Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-06-05
CHAPTER VIII.
TIE DEVILS CALDRoN.

EiSfG lis OltiSf GOISAitutiOilll icIScG CaIl0 IN,
and set him prying into matters which in 10
way seriously concerned him.
No sooner was he left to his own medita-
tions, which the faithful Tim who had fortu-
nately baen away en- a foraging expedition
| during the episode described il my Last chap
teri was not at hand to disturb, than cur
young gentleman began pulling his brains
over the curious information she had gwen
him. The facts, which he had no reason to
| question, ranged themselves under four heads:
! (D Matt had been cast ashore fifteen years
previously, at an age when she could pro-
nounce the word ''Fapa." 1t followed, as
rational argument, that she had been, say,
one year old or thereabouts.
C) Mr. Monk had found her, and given
he into the care Of WI-:ann Jones, and had
:;-co handed that worthy sums OF money fer
taking caro- Of Ter. CWcrY, What reason Lad
| the said Monk for exhibiting SO much caro- for
for the child, unless he Wo1o q, person Of Won
derfully benevolent disposition, which ny
hero was not ct all inclined to believe?
| (3) Said Monk and said Cones were On very
familiar terms which was curious, seeing the
difference III their social positions. Query
again, Was there any private reason, any
mysterious Knowledge, eny secret shared in
common, which bound their interests to-
gethers
q Last and most extraordinary Of ell,
said Monk had now expressed his wish and
intention to marrying tho waif he Lad rescued
from the ser, committed to the care of said
Jones' and brought up in ragged Ignorance,
innocent of grace or grammar, en- that lonely
shore Query again, and again, end yet
again: What the deuce had put the idea into
Monks head; and was there at tho bottom Of
it any deeper and more conceivable motive
than the one of ordinary affection for pref
| ty, if uncultivated, child?
The moro Charles Brinkley pondered over
all these questions the more hopelessly pllz-
lied he became But his curiosity once
reused, could not rest. He determined, il
possible, to set to the nidrif Of the mystery.
So intent was he Oh, this subject, which fitted
| &c beautifully with his natural Incidence, ths&
| ne at once knocked OF painting for the day,
and after breakfasting on the fare with which
Tim had by this time appeared, he strolled
away toward the seashore.
| He had noe gone arwien he saw approach
| ing him tall figure which he seemed to rec
ognize. Tt came closer, and he saw that it
was Mr.. Monk, Of Monkshurst.
This time Monk was on foot. He wore q
dark dress, with lnickerbocl1ers and heavy
shooting boots, and carried q gun. A large
dog, Of the species lurcher, followed at his
heels.
| Bzinkley YVES passing by without any salr-
| tation, when, to his surprise, the other paused
and lifted his hat.
II beg your pardon, he said. 'We have
met once before; and think have to apollo
gize to you for unintentional incivility. The
! fact is-hunl-I nistook you for a-vagrant!
| did not know you were gentleman"
| So staggered was the artist with this greet
| ing that he could only borrow the vocabulary
Of Mr.. Toots:
'Oh, it's of no consequence" he said, ats
tempting to pass on.
| But the other persevered.
| II assure you, Mr., Mr. q have not
| the pleasure Of knowing your nance, that I
had no desire Of offending you; and if 1 did
SO I beg to apologize"
| Brinl1ley looked keenly at the speaker His
| words and manner were greatly ct variance
with his looks-even with the tone of his
voice. Though he smiled and showed his
| teeth, dark frown still disfgured his brow,
| and his mouth twitched nervously, as ii he
were i'll at ease.
Regarding him thus closely, Brinkley saw
| that he had been somewhat mistaken as to lis
age He was considerably under fifty years
of age, but his hair was mixed with gray and
his features strongly marked as with thescars
of old passions A handsome man, certainly;
an amiable one, certainly not! Yet he'had
peculiar air OF power and breeding, as OF one
accustomed to command.
Curiosity overcame dislike, and the young
man determined to receive Mr.. Monks over
ture as amiably aspossible.
~ dare say it was o mistake" he said
Gentlemen don't usually travel about in
caravans"
''You are an artist, am informed" re-
turned Monk.
''Something of that sort" was the reply.
ct paint little for pleasure"
'And do you find this neighborhood suit
your purpose? 1t is somewhat flat and TN
picturesque"
II rather like it," answered Brinkley. SIT
is pretty in summer; it must be splendid in
winter, when the storms begin, and the I'M
eventful career of our friend William Jones
is varied by the excitement of wrecks"
How Monks forehead darkened! But his
face smiled still as he said:
"It is not often that shipwrecks occur now,
[ am glad to say"
ssNo?n said Brinkley, dryly. "They used to
be common enough fifteen years ago?"
Their eyes met, and the eyes Of Monk were
full of fierce suspicion.
'sWhy fifteen years ago especiallyw
The young man shrugged his shoulders.
IT was told only to-day Of the loss Of one
great ship at that time. Matt told ne, the
little founding You know Matt, Of course?"
II know whom you mean. Excuse me,
but you seem to be very familiar with her
nalneY
''Isuppose I am," replied the young man.
ssMatt and l arc excellent friends
Il =, Il
do so were Intellectual. With an expression
of savage dislike he looked in Brinkley'sface,
and his voice, though lis words were still
civil trembled and grew harsh 'as scrannel
pipes of straw"
MAY I ask if you purpose remaining long
in the neighborhoodM
II don't know" answered the artist. ''My
time is my own, and shall stay as long as
the place amuses me-"
eff can assist in making it do so, I shall
be happy, sir"
s'Thank you"
''Do you care for rabbit shooting? If SO
there is some sport to be had among tho sand
hillsn
IT never shoot anything was the reply,
Except suppose, folly as it flies; though
with what species of firearm that interesting
sport is pursued, he added, as if to himself,
'sI haven't the slightest ideal"
''Well, good-day," said Monk, with an I'M
easy scowl. ''If I can be of any service to
you command mel"
And, raising his hatagain, he stalzed away.
s'Now, what in the name of all that is
wonderful, does Mr.. Monk, of Monkshurst,
mean by becoming SO civil?"
This was the question the young man asked
himself as he strolled away seward. He
could not persuade himself that he had
wronged Monk, who was in reality an ami
! able person, instead Of domineerins h"1lv'