The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1908-03-19
CHAPTER VII.


/ did not anticipate any serious conse-
guences from that evenings amusement.
II seemed to me that Miss Dalrymple was
entirely occupied with the music, and
doubtless no thought Of anything else
could have entered her head without be-
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 perceving 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 OF 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 Dai-
rymple home. .-.
Two mornings after the concert DR..
Awdrey called on me, looking as yellow
as an old title-deed. -aaea #a .t.,@"
'You must 60 up to Flexmore House
at once" he said, without asking me how
/ was, or any other preliminary civility.
"Flexmore is In critical condition
there's not moment to spare"
What does he want me for?' | asked.
''He wants to see you about that fool
of will you drew up for him. Get into
my trap. ] 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; I h. We another case to attend.
can do nothing for Flexmore at present :
Miss Dalrymple has my instructions, and
I can rely on her carrying them out"
drove over to Flexmore House. sus-
pecting mischief. found my old friend
in bed, but perfectly calm and collected.
Miss Dalrymple was in the room with
little Laure, who clung 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. sa4
"My DEAR" he said to Miss Dalrymple,
@you must leave us for a few minutes,
please; we have a little matter of busi-
ness to discuss, my old friend and T."
"Well, what is it, George?" I asked
going to the bedside.
"Tony, you mast alter that will or
draw up another at once. You thought
right TO tell DIR. 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 1t If you let the
will stand; we shall sec" .* saa
"Eut the will must not stand; he has
shown me that. For the child's sake,
for that dear girl Gertrudes 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 be 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? \
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" ...a.
This took my breath away, and left
me no ground to stand ON.
And she accepted him? / gasped, Of
| ter an interval of silence. aerrt ~'#l .
"She did. Yeames told Dr. Awdrey
yesterday morning. lie 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 nc
reason to disbelieve, in him. In fact
it's only you, Tony, who stick out se
obstinately against him; and you, a:
every one knows, are a man of strong pre-
judices--very strong prejudices."
II man of strong prejudicesT gasp
ed. IL, lawyer, whose business it il
to weigh both sides of the question ant
decide impartially? ], an old man o
the world" ss.
"I don't care what you may be; know
you are an obstinate, pig-headed old fel
low. But you must let me have my wa.
IL know am right. No argument viii
change mel must have my way"
Good" said 1; "Tll draw up arothe
win. 1t shall be just as you wish
As left the house spied Lyn
4 Yeames coming down the road; but ha
no patience to speak to him, and jumpin
in the doctors gig, drove off as quickl
as I could. kept the gig at the door
and then, going into my Office. fetche
out the draft Of the old will and a shee
Of foolscap to write the new one upor
Just at that momen. my housekeeper cam
in to say that my lunch was served.
had an hours wor', before me; It woul
take another hour and half to carry
over to FlexInore, get his signature, an
return. .hs af 2sr w sdHaa ~
Just as was fnishing,, there WAS
ring at the bell. and my housekeep'
a ~ l. = "a - N<Suyx