Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1905-10-20


your sister when you see her; and If you
hear anything about the Gress people,
should be glad to hear some news about
them also.
believe me, yours affectionately,
"YOLANDE."
The Master of Lynn had spent the
whole morning in arranging affairs with
his fathers agent. He was anxious to
get away from this dawdling life in In
verness; but on the other hand he was
not going back to Lynn. He still felt
angry and indignant, he considered he
had been badly used, and it is far from
improbable that If, at this moment, Yo-
lande had been differently situated, and
| If Mr.. Winterbourne had been likely to
give his consent, he, the Master, would
now have proposed an immediate mar
riage, leaving his father and aunt to do
or think as they pleased. But in the
present circumstances, that was impos-
sible, and he did not know well which
way to turn, and had generally got him
self into an unsettled, impatient irrita-
BILE condition, which BODIED no good either
for himself or for them who had thwart-
ed him.
He thought he would have a stroll
away through the town and out by the
harbor, just to think over this that had
occurred, and what was likely to occur,
In the future. 1t happened to be a very
bright and cheerful afternoon; and he
walked quickly, with a sort Of glad con-
sciousness that now he was master of his
own destiny, and meant to remain SO;
and when he came in sight of the ruff
fed and windy blue sea, that had sug-
gestions of voyaging and the seeing of
strange places that were pleasant enough.
| By and by a very uncomfortable sus-
picion got hold of him. He had no very
largo experience Of women and their
ways; and he began to ask himself
whether the ready acquiescence he had
yielded to Yolande's prayer would please
her over much. 1t certainly was not fiat
tering to her vanity. For one thing, he
could not wholly explain his position to
her. He could not tell her that he had
virtually said to his father, Here Is
way Of getting back Corrievreak; and
getting the whole estate into proper con-
dition. You refuse? Very well; you
mayn't get another chance, remember"
He could not fully explain to her why
her proposal, instead of bringing him dis
appointment, was rather welcome, as Of
fering him means of vengeance for the
annoyance he had been subjected to. And
80 he began to think that his letter,
breaking off the engagement so very will
ingly, might not wholly please her; and
as he was well disposed toward Yolande
at this moment, and honestly desiring
that they should part the best of friends,
he slowly walked back to the hotel, COM
posing few more sentences by the way,
SO that her womanly pride should not be
wounded.
He went upstairs to his room, and
packed his things for the journey to Lon
don, while thinking over what he would
say to her. And it was very near din
ner time before he had finished this ad-
dendum to his previous letter:
MY Dearest Yolande," he wrote, 81
want to say something more to you; If
you get the two letters together, read
this one second. Perhaps you may
think, from what said in the other,
that did not sufficiently value the pros
pect that was before me at one time or
else l should say something more about
losing 1t. l am afraid you may think l
have given you up too easily and lightly:
but you would make a great mistake If
you think l don't know what l have
lost. Only I did not want to make it
too grave matter; your letter was very
serious; and wanted you to think, and
want you to think, that there Is no
reason why we should not continue on
quite friendly and intimate terms. OF
course, know what have lost; wasn't
so long In your society without seeing
how generous you were, and sincere, and
anxious to make every one around you
happy; and II 1t como to that, and If you
will let me say 1t, man naturally looks
forward with some pride to having al
ways with him a wife who can hold her
own with everybody in regard to per-
sonal papsarance, and grace, and finish
Of manner, and accomplishments. OF
course l know what have lost.
IF / should get reconciled to my peo.
pie Lynn will seem lonely place after
this autumn; and suppose shall con-
ceive a profound detestation for next
years tenant of Allt-nam-ba. Probably
two or three bachelor fellows will have
the Lodge. They won't know that there
was once fairy living In that glen. But
don't despair of seeing you again. in
the Highlands, and your father, too; and
as they say the subject of deer forests
is to be brought before the House, he
will now be In position to talk little
common sense to them about that sub
ject. Yours, most affectionately,
ARCHIE LESLIE"
1t was a clever letter, he considered
The little touches Of Hattery; the busi-
ness-like references to the topics Of the
day; the frank appeals to her old friend
ship-these would not be In vain. And
so he went In to his dinner with light
heart, and the same night went comfort
ably to sleep in a saloon carriage bound
for London.