Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1907-02-01
CHAPTER TX.


1t was a long, red brick house, large
and handsome, as many Of these country
rectories are and on the spacious front
lawn, one glorious morning at the end Of
June, might be seen the Rev. Ryle Baum
garten, his wife and children. Lady
Grace sat on bench under the shade of
the lime trees; the rector stood by, talk
ing with her. Two little boys were run
ming about chasing a yellow butterfly.
They were dressed alike, after the fashion
of the day, in brown holland blouses,
white socks, shoes and broad-brimmed
straw hats.
They were wonderfully alike, these two
little half-brothers, each possessing his
fathers face in miniature; the same pale,
healthy complexion, the fine, clear-cut
features, the dark eyes 50 deeply set with
in their long lashes, and the wavy brown
hair soft as silk. But in disposition they
were quite different. Cyras was bold, self
willed, masterful, Charles gentle, plant
and timid. Cyras was tall and strong,
and forward beyond his years; the young
er one was yielding, childish and back
ward. Already Cyras constituted himself
his brothers protector, and Charles in
his hands was a tender reed. The affec-
ton between them was great, rather un-
usually so.
Some people had prophesied that Lady
Grace would repent her imprudent mar
riage. They proved to be wrong. Grace
was intensely happy in it. She had
brought with her only five hundred year
q.
it was all she would enjoy until Lord
Avon's death. She made a fairly kind
stepmother to the little Cyras, but she
had not the same affection for him as for
Charles. Her baby, now in JaQuet's
arms, was a fair girl, the little Gertrude
A large, low, open carriage, driven by
liveried position, was stopping at the
gate. Mr.. Baumgarten hastened to assist
Lady Avon from it, and give her his arm
She walked slowly to the bench where her
daughter was sitting. She was just the
same invalid as ever, had been so all these
years but she did not seem to grow much
worse. The boys ran up to her.
1.-The boys are like their father, Grace,
she observed, looking down at the infant
'but Gertrude is like you"
"Yes," assented Grace, with laugh
"Well," mamma, that is just as it should
be, isn't it?"
81 suppose it is, my dear. Which Of
you little boys will go for a drive with
me? 1t must be you, Cyras, l think, a.
it is your birthday"
"Oh, yes, yes! cried the boy, eagerly
"I will go. Jaquet, fetch my best hat"
"Me, too," added little Charley.
mo, can't manage both of you," sait
Lady Avon. "You shall go another day
Charley perhaps tomorrow"
my hat, Jaquet!' again said Cyras
mpatiently, for the girl had not stirred
Lady Grace looked at her.
do you hear?" she said, in her haugh
ty way. Master Cyras told you to fetcl
his hat Bring his little cape as WE'LL"
Now this was just what Jaquet hated
For Cyras to order her about mperious
ly, and for her lady to confirm 1t.
"Ryle," said Lady Avon to her son-in
law, when Jaquet had gone for the things
"can you not do something or other t,
put down that fair?
She spoke of a pleasure fair which wa
held every midsummer on Whitton Com
mon, and lasted for week.
The rector shook his head In answer
"Why, no; how could 1, Lady AvonY
"You have great influence in the parish
Every one looks up to you"
"But l have none over the fair. N,
one has. 1t possesses vested interests,
you know" added Mr.. Baumgarten, laugh
Ing, "and they are too strong to be in
terfered with. l try to induce my peop
to keep away from it, that is all l cal
do"
il Ito DO continued.l