Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1907-03-01

for the higher cathedral dignitaries.
canon" rarely. Two or three years later
DIR. Dynevor was made prebendary of
Oldchurch, and quilted Denham.
When Lady Grace Baumgarten return
ed from her visit to the Continent and
resigned his daughter Mary into DR..
Dynevors charge and laid before him Mr..
Wilmots very handsome proposals, the
subdean was intensely gratiied, and was
anxious to Sc. nis future son-in-law.
Dinner was over and all were in the
drawing room except the subdean. On
one of the large old-fashioned sofas sat
Miss Dynevor in her faxen wig; her head
had dropped on to the sofa pillow and
she was fast asleep. On another sofa sat
the three girls in a half-circle; and,
perched on one of its arms was their
brother Richard on the other arm sat the
young man who had dined with them.
This was Charles Baumgarten. Near
ly six-and-twenty years of age, not very
tall, but stately and handsome, he was
the very image of what his father had
been as young man. Richard Dynevor
was little and insignificant.
isn't it a shame !" suddenly exclaimed
Regina Dynevor in the subdued tone they
had adopted for their conversation. "She
says her limbs are getting bad again, and
that she can't chaperon US tomorrow
night"
Regina" interposed Grace, in a tone
of sharp reproof; although Regina was
the eldest, and she was the youngest.
Il declare that she said it," returned
Regina, the whole party having imper-
ceptibly glanced at the opposite sofa.
I'VE were in her dressing room just be-
fore dinner. My limbs are getting bad
again. those were the very words she
used"
Every possibly; but there was no ne
cessity for you to repeat them. We are
not alone"
1--WE are" said Regina. who's Char
ley Baumgarten? Nobody"
Nobody, as you say" interposed
Charles.
"Regina's tongue will be the bane of
her life," cried Grace. "Of course we
are used to Charley, but it would have
been all the same had there been a room
full of strangers present. She says any
thing that comes uppermost in her mind"
Like papa" carelessly spoke Regina
Yes, but what is proper for papa is
unladylike for you," returned Grace, who
liked to set the world to rights.
Go on, Gracie," laughed Richard ;
keep them in order. What else did
Aunt Ann say?"
Nothing. hope it's not true, though,
that she is going to be i'll. We shall be
kept prisoners, as we were last season."
I'D rather run away then put up
with it." protested Regina, fercely. "It's
not rheumatism but temper from which
she is suffering"
Charles Baumgarten laughed.
1T is quite true, Charley; even you
don't know her yet. protest that it was
half and half last year; little rheuma-
tismp and great deal of cross-grained
fractiousness. If she does have this at
tack, mind, shall have brought it on.
Little Archdeacon Duck called this morn
ing"
"Archdeacon Duck-who is he?" inter-
rupted Charles Baumgarten.
Its the girls name for him; she
means Archdeacon Drake" explained
Richard. let her go on, Charley"
WELL" said Regina, you all know how
Aunt Ann has been setting her cap at
him, thinking, perhaps, he might con-
vert her into Mrs. Duck the second. The
little archdeacon was beginning with his
foolishly complimentary speeches, and
brought in something about aunt's locks,
of which the weather, windy or wet, never
disturbed the beauty Or if it does,' l
put in, Aunt Esther can send them to the
hairdresser's to be renewed; she is more
fortunate than we poor damsels.'"
Regina You never said it ~
"lnded did. She looked daggers, and
the archdeacon looked foolish. There's
nothing she hates so much, either, as
being called Aunt Esther. l was de-
termined to pay her off" vowed Regina.
"She had driven me wild all the morning
with her aggravations. And now l ex-
pect she intends to pay us off by having
an attack of rheumatism"
"a blessed thing for you girls If you
were married and away" said Richard,
cynically; "but you'll never find another
Aunt Ann. l don't know where 1 should
be for pocket money without her. l say,
girls, l think Wilmot has landed"
Then, if so, he'll be here tonight"
said Regina, "and Mary is as cool over
it as a cucumber! One would think"
The subdean entered Regina cut short
her Speech and Charles Baumgarten slip
ped off his perch on the sofa and took his
seat decently in a chair. In the presence
of Mr.. Dynevor his family put on their
best behavior.
Whether they felt who 1t might be can
not be told. The silence of expectation
was on all, and their eyes turned to the
door as it was thrown open.
''Sir Everard Wilmot."
DR.. Dynevor and his buckles hustled
forward with his right hand stretched out
warm greeting to the subdean,
quiet greeting to Mary, holding her hand
fp- 81 ,,N,