Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1907-03-29

at the play one night in strange company.
Again, the old bishop of Denham, calling
at his chambers, found some very unor-
thodox pen-and-ink sketches on his blot
ting pad. Charley forthwith went down
in his lordship's estimation, and lost some
work the bishop had just offered him.
should like to have seen the good mans
face" broke off Lord Avon, laughing.
But is that all?" asked Gertrude. "It
does not seem very terrible affair, if
there is nothing more behind it."
1T certainly sounds rather like a case
of much ado about nothing" assented the
earl. But it is not quite all. Charles
has been going in largely for jewelry
and can't, or won't, pay for it."
Does he ask you to help him? Is that
his reason for writing?"
mot at all. He distinctly disavows
any motive of the kind; does not intend
to pay the bill himself, or allow any one
else to pay it for him. He says he knows
that DIR. Dynevor is about to acquaint me
with the whole affair, and wishes to give
me first of all his own version of it..
Among other changes, the engagement
with Mary is broken off"
But that is serious" exclaimed Ger
trude, much troubled. 1T will ruin both
their lives. Who has done it?"
"Dr. Dynevor, and on account of these
matters. I'm sorry for Charley. and sup
pose 1 must see into it," concluded the
earl passing at length through the gate.
He walked away. Gertrude went slow
ly up the garden and crossed to a nat
ural arbor formed by the interlacing trees,
and there sat down on bench overshad-
owed by the Towering lilac and dropping
laburnum.
IF she and Charles should part for
good, would Everard return to her?" shy
ly wondered Gertrude, with flushing
cheeks. "He said Why-who Is
this?"
She half rose in her astonishment.
Strolling down the broad path from the
house came Sir Everard Wilmot. Could
it be he? Gertrude gazed as one in a
dream. Sir Everard walked across the
lawn and held out his hand.
II am so much surprised" she said, as
her own hand met his, and her lovely face
turned to rose color. II had not even
heard that you were expected"
II came down from London this morn
ing" he answered, as he took his seat
beside her. when Avon was last in
town he invited me to come to him for a
day or two. Having nothing particularly
too good to be lost. You are not sorry to
see me, Miss Baumgarten?"
"Oh, no; why should be sorry?" flut-
tered Gertrude. 1--WE must all be glad to
see you, for it is dull here. often wish
myself away"
A moments silence. Then Sir Ever
ard took possession of the hand again,
and bent little forward, his face, slight
ly agitated, turned to hers.
81 am given to plain speaking, as you
may remember, Gertrude; cannot beat
about the bush with fine phrases, as some
men can," he said. my dear, came
here to-day with one sole object-that of
asking you to-be my wife. Oh, Gertrude
don't say me nay again!"
She bent her head and her changing
face. Mis- Baumgarten lost all her dig
ullyy anu Jul lSl lhlO lcdlS. oOhiNiNW ~
did not regard it as bad omen. Per
haps he was an expert at interpreting
signs and tokens. However that might
be, he put his arm around her and drew
her gently to him.
my darlingr he whispered with i'm
passioned fervor. II see that you will not
send me away" And Gertrude bent her
| face still lower as she murmured:
Perhaps you have not heard-Mary
Dynevor and Charles-their engagement
is broken off"
Gertrude, don't you know me better
than that" he rejoined. "Did you not
know, did you not see in the past days
that it was not Mary Dynevor l loved
but you? When you refused me, refused
even to listen to a word l would have
spoken, 1 turned to Mary in--I fear
must say it-vexation Of soul. My dear
why did you treat me SOP
Should she ever be able to tell him
Not yet, at any rate. She had mistaken
his frequent visits to the sick daughter
of lady staying in the place, friends Of
her own and of Lady Grace. A foolish
gossiping woman had whispered to Ger
trude that Mr.. Wilmot was paying Sc
much attention to this young sick lady
that their engagement was an absolute
certainty. Gertrude believed it, and be
came at once so resentfully jealous tha
when Mr.. Wilmot, not long afterward
spoke to her, in her pride she retaliatet
upon him with Indignation. No, she coult
not tell him all this to-day, or speak O.
the sore repentance which had ever sine
laid upon her.
She drew herself to the end of tn
bench, put her hat on decorously, and es
sayed to converse upon Indifferent topics
the beauty of the day, the scent OF tn
lilac, the song of the birds. do you Sc
that laburnum?" she Nasked, scarcel.
knowing what she said. ut is my favor
ite tree; the most beautiful of all trees
the most graceful of all blossoms"
"Yes," he replied, II almost agree wit
you. The country people call it 'gol
H.,