The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-05-09
CHAPTER VIII.
TIE pEvlL'S CALpRON.

Tp u'iDlSllNNi i.lIiV llC 1Oullp IlluIl OF I'M
caravan hal two considerable faults The first
fault my reader has, doubt, already guessed
he was consItutionally lazy. The second fault
| will appear more clearly in the sequel; he
was, also constitutionally, inquisitive. Now,
his lznesss was of that not uncommon kind
which is capable Of great deal of activity,
80 long as that activity is unconscious, and
not realized as being in the nature of ,oork,.
and its possessor, therefore, would frequently,
In his idle way, bestir himself a good deal |;
Whereas if he had been ordered to bestir
himself, he would have yawned and resisted.
Here his other constitutional defect came in,
and set him prying into matters which in no
way seriously concerned him.
No sooner was he left to his own medita-
tons, which the faithful Tim (who had fortu-
nately been away on a foraging expedition
during the episode described in my last chap
teri was not at hand to disturb, than our
young gentleman began pulling his brains
over the curious information sho had given
him. The facts, which he had no reason to
question, ranged themscvc5under four hcads
~ Matt had been cast ashore fifteen years
previously, at an ago when she could pro-
nounce the word "Papan 1t followed, us
rational argument, that she Lad been, say,
ono year old or thercaborts.
C9 Mr.. Monk had found her, and given
her into tho care of William Jones, and had
since handed that worthy sums of money for
taking care of her. query, What reason Lad
the said Monk for exhibiting 50 much caro- for
for the child, unless he wera n person Of Won
derfully benevolent disposition, which my
hero was not at all inclined - believe.
C3 Said Monk and said Jones wcro On very
familiar terms, which was curious, seeing the
difference il their social positions. Query
again, Was thcro nny private reason, any
mysterious knowledge, Gny secret shared in
common, which bound their interests to-
getherl
~ Last and most extraordinary OF I'll,
said iionk had now expressed his wish and
intention 10 iAacryinGth Wai' he ID re cucd
from tho So, committed to tho c2"e OF said
Jones, md brouG up i'll raced ignorance,
innocent of grace or grammar, ol th2c lonely |
shore. QHcjV again, and cG&in, and yot |
,gain: What tho deuce had puo tho idea into |
Monks lc&d; end was tho"c rs the Iottoll of !
t any deeper and moro Concciycblo motive |
han tho one of ordinary affection for pref |
y, il uncultivatcd, childl
The more Charles Brinklcy pondcrcd over
III 1Ii'4 H'llH't'tlT Dlls-
he'd he became But ais curiosity, once
oused, could not rest. He determined, il
'ossiblc, to LOT 10 tho midrif of tho mystery.
30 intent was he on this subject, which fitted
II beautifully with his natural Incidence, that
10 at once Anooked Off painting for the day,
md oc;er Fredericksburg on the iaro with which
Tim Lad by tbs time appeared, he strolled
Iway toward tie seashore.
1Io has! To. conc far when he saw approach
ms him a tall figure which he seeincl to REQ
,gnize. 1t came closer, and he saw that it
was Mr.. Monk, Of Monksh,rst.
This time Monk was on foot. He wore a
lark dress, with knickerbockers and heavy
hoo,ine; boots, and carried u gun. A largo
log, Of tho species mrcher, followed ut his
leels.
D.inklcy was passing by without my salu-
alton, when, to his surprise, tho other paused
NIL lifted his hat,
II beg your pardon, he said. "We have
net once before; and think l havc 70 apollo
,ize to you for unintentional incivility Tho
act hunt mistook you for a-vasrantl
did not know you were n gentleman
SO staggered was tho artist with this greet
ne that no could only borrow the vocabulary
If Mr.. Toots:
"Oh, it's of no consequence" he said, at
empting to pass on.
But the other persevered.
IL assure you, Mr., Mr. q have not
he pleasure Of knowing your name), that I
lad no desire Of offending you; and if did
o beg to apologize"
Brinkley looked keenly at the speaker His
rords and manner were greatly at variance
With his loolcs-evcn with the tone OF his
Ioice Though be smiled and showed his
eeth, dark frown still disfisyured his brow,
md his mouth twitched nervously, as if he
we're i'll at casa
Regarding him thus closely, Brinkley saw
Int no had been somewhat mistaken rs to his
'ge. Hc was considerably under fifty years
II age, but his hair was mixed with gray and
his features strongly marked as with thescars
II old passions A handsome man, certainly;
IN amiable one, certainly notl Yet he had
,eculiar air Of power and breeding, as Of one ,
10 command.
Curiosity ovcrcame dislike, and tho young
nan determined TO receive Mr. Monks over .
ure as amiably as ossible
II da-o say il WINS n mistake" he saii /