Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1905-08-18
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IS BY WILLIAM BLACK 81
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BLACK

very prettlly situated in the midst of q
garden of roses.
No sooner had the carriage stopped
than Instantly the door was opened by
a smiling and comely dame, with silver
gray hair, and pleasant, shrewd gray
eyes, who came down the garden path.
She was neatly and plainly dressed, in a
housekeeper-looklng kind of costume; but
her face was refined and intelligent and
there was a sort of motherliness in the
look with which she regarded the young
English lady.
ID you know that l meant to scold
you, Mrs. Bell, for robbing your garden
againT said Yolande. But this time
mol am not going to scold you; 1 can
only thank you; for my papa is coming
to-day. l am going now to meet him at
the steamer"
well, now," said Mrs. Bell, that Is
just a most extraordinary piece Of good
luck; for l happen to have a pair of the
very finest and plumpest young duck
lngs that ever I set eyes on-"
mo, no.; mol" Yolande cried, laugh
for these ~kindnesses and kindnesses. Ev-
cry day since 1 came here-every day a
fresh excuse-and always the boy coming
with Mrs. Bells compliments. Wouldn't
it be simpler for you to give me the
garden and the house and everything all
at once?" said Yolande. "Well, now,
l wish to see Mr.. Melville"
HE is at his work." said the elderly
dame, glancing at a small building that
stood at right angles with the house.
d We think I would disturb him when
he Is at his work? Do you think I want
him to send me about my business?'
"Ihere is a tyrant," exclaimed Yo-
lande. Never mind, then; l wanted to
thank him for sending me the trout. Now
will not. Well, good-by, Mrs. Bell; l
will take the vegetables, and be very
grateful to you; but not the ducklings-"
yell just take the ducklings, as l
say, like a sensible young Teddy" said
Mrs. Bell, with emphasis; land there is
net to be another word about it."
So on she drove again, on this bright
and beautiful July day, through a pic
turesque and rocky and rugged country,
until in time she reached the end of her
journey-the charming little hotel that
Is perched high amid the woods over
looking Loeb Ness, within sound of the
laundering, Foyers Water. And then, at
last, she heard the throbbing of paddle
wheels in the intense silence; and made
her way down through the bracken and
the bushes, and went right out to the end
Of the little pier.
She made him out at once, even at that
distance; for though he was not a tall
man, his sharp-featured, s~un-reddened
face and silver-white hair made him cas-
lily recognizable. And of course she was
greatly delighted when he came ashore.
and excited, too; and she herself would
have carried gun cases, fishing baskets,
and what not, to the dog cart, had not
the boots from the hotel interfered. And
she had a hundred eager questions and
assurances, but would pay no heed to his
remonstrance about the risks of her driv-
ing.
"Why, papa, I drove every day at In
verstroy!" she exclaimed, as they briskly
set out for Allt-nam-ba.
II suppose the Grahams were very
kind to your" he said. "And the Mas
ter, how is he?"
"Oh, very well, l believe. Of course
l have not seen him since Mrs. Graham
left. But he has made all the arrange
ments for yOu-ponies, ~panniers, every
thing; and there is no want of provis-
ion, for Mr.. Melville sends me plenty of
trout, and Duncan goes up the hill now
and again for a hare"
sob, that will be all right" said he,
good-humoredly. 81 want to hear about
yourself, Yolande. What do you think of
Lord Lynn and his sister, now that you
have seen something more of them?"
This question checked her ~volubility.
and for a second a very odd expression
came over her face.
"They are very serious people, papa"
said she, with some caution. "And-and
very pious, l think"
And those other people-the old wom-
an who pretends to be n h@ousekeeper
and is a sort of Good Fairy in disguise
and the penniless young laird, who has
no land"
Instantly her face frightened up.
"Oh, he is the most extraordinary per-
son, papa magician. 1 cannot de-
scribe it; you must see for yourself; but
really it Is wonderful. He has a stream
to work for him-yes-for Mrs. Graham
and | went and visited it-climbing away
up the hills-and there was the water
wheel at work In the water, and n hut
close by, and there were copper wires to
take the electricity away down to the
house, where he has a store of it. 1t is
a genie for him; he makes it light the
lamps for him; it works a lathe for turn
ing wood-oh, l can't tell you all about
it. And he has been so kind to me; but
mostly in secret, so that l could not
catch him to thank him. How could
know? l complain to Mrs. Bell that 1t
is a trouble to send to Inverness for
some one to set the clock going; the next
morning-it is all right 1t goes; moth
ing wrong at all! Then the broken win
dow In the drawing room; Mrs. Graham
and I drive away to Fort Augustus;