Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1910-07-28
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but he said nothing.
with this little preface think you
will understand that what have
sought you out for is not to ask favors
but to give orders, in view of Zee's re-
turn"
But, Rodney, Rodney-that matter
needs no discussion. l shall hope tc
make my daughter happy in her faith
er's house, am her natural protect
Or"
you are, indeed; but a few instruc-
tions from me will be of great assist
ance, Ezra. To begin with, want you
to understand that the first time
hear you have mistreated that girl OF
in any way made her. uncomfortable
shall horsewhip you in front of the
postoffice. The second time l shall cow
hide you in your own house, and the
third offense l shall punish either by
shooting you or taking you out and
dropping you into the river, l haven't
decided which. 1 expect you to pro-
vide generously for her out of the
money her mother left her. If you
haven't squandered it there ought to
be a goodly sum by this time"
Il fear she has acquired expensive
tastes abroad. Julia always spent
money wastefully."
You ugly hypocrite, talking about
expensive fastest l suppose you have
let everybody you know imagine that
it has been your money that has kept
Zee abroad It's like you, and you're
certainly a consistent beast AS 1 was
saying, l mean that you shall treat her
n
but mine. l want you to brace up and
try to act or look like white man.
You've got to keep enough servants in
that old shell of yours to take care of
it. You must be immensely rich by
this time. You haven't spent any
money for twenty years; and you've
undoubtedly profited well in your
handling of what Margaret left Zee.
That was like Margaret, to make you
trustee of her child's property, after
the dogs life you had led her! You
may be sure that it wasn't because she
| had any confidence in you, but because
she had borne with you bravely, and
| it was like her to make an outward
show of respect for you from the
grave And 1 suppose she hoped you
might be a man at last for the girls
sake. The girls her mother over
again. she's thoroughbred. And you
II suppose God tolerates you on earth
merely to make Heaven more attrac-
tive"
Merriam at no time raised his voice;
the Merriams were a low-spoken fam
lily; and when Rodney Merriam was
quietest he was most dangerous.
Voices could be heard now across the
hall. The morning conference was at
an end; and Michael Carr crossed TO
his room at twenty five minutes be-
fore nine, and opened the door in the
full knowledge that Ezra Dameron was
waiting for him. Many strange things
had happened in the offices of Knight,
Kittredge & Carr; but Michael Carr
had long ago formed the habit of see
ing everything and saying nothing.
Good morning, gentlemen" he said,
affably, and shook hands with both
men.
Il have just been warning Ezra
against overwork," said Merriam, com
posedly. "At Ezra's age man ought
to check himself; he ought to let other
people use the hammer and drive the
nails"
Rodney always had his little joke"
said Dameron, and laughed a dry
laugh that showed his teeth in his very
unpleasant smile.
Merriam wished both gentlemen a
satisfactory disposition of their busi-
ness. 1t was, of course, a perfectly
natural thing for him to drop into
law office on a pleasant October morn
-
his family, hold converse with him on
matters of common interest Michael
Carr was not, however, a dull man.
and he understood perfectly that Rod
ney Merriam had decided to resume
diplomatic relations with Ezra Damer-
on; and he rightly guessed the reason
to be the return of Margaret Damer-
on's daughter to her fathers house.
Merriam found Morris Leighton at
work in the library. The young man
threw down his book in surprise as the
old gentleman darkened the door
"The date shall be printed in red ink
on the office wall! 1 never expected to
see you here!"
1T may never happen again, my
boy. Is this, all you have to do, read
books? l sometimes wish l had been
a lawyer. Nothing to do but read and
write; it's the easiest business there
is"
Mr.. Carr would like to see you; I'd
be glad to call him-except that this
is his morning with Mr.. Cameron"
ITO be sure it is; but don't trouble
yourself. I've seen both Of them, any
how"
obi"
4 just happened in and found Mr.
Dameron waiting; so l amused him
until Mr. Carr appeared You still
have your historic morning roundup
here. l suppose. There are two things
that you young gentlemen will un-
doubtedly derive from Mr.. Carr-good !
manners and sound literary tastes"
CHAPTER V.
Zelda's days ran on now much like |
those Of other girls in Mariona. Be-
tween Mrs. Forrest and Mrs. Carr, she |
was well launched socially, and her /
time was fully occupied. She overhauled |
the house and changed its furnishings /
radlcally-while her father blinked at /
the expenditures. Rodney Merriam, /
dropping in often to chaf Zelda about /
her neglect Of himself, rejoiced at the
free way in which she contracted bills. /
The old mahogany from the garnet fit
ted into the house charmingly. The din
gy walls were frightened with new pa
pers; the old carpets were taken up,
the floors stained, to save the trouble