Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1886-04-01

your trouble Tor nothing; It's my ignorance
that's to blame, not me. l couldn't know
was unworthy of genuine milk till l tried
could 1! And do you know!" he proceeded,
with his eye directed slyly on the way back to
the station ''I begin to think Pm not worthy
of the fresh air, either. A kind of longing
seems to come over me for the London stink
Pm homesick already for the SCOT of my
happy childhood and my own dear native
mud. The air here is too. thin for me, and
the sky too clear; and-oh Lord!-when
you're used to the roar of the traffic-the
'busses and the cabs and what not-the
silence in these parts is downright awful. I'll
wish you good evening, miss, and get back to
London
Isabel turned to Moody with disappont-
ment plainly expressed in her face and man
ner.
rs that all he has to sayg" she asked.
You told me he could help us. You led me
to suppose he could find the guilty person."
Sharon heard her. Il could name the
guilty person" he answered, 'as easily miss,
as could name you"
'Why don't you do it, thenl" Isabel in
quired, not very patiently.
because the times not ripe for it yet
miss-that's one reason Because if | men-
toned the thief's name, things are now,
you, Miss Isabel, would think me mad; and
you would tell Mr. Moody had cheated him
out of his money-thatls another reason
The matters in train, if you will only wait
! little longer"
$50 you say" Isabel rejoined. IF you
really could name the thief, | believe you
would do it now.n
She turned away with a frown on her
pretty face Old Sharon followed her.
Even his coarse sensibilities appeared to feel
the irresistible ascendency of beauty and
youth.
81 sayr' he began, 1--WE must part friends,
you know, or shall break my heart over it.
They have got milk at the farm house. Do
you think they have got pen, ink and paper,
toog
Isabel answered without turning to look
at him, ''Of course they have"
"And bit of sealing-waxP
81 dare say.''
shoulder, and forced her to face him as the
best means of shaking them off.
| "Come alongr' he said II am going to
| pacify you with some information in writ
"Why should you write it!" Isabel asked,
suspiciously.
| Because l mean to make my own condi-
tions, my dear, before L let you into the
secret
In ten minutes more they were all three in
| the farm house parlor Nobody but the
j farmers wife was at home. The good wo-
man trembled from head to foot at the sight
of Old Sharon. In all her harmless life She
! had never yet seen humanity under the as
| pect in which it was now presented to her.
"Mercy preserve us, miss!' she whispered to
Isabel, show come you to be in such COM
| pany as thatY' Instructed by Isabel she
| produced the necessary materials for writing
| and sealing, and, that done, she shrank away
to the door. ''Please to excuse me, miss"
| she said, with last Mortified look at her ven
cradle visitor; Il really can't stand the sight
| of such a blot of dirt that in my nice
| clean parlorn With these words she disap-
| peared and was seen no more
| Perfectly Indifferent to his reception, Old
| Sharon wrote, inclosed what he had written
| in an envelope and sealed it I'm the absence
of anything better fitted for his purpose)
| with the mouthpece of his pipe.
"Now, miss" he said, you give me your
word of honorn-he stopped and looked round
at Moody with grin-''and you give me
| yours, that you won't either of you break the
| seal on this envelope till the expiration of
one week from the present day. These are
the conditions, Miss Isabel, on which I'll
give you your information. If you stop to
dispute with me, the candles alight, and I'll
burn the letter"
1t was useless to contend with him. Isabel
and Moody gave him the promise that he
required. He handed the sealed envelope to
Isabel with low bow. "When the weeks
out" he said, ''you will own Pm a cleverer
fellow than you think me now. Wish you
good evening, miss. Come along, Puggy!
Farewell to the horrid, clean country, and
back again to the nice London stinkln
He nodded to Moody-he leered at Isabel
he chuckled to himself-he left the farm
house.
CHAPTER XIV.
Isabel Looked down at the letter in her
hand, considered it in silence, and turned to
Moody. 81 feel tempted to open it already
she said.
"After giving your promises" Moody gently
demonstrated.
Isabel met that objection with q woman's
logic.
docs promise matter, she asked, "when
one gives it to dirty, disreputable, presum-
ing old wretch like Mr.. Sharon? It's wonder
to me that you trust such a creature.
wouldn't"
~ doubted him just as you do" Moody
answered, "when first saw him in company
with Mr.. Troy. But there was something in
the advice he gave us at the first consultation
which altered my opinion of him for the
better. l dislike his appearance and his
manners as much as you dol may even say
felt ashamed Of bringing such person to
see you. And yet can't think that have
acted unwisely in employing Mr.. Sharon"
Isabel listened absently. She had some
thing more to say, and she was considering
how she should say it. MAY ask you bold
question: she began.
"Any question you like"
"Have you" She hesitated and looked
embarrassed 'Have you paid Mr.. Sharon
much money!" she resumed, suddenly rally
ing her courage Instead of answering
Moody suggested that it was time to think
of returning to Miss Pink's villa. 'sYour
aunt may be getting anxious about you," he
said.
Isabel led the way out of the farm house
in silence She reverted to Mr.. Sharon and
the money, however, as they returned by the
path across the fields.
81 am sure you will not be offended with
me-" she said, gently, .if 1 own that l am
uneasy about the expenses. l am allowing
you to use your purse as if it were mine, and
| have hardly any savings of my own"
Moody entreated her. not to speak of it,
"How can l put my money to better use
than in serving your interests" he asked.
my one object in life is to relieve you of
your present anxieties. shall be the hap
piest man living if you only owe moments
happiness to my exertions.'
Isabel took his hand, and looked at him
with grateful tears in her eyes.
''How good you are to me, Mr.. Moody"
she said 81 wish could tell you how deeply
feel your kindness"
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