San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-02-20

-. ..s,..,i'd JGdJ worthy sums
OF money for taking care uf her. QUnp.
What reason had the said Mons Tor eN-
hibiting so much care for the child. I'M
less he were a person Of wonderfully
benevolent disposition, which my hero
was not at all inclined to believe?
81 said Monk and said .luur, were Ou
very familiar terms, which wasrurious,
seeing the difference in their social pO-
sitiOnS. query again. Was there any
private reason, any mysterious knowl-
edge, any secret shared in common,
which bound their interests together?
"A Last and most extraordinary of all,
said Monk had now expressed his wish
and intention of marrying the waif he
had rescued from the sea, committed
to the care Of said Jones, and brought
up in ragged ignorance, innocent of
grace or grammar, on that lonely shore.
Query again, and again, and yet again,
What the deuce had put the idea into
Monks head: and was there at the bot
tom of it any deeper and more cOnceiv-
able motive than the one of ordinary
affection for pretty. if mcultivated.
child?
The more Charles Brinklev pondnr,.d
all these questions the more hoprl sly
puzzled he became. But his curiosity,
once reused, could not rest. He deter
mined, if possible, to get to the midrin
of the mystery. So intent was he on
this object. which fitted in beautifully
with his natural Incidence, that he
at once Knocked off painting for the
day, and after breakfasting on the fare
with which Tim had by this time APP
peared, he strolled away toward thcsca
shore.
lie had not gone far when he SAW az
preaching him tall figure which lac
seemed to recognize. II came closer.
and he saw that it Vas Mr. Monk, of
MOnkshurst.
This time Monk was on foot. lie
wore dark dress with knickerbockrrs
and heavy shOOting-boOts, and carried
gun. \ large dog, Of the species
lurcheT, followed ut his heels.
Brinkley was passing hy withuat any
SalutatiOn, when, 10 his surprise. the
other paused and lifted his hat.
Il beg your pardon" hr said. We
have met once before; and think |
have to apologize t" You for minten-
tiOnal inciviity. The fact is-hum-I
mistOOk you for a--yagrmt, did not
know you were gentleman
So staggered was the artist with this
greeting, that he could only borrow the
vocabulary of Mr. Toots
"Oh, it's of no consequence" hr said.
attempting to pass ON.
But the other pcrscvcled
81 assure you, Mr.. -Mr-(T have not
the pleasure of knowing your name,
that had no desire of offending Nuu:
ard if did 50, beg to apologize"
Brinkley looked keCnly AT the speaker.
His words aud manner were greatly ut
variance with his looks-cyrn with the
tone of his voice. Though he smiled
and showed his teeth. dark frnWn still
diStigured his brow. and his mouth
twitchrd mrrNunely rs if he were in At
ease.
Regarding him thus CLOSELY Brinkiey
saw that he had been somewhat mis-
taken as to his age. He WAS consider
ably under fifty Years of a.r. but his
hair was mixed with gray. and his feat
ures strongly marked as with the sears
of old passions. \ handsome man. Ger
tainly; an amiablr one. certainly not.
Yet he had peculiar air of power and
breeding. as Of one accustomed To- COM
mand
Curiosity oy"rcam" diNi.l,,. and lie
young man determined {" receive Mr..
Monk 5 overture H. amiahh A. pos .ibIp.
81 dare say II was Il mistake" he said.
Gentlemen don't Usually travel about
in caravans
You are an artist. am informed"
returned Monk.
Something Of that sort" was the re-
ply. Il paint il Little for pleasure"
And do YOU find this neighborhoOd
suit your purpose? 1t is mrwhat fiat
and unpictureSqur.'
Il rather like it," answered Brmkley.
at is pretty in summer; it must be
splendid in winter, when the storms be-
gin, and the meventlul 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:
1T is not often that shipwrecks occur
now, am glad to say"
MOI" 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.
Why fifteen years ago especially"
The young man shrugged his Shout
ders.
Il was told only to-day of the loss of
one great ship at that time, Matt told
me, the little founding. You know
Matt, of course"
Il know whom you mean. Excuse
me, but you seem to be very familiar
with her name?"
Il suppose 1 am" replied the young
man. Matt and / are excellent friends"
Monk did not smile now; all his eff
forts to do SO were Intellectual. With an
expression of savage dislike. he looked
in Brinkley's face. and his voice, though
his words were still civil. trembled and
grew harsh as "scrannelpipes of straw"
May ! ask if you purpose remaining
long in this neighbOrhOOdI"
Il don't know" answered the artist.
MY time is my own, and ! shall stay as
long as the place amuSes me-"
IF / can assist in making it do 50, |
shall be happy. sir"
Thank you"
"Do you care for Notwithstanding? If
so. there is some SNORT To be had among