Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1905-07-07
CHAPTER XIII.

spread map, ana with an exclamation of
unmistakable establishment and delight,
Mason Huntley sprang forward and seiz-
ed the outstretched hand in his own And
then, while both were speaking so that
neither could understand the other, he
threw his arm about her, and seeing
something in her eyes that at least did
not repel him, he bent his head impul-
sively and pressed his lips again and
again to hers, that were very perceptibly
turned toward him and pouted in the
prettiest concession imaginable. John
Wickly looked on in the greatest aston
'shment, set off and illuminated with a
half sarcastic smile Of enjoyment.
81 don't care" said Lizzy, still hold
ing Mr.. Huntley's hand III her own, and
plainly interposing to prevent him from
dropping the encircling arm from her
shoulder, as she half turned her head
with a rosy flush upon her face and some
pretty drops of shining tears in her eyes,,
and along the under lashes, while a
smile of enchanting mingled shame and
Standardization lighted up her face like
a halo about an angels head. 81 don't
care. He's treated me dreadfully-I
mean horribly, since I've been here In
the city. And I'm going TO know why,
before | let go of your land sir" she
continued, turning away from her father,
and shaking her brown curls that hung
so charmingly out from under her hat
and down a little way upon the sides of
her face.
IF that's it." said Mr.. Wickly, with
a sort of roguish struggling of his shout
Jo,, lI .l;nIx I11 osor n,t and am &c
those horses are standing all right. They
might run away and leave us, you know.
And then l can't be of any use what
ever in this sort of an investigation
nj he turned and went out, his daugh-
ter calling after him:
you needn't, sir! l don't care IL you
are here. l shall say just what I've got
to say, anyhow. Now, tell me what you
meant by 1t, Mr.. Huntley. Why did you
tell me you would see me soon, II 1t
were in your power, and then have me
right here in the city for weeks and
weeks, passing me on the streets every
day without n word or a look, or any
thing to indicate that you had ever had
even n passing acquaintance with me!
Wasn't it your place to come to me at
once? Or. if you had any doubts about
my treatment of you, couldn't you write
to me? Do you think it was my place to
chase you all over the city and hunt you
down. without even a trace of you?
Couldn't you even do so much to facili-
tate the search as to leave a hin of your
whereabouts, pom which could begin?
Suppose l hadn't found you at all; would
you have persisted in staying way for
everT"
There was enough light from the af-
ternoon sun coming in at the west and
southwest windows of the room to throw
a very effective CLEAN upon the lovely
form of Lizzy Wickly, clad in a pale
brown silk that shed its suit sheen along
every line and curve. de had never seen
her SO richly dressed. She had never
been so richly dressed. And there was,
in the heightened effect of her charming
dress upon her always pleasing face and
figure, that best of all excuses for the
very richest dresses that any woman can
afford to wear. He stood a moment
without a word, but with his eyes telling
voluble stories eloquent with admiration,
as they flew rapidly from the brown
plumes in her darker brown silk hat, that
framed her fresh, rudy face so charm
ingly. with its broad, brown satin strings,
tied in an elegant bow under her dim
pied chin; down the sloping shoulders,
with the line Of family glittering light
reflected from the silk threads, changing
it's direction as the bosom rose and fell
In quick, sharp undulations of excite
ment and delight. All! w. Mason Hunt
ley! If ever there were a pretty, straight
forward. frank and fearless daughter of
the Wabash, we'll worthy of the admira-
ton. the respect and the love of a good
man. for those qualities that enabled her
to throw aside the conventionalities and
go thus boldly about the city, to chase
you down and take you to task for your
neglect and misfeasance, then this is
one!
And have you actually been hunting
mt all the timer he murmured, delight
eddy. Have you actually felt that l
have mistreated you in not going at once
to see you? Have you had time, in all
the rush and hurry of the last two
months, to think about me long enough
to make real search for mel"
He stopped to kiss her again and
again, Just as she was opening her pretty
curved lips to reply-and so frustrating
the reply for a full twenty seconds.
"You know l have" she says, putting
up her gloved hand to prevent another
Illustration of her reply. "Im sure now,
that you knew of it on the very first day
that | chased you, and lost you behind
a barricade of wagons. If l had known
Just what your scheme was, sir, l
shouldn't have hunted you a step" And
she slaps his face and then pulls it down
to cure the blow with a kiss that heals
like magic. But you haven't told me
one reason for your abstention-and a
good one, too. No more shallow excuses
will do. What was It'll" She looked very
eagerly and brightly expectant into his
eyes.
"You know already. You know as
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