Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1888-03-21

| bird. discovered NO. JGI at last, and found
the house empty, and bill, with "This
House to Let" pasted upon the shutters.
Mr.. 'Geoffry Bird had left the neighborhood
within tho last few days, and no one in Cos.
we'll road know what had become Of him.
Sol had my journey for nothing, and all
the expenses Of payment for carrying ME
through the heart of the big city, where there
was not breath Of air stirring that hot day.
1 do not think the drive did me any good,
wasso terribly vexed that Mr.. Bird was not
to be discovered, and that had to return to
| Prossiter street with his hateful carving or
my lap. would have thrown it out of tho
cab only was afraid of hitting somebody
between the eyes and creating nh uproar in
thometropolis.
'sPut that wretched thing away where
can't see it," said to Bridget on my return.
"Yes, MIN; leave it to me, m'm.'
II don't mean where We can't find it,"
addSi, meeting decisive expression il
Bridget O'Gowan's green eyes that alarmed
me; tho man mny call again. although
doubt it very much"
Next week was strong enough to join tht
BriAr ], at Margato-that salubrious retreat
MsS;p one meets everybody he knows, if ht
only Waits long enough. And On the Jet.
extension that evening met Capt. Chopper
and Mr.. Goodc, who had both como dowr
"by accident" and who had been passing
each other on the jetty all the evening q
though they had never met in the who'll
course of their lives. Mr.. Goodies two son
were in Margate also, but, having fallel
headlong into tho water while fishing, hat
gone home to bed while their suits were being
dried. And the next morning whom shoult
meet face to face, and smiling as vigorousl.
rs ever, but Gcoffry Bird, the carver
1t was carly morning, when few peopl
were stirring, and had gone for a wall
along the fort to put my blood in circulation
and get all appetite for breakfast. TIL
Brians were not early risers, and l knew i
was no use calling at their apartments til
$50 o'clock.
Mr.. Bird was clad in dark blue pilot suit
with very yellow straw hat set on the bacl
of his head and large telescope under hi
arm. He Was supremely nautical, and tool
him for somebody rather high in the coas
guard service-a sergeant or something
before he raised his hat and came with an an
| telope kind Of spring toward me.
miss Neild," he exclaimed, II am so yer.
glad to see you about again. You reall.
cannot imagine how glad am.''
II don't understand why it should occasion
you any pleasure, sir" said, in my most re
served tone Of voice.
"Don't you, though! Oh, well, I'll to-
YOU"
He turned and walked by my side, and
did not see on the instant how it was possibl
to get rid of him. l felt my equanimity wa
seriously disturbed by his appearance, by hi
insufferable obtrrisiveness. This was par
and parcel of his ordinary behavior-a tota
want of forethought, which was as eviden
| that day as in the small hours Of the morn
| ing when he had reused me out Of my frs
sleep by nearly battering the house down.
| He alluded to that little incident at once.
"In answering me that unlucky night
Miss Neild, you nearly caught your death,
he explained, land nobody can imagine ho7
miserable I was-how desperately wretchet
until l heard you were out Of danger.
should have never forgiven myself, upon III,
honor, and did not know a moments peac
till Bridget, your girl, told me you were ou
Of danger. Lor', what q trial it was"
~ don't sec why-I don't understand at al
p
II can just fancy how Il man feels who ha
committed q murder and is not found on
yet" he continued; lit was dreadful, and al
my own fault, too-every scrap Of it."
I did not feel SO bitterly toward him afte
this. His manner was genuine, if too forci
BILE aad fluent for everyday wear. I nigh
have even thanked him for his exaggerated
interest in my health and said good morning
if had not suddenly remembered his sur
reptitious visits to my dodgers apartments
! Then was adamant, and he saw it, He wa
certainly an observant man, whom yer,
| little escaped. I noticed the broad smil
disappear, and he said, almost with astonish
ment:
why, you're offended with me still!
"As l have only seen you once before il
my life, cannot very we'll speak of bcin:
offended, Mr.. Bird-but I must say
NO no, don't say it, he cried, interrupt
ing lie, don't say a word more, please. l.
know it was great liberty-an unwarrant
able libcrty-but could't help it. wanted
to make little return for all the trouble ant
misery had brought about, and couldn,
think of anything else. had just done it
you see."
Done what" exclaimed, snappishly-
could have screamed at him for two pins.
"Why, the little bit of carving-aren't yol
talking about that." he inquired
"No, sir, although I'll trouble you to re
move the article from my premises as sool
as you conveniently cam"
"Ohn
But am alluding now, sir, to your un
gentlemanly behavior in bribing my servant
to let you inspect my apartments"
~ didn't bribe your servants, Miss Neild
Poor girls, frightened them, but 1 did no
give them money as a bribe. You nigh
have thought better of. fellow than that,
he said, very sorrowfully although VIII,
you should ont know exactly"
"You had no right to 60 into my dodgers
rooms and search for that trumpery umbrella
you lost"
mo right" he repeated.
'Certainly-no right"
! "But one Of those two old beggars has 60
it," he cried, enersetically; Pm sure o
that"
How dare you say this to me-"
"Who else can it be? know you haven
got it," he cried. 81 am sure your two ser
wants arc as innocent as babes unborn, ant
they were the only two besides in the hous
that night-the upstairs lot had gone to Tun
bridge for two days"
'How did you know that!'
"Oh, made every inquiry" he explained
cooly; land as the umbrella was a preciou
possession to me-I think told you before i
was gift from my father on his dying bee
Il made every effort to find out what ha(
become Of it,"
"And a very mean way to find out it was,
said, with asperity; "and-good morning
''Ga-ood nSorning," he said, in u low, croak
ing voice. He raised his bilious straw hat
dropped his telescope, which he picked VI
and tucked once more under his arm, cam
suddenly to u full stop, and let me go on my
way unmolested any further by him.
When had got good distance from him
began to feel Il little sorry-even little il
doubt if had not been too hard upon him
He had appeared so utterly dumfoundcd by
my last opinion of his conduct, and he ha(
turned of such variety of colors Perhaps
! from his point of view, and with all umbrell,
which had vanished from every point Of view
he was not wholly to be blamed Perhap
the captain had-no, that was quite impos
sible. Perhaps Mr.. Goode-oh! was getting
as miserably distrustful as this unhappy man
Yes, was little sorry. As went off th'
fort stole one glance behind me to make
sure what had become of him-that his i'm
| pulsivc nature even had not led him to jumI
off the cliff. FIc was ull right; lie was Il long
way off-indeed, in the very place where
! had left him-not overwhelmed or mad will