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


measures, in conjunction with his mother,
to prejudice Flexmore against her. "You
have not encouraged your nephew's Wis
its, have you, George" | asked.
"No; at the same time l could not re-
fuse to receive him. There is nothing in
his behavior l could take exception to.
Indeed, he has tried his utmost to make
himself agreeable"
~ don't doubt that for moment. hana
him He can make himself pleasant II
| he likes, or unpleasant, either. | war.
| rant he's clever enough to keep his moth
er out of sight What effect has he made
on Miss Dalrymple with his agreeable
waysT
81 am afraid she likes him. 1t Is only
natural she should be brighter and gayer
in his society. l am very dull, and there
are no visitors here-none of her own age
and then Lynn is clever and lively, he
plays nicely, and sings well, too. He is
very attentive, and she could not be un.
gracious"
I'VE must stop 1t at that. There's M
time to be lost" said l.
do you think he Intends to marry
herr"
"Not unless he's sure she has money.
II your money were settled on her, he
would. We will set his mind at rest on
that subject. You must sign your will,
and give me permission to make its pro-
visions known to DIR. Awdrey. l wager
that we will soon put Master Lynn's nose
out of joint"
| took care to be on the road about
the time Awdrey was starting on his
rounds, and when he came up in his gig
asked him to give me lift as far as
Langly. He had to shift half dozen
books from the seat beside him to make
| place for me.
"What on earth are you carting your
library about for!' 4 asked.
They're only books of reference. Going
along straight roads and up hill l can
give the old pony the rens and do bit
Of work"
you're burning the candle at both
ends; it's bad enough to sit up half the
night over your books. Families don't
care for bachelor doctors. You ought to
marry"
Marry exclaimed Awdrey with a
grim laugh and then he looked ruefully
into the distance.
"Yes. marry" l repeated. There's
Miss Dalrymple; you ought to marry
her."
What, do you think she likes me?
he asked, with eager quickness.
81 don't know who doesn't like you"
''Oh, in a general way" said he in a
tone of disappointment. well, suppos.
ing she had liked me well enough to risk
the chance of poverty, do you think it
would have been fair TO take advantage
of her courage, knowing what an unlucky
beggar l amp"
But you're not an unlucky beggar,"
! said 1. Read that" and put the draft
of old Flexmore's will into his hand,
open, that he might have no hesitation
in glancing at 1t.
He just ran his eye down the draft,
which could be read at glance, for l
pride myself on writing legibly and bold
ly, and then exclaimed, turning to me in
astonishment:
Great powers! Why should Fler
more leave me all this money!"
THAT you may marry the girl you
love, and that his child may have a good
woman as well as good man to protect
and befriend her."
He dropped his hand, and folded up
the draft and slipped it back in my
pocket. When l glanced at him again he
was staring into the distance, and there
was moisture on the lower lash Of bis
eye.
TOO late. too late!" he faltered. II
l had only known this week agow
well, what difference would that have
made? The draft was made out a fort.
night ago."
He shook his head. Don't you know
that Lynn Yeames is in love with herr"
he asked. He came to me and in a
frank and loyal manner told me that he
had heard that l was an old friend OF
Miss Dalrymple; he asked me IL were
more than her friend-if l intended to
make her my wife. l knew what that
meant, and answered that had no in.
tention to marry her, and that she was
free so far as l was concerned. In that
case, said he, 4 shall make her my wife,
And we shook hands on this understand.
ing. With my hand in his he asked II
he might consider me his friend, and
answered heartily, 'Yes!"
"Confound Lynn Yeames =! l cried, un.
able to control my evaporation.
"You must admit that he acted openly
and loyalty" said Awdrey. "You ar
deceived in him."
"Yes," replied, "for did not think
he was such clever rascal as he is. Aw-
drey," l added, after minutes thought,
you must forget last week."
Forget that l renounced all hope o,
making Gertrude my wife! Forget an
understanding made with a man to whom
l gave my hand as friend You don't
know me, Mr.. Keene."
"Oh, yes I do" said savagely. "Put
me down here. l might as well try to
soften the Lord Chief Justice with a sigh
as convert you from your principles with
~