Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1905-08-18
CHAPTER VIII.

Mr.. W~interbourne, Yolande and the
Master were standing outside the lodge,
looking down the wide glen, which was
flooded with sunset light. Young Les
lies eyes were the eyes of a deer-stalk-
er; the slightest movement anywhere in
stantly attracted them; and when two
sheep-little dots they were, at the far
edge of the hill just above the lodge
suddenly ceased grazing and lifted
their heads, he knew there must be some
one there. The next moment a figure
appeared on the sky line.
Il suppose that is Jack Melville" he
said, peevishly. 81 wish he wouldn't
come across the forest when he is up
at electric boxes"
But does he do harm?" said Yolande.
He cannot shoot deer with copper
wires"
"Oh, he's all over the place." said the
Master of Lynn. And there isn't a
keeper or a watcher who will remon-
strate with him; and of course l can't.
He's always after his botany, or his
fishing, or something. The best thing
about it is that he is a capital hand to
have with you If there are my stray
deer about, and you want to have a shot
without disturbing the herd. He knows
their ways most wonderfully, and can
tell you the track they are certain to
take"
Meanwhile the object Of these remarks
was coming down the hillside at a swing
ing pace; and very soon he had crossed
the little bridge, and was coming up the
path-heralding his arrival with a frank
and careless greeting to his friends. He
was a rather, tall, lean, large-boned and
powerful looking man of about eight-and-
twenty; somewhat pale in face, seeing
that he lived so much out of doors; his
hair a raven black; his eyes gray, pene-
trating and steadfast; his mouth firm,
and yet mobile and expressive at times
his forehead square rather than lofty
voice, a chest voice, was heard in pleas
ant and well-modulated English.
Here, Miss Winterbourne," said he,
lis the little vasculum l spoke to you
about; 1t has seen some service, but il
may do well enough. And here is Bent.
ley's Manual, and a Flora. The Flora
is an old one; l brought an old one pur.
posely, for at the beginning there is a
synopsis of the Linnaean system of class.
iication, and you will find hat the east
est way of making out the names of n
new plant. OF course" he added, 81
have told Mrs. Bell you are to have ac-
cess. to my herbarium, whether l am
there or not
"Oh, yes, that is so probable!' said
she Mrs. Bell allowing me to 90 into
your study"
Mrs. Bell and | understand each other
very well, l assure YOU" he said, grave
ly. "We'are only two augurs, who wink
at each other; or rather we shut our eyes
to each others humbug-"
"Why, Jack, she means to buy back
Mongalen for you!" the Master Of Lynn
exclaimed.
81 know she has some romantic scheme
of that sort in her head" he said, frank
ly. at is quite absurd. What should
l do with Monaglen? However, in the
meantime, / have made pretty free use of
the old lady's money at Gress, and she Is
highly pleased, for she was fond of my
fathers family, and she likes to hear me
spoken well of, and you can easily DUR
chase gratitude-especially with some
body else's money. You see it works
well all round. Mrs. Bell, who is an
honest, shrewd, good, kindly woman, sees
that her charity is administered with
some care; the people around-but espe-
cially the children-are benefited; I have
leisure for any little experiments and
my idle rambles; and if Mrs. Bell and
I %hoodwink each other, 1t is done very
openly, and there is no great harm"
ITO no ~cOntinued)