Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1908-04-10
CHAPTER III.

why on earth don't you marry Miss
Dalrymple?"
DO you think that she would have
meT' he asked, with composure that
showed that the idea was not unconsid-
cred. "She is worthy of better man
than l am, and have no wish to mar
ry."
That isn't much Of reason. You
have to think Of what is best for your
daughter and Miss Dalrymple. Your lit
tie one ought to have a mother-some one
from whom she will be inseparable when
you are gone; and there's not soul in
the world better fitted to take the place
OF a mother than that girl"
She must marry Awdrey; that is the
husband for that sweet girl"
DR.. Awdreyw l exclaimed in aston
ishment, for had never thought Of him
as marrying man.
Yes. He loves her-I Know he does
Who could see her and know her, and
not love her? And he is an excellent
fellow. l wish he were a little lighter
and better looking; but l couldn't wish
him to have a better heart, or a more
iovable disposition. He's a fine man,
Tony"
lie won't marry her, for all that. It's
as much as ever ne can DO TO keep MS
head above water now, and fool as he is
in worldly matters-he wouldn't tie
milestone round his neck"
Miss Dalrymple is not millstone,"
said poor old Flexmore, warmly.
Il know that She's good woman and
would work herself i'll to help her hus-
band, or worry herself Ill IL she couldn't.
That is what Awdrey would not have his
wife do, and the only way to prevent 1t
Is to keep single. And single he'll keep"
No, keene, no; he must marry Ger
trude. l have thought it all out. My
little Laure must have a father as well
as mother when I'm gone-and don't
think that is long hence, Tony. shan't
see sixty-four."
tried to combat this notion, though l
myself was far from thinking 1t improba-
BILE; and then to turn the conversation,
/ said:
well, to go back to what you have
been thinking out-what's your idea"
Il wish to put Awdrey in a position to
marry Miss Dalrymple. know he is
poor, but l am rich. would leave him
every penny have on the condition that
he adopts Laure as his daughter"
II see your notion. There will then be
a second inducement for him to make
Miss Dalrymple his wife In the fact that
the child is inseparable from her. think
the idea is an extremely good one, so
good that l wish had thought of it my
self"
Very well, then; draw up a will In
accordance with 1t. Settle everything
upon Awdrey, subject to deduction for a
few smaller legacies that will write in.
Let me have the draft of it in a week at
the outside, Tony" he said eagerly.
promised to do this, and went home,
turning the matter over in my mind. l
considered it from time to time during
the week, and finding no material objec-
tion to the scheme, l put Flexmore's
notion into legal form, with certain mod
ifcatiOns, and then took rough draft
for his inspection.
rs your master at home?" l asked the
girl who opened the door.
"Yes, sir; he's in the library with Mrs.
Yeames and Mr.. Yeames."
'Mr. Yeames? what Mr.. Yeames?" l
asked the little maid, sharply.
"Mr. Lynn Yeames is his name, I think,
sir; young gentleman"
Mrs. Yeames' son. know him."
said /; and then stood, rubbing my feet
on the mat and wondering what on earth
brought him upon the scene for. No
good, l felt sure.
MIR. Lynn Yeames was the son of Mrs.
Yeames by her second marriage. This
was not much In his favor, but the rest
was much less to his advantage. / had
been twice employed by Flexmore on his
account once to settle some college debts
which Mrs. Yeames declared she could not
meet, and a second time to stay an action
for breach Of promise, threatened by a
townsman's daughter with whom he had
got entangled. Fellows brought up by
foolish women on bad principles are al
ways either getting out Of scrapes or get
ting into them, and l asked myself which
purpose had procured his uncle the doubt
ful pleasure of this visit.
shook myself together, and went into
the library with my wits on the alert.
Lynn Yeames was at this time about
four ur-and-twenty and his looks would have
deceived anyone but a lawyer. A sturdy
young fellow Of average height, but very
thick-set. His skin was very fair his
eyes very blue, his lips very red his hair
was combed down on one side Of his fore
head, and he had small carroty mus
tache. Most people, l believe, would
have been favorably impressed with him,
but did not like him.
He had come down, 1t seemed, to spend
a few days, and he had only been here
day and was awfully bored already-not
a descent billiard board In the place, and
not light to be seen after ten-thirty.
He wanted to know II there was any
fishing or shooting, or any mortal thing
man might do to earn nights repose.
There's the piano, Lynn, dear" sug-