Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-12-05
CHAPTER VII.

ing suggested to her. But that was not
the case with Lynn Yeames. He was
carried away by the good looks of Miss
Dalrymple and perceiving that she was
the best woman of the throng, both in
appearance and family connection, he
magnanimously resolved TO sink the con-
sideration of her being poor and resolved
to secure her at any price, no matter how
rich he might be by the death of his
uncle.
Somehow or other he proposed to her
that night-between the parts, perhaps,
when he led her into the adjoining room
for refreshments, though more probably
the old woman, his mother, slammed
sleep in the brougham to give her son the
opportunity as they were taking Miss Dali
rymple home.
Two mornings after the concert DR..
Audrey called on me- looking as yellow
as an old title-deed.
You must go up to Fiexmore House
at once" he said, without asking me how
was, or any other preliminary civility.
''Flexmore is in a critical condition
there's not a moment to spare"
What does he want me for?" | asked.
'IIe wants to see you about that fool
Of will you drew up for him. Get into
my trap. l tell you there is no time to
waste"
Aren't you coming with me?" I asked,
as he put the reins in my hand.
No; / have another case to attend. l
can do nothing for Flexmore at present;
Miss Dalrymple has my instructions. and
/ can rely on her carrying them out"
| drove over to Flexmore House, sus-
pecting mischief. l found my old friend
in bed but perfectly calm and collected.
Miss Dalrymple was in the room with
little Laure, who chung to her hand as
though she felt that soon there would be
but that to protect and befriend her.
Flexmore took my hand with a smile
a silent greeting that was more touching
than words
MY DEAR he said to Miss Dalrymple,
you must leave us for a few minutes,
please; we have little matter of bust
ness to discuss, my old friend and l."
We'll, what is it. George?" 1 asked,
going to the bedside.
Tony, you must alter that will or
draw up another at once. You thought
right to tell DR.. Awdrey of the provis-
ion | had made. He refuses to be Laure's
guardian or trustee for her fortune"
"He won't get out of it if you let the
will stand; we shall see-'
But the will must not stand; he has
shown me that. For the child's sake,
for that dear girl Gertrude's sake, it must
be altered. They must not be separated.
The money must be left in trust, and her
guardian and trustee must be my nephew,
Lynn Yeames."
NONSENSE As soon as Lynn Yeames
finds he has nothing he will cease to pes
ter Miss Dalrymple; he'll never marry
her If he gets the money; and then how
is your little Laure to live with her? A
proof that he doesn't mean to marry her
is that he has been hanging about her for
months, but has carefully refrained from
binding himself to any engagement"
You are wrong, Keene. He proposed
to her night before last"
This took my breath away, and left
me no ground to stand on.
And she accepted him?" l gasped, af
ter an interval of silence.
"She did. Yeames told DR.. Audrey
yesterday morning. He came at once to
me, and arrived at the very moment |
was seized with the attack-otherwise |
might not have survived it. He was
with me all night; and this morning
finding me sufficiently recovered to listen
to argument, he had this out with me. He
has the highest opinion of Lynn-so has
Miss Dalrymple, or she would certainly
not have accepted him. | myself see no
reason to disbeleve in him. In fact
it's only you, Tony, who stick out so
obstinately against him; and you, as
every one knows, are man of strong pre-
judces-very strong prejudices."
Il a man of strong prejudices?" | gasp
ed Il, a lawyer, whose business it is
to weigh both sides of the question and
decide impartially? l, an old man of
the world"
II don't care what you may be; know
you are an obstinate, pig-headed old fell
low. But you must let me have my way
Il know l am right. No argument will
change me- must have my way"
Good" said / IN draw up another
will. 1t shall be just as you wish
As l left the house l spied Lynn
Yeames coming down the road but | had
no patience to speak to him, and jumping
in the doctors gig, drove off as quickly
as l could. l kept the gig at the door;
and then, going into my office. | fetched
out the draft of the old will and a sheet
of foolscap to write the new one upon.
Just at that moment my housekeeper came
in TO say that my lunch was served
had an hours work before me; it would
take another hour and half to carry it
over to Flexmore, get his signature. and
return.
Just as | was finishing, there was a
ring at the bell, and my housekeeper
brought in word that Mr.. Lynn Yeames
wished to see me. "Ah, ali ~ thought I
''he wants TO pump me again, does he?
All right; so he SHALL So | babe the
housekeeper show him into my Office and
say l would be with him in a minute or
two. l emptied my cup, and rose to Join
my visitor in the next room.
In that moment it struck me that had
left the draft of the old will on the
Office table beside the sheet of fresh fool
soap. l went on tiptoe to the door and
peeped through the green taffety blind.
Lynn Yeames was standing by the table,
looking round him curiouSly l could see
him distinctly, but he could not see me.
by reason of the light from the office win
dow falling on the blind. Quickly he
caught up the draft, and ran his eye down
it.
Now this, being only draft, had Meth
er date nor signature, and he must have
jumped at once to the conclusion that it
was the copy of a will l was about to
draw up; and seeing that by this draft all
Flexmore's money was left to Audrey, it
must have convinced him that this instru-
ment was intended to revoke that will
which l had led him to believe was made
in his favor.
The sheet fell from his hand; he stoop-
ed hastily, picked it up, and replaced it
on the table. | moved a chair made a
clatter with an empty plate as If 1 were
just rising from my lunch, then 1 opened
the door and entered my Office briskly.
Lynn Yeames was seated at some dis
lance from the table, looking pale.
How do you do, STRIP said l. "You
don't look quite yourself this morning"
II am upset; my uncle is in critical
condition. don't know whether you
know it. | came over to tell you-I
thought you ought TO know, in case there
was any legal matter to arrange"