles the first
thing in the morning.
Next day Willard was sitting in
Mr.. Stiles Office fumbling over a
lawbook and thinking of Mary
when his grandfather's gig drove
up. Willard wished in his heart it
had broken down by the way. Tie
thing he most dreaded was the two
old gentlemen getting together and
coming to explanations at present.
"Is Mr.. Stiles i'm" inquired the
captain.
Eyes, sir" answered the office
boy, ushering the visitor into the
back office before Willard had time
to tell the lie he had framed or tip
the boy the wink.
Good morning, Mr.. Stiles" said
the captain blandly.
Good morning, captain" return
ed the lawyer a little stiffly. pray
be seated"
The captain excused the stiffness.
A man with a dozen generations at
his back had right to be stiff.
81 came to speak to you on
matter of Importance" said the
captain, taking the proffered seat.
The lawyers face frightened at
the prospect of securing a valuable
client.
"My maternal great-grandmoth-
er," the captain proceeded, was
Baker, and your grandfather
"Was a shoemaker" the other
was on the point of interrupting,
for he knew the captains hobby and
had little patience with it.
But before the word was spoken,
which would doubtless have led to
the explanation Willard so much
feared, q cry of alarm broke off the
conversation. The two gentlemen
reached the front door in time to
see the captains horse and gig dash
ing down the street at pace that
astonished all beholders. For the
first time in twenty years old Roan's
blood was up, and as he tore along
in q gait compounded of equal parts
of canter and stringhalt it was hard
to tell which ratified most, the dry
bones of the horse or the rickety
old gig. The question of which
would go to pieces first was speedily
settled by one of the hubs striking
a post, which in an instant reduced
the vehicle to its original elements
and brought old Roam up standing,
his composure completely restored,
the crackers having ceased to pop.
"Who on earth did itY" roared
the captain.
Willard didn't know unless it was
a sandy haired boy he had just seen
dodge round the corner, with a face
too dirty to be recognized,
What with the excitement and the
gathering up of the fragments and
the arrangements necessary to get
the captain and old Roam home, the
object of the formers visit was Tor
the time forgotten. Before he
found an opportunity to renew 1t,
severe attack of govt laid him up
for the season. Meanwhile Willard
pressed his suit. Mr.. Stiles gave
his consent. Mary's had already been
obtained, and the Family tree had
settled all scruples with the captain
whose only regret was at not being
able to attend the wedding. Wheth-
or he ever found out the true state
of the case is more than we can tell.
If he did, he said nothing, for
Mary's loving granddaughterly ways
soon completely won his proud old
heart, and when little great-grand-
ohA u