Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-01-19
"To be sure, MN, win II yo don't want

this had occurred once before, when papa
was alive. And she had too, but it was for
| Joy that was better, and TO drink good luck
| TO me, she afterward confessed, and / for
! gave her, especially as on the next day she
| ,oined the Blue Ribbon movement, in sheer
contriteness of spirit, and was forever after
4 ward-that is, up till nova worthy, il
humble, member of society.
But this Mr.. Geoffry Bird, how the man
did trouble met How his nasty, suspicious
nature had led him to poke and pry about
my establishment and to take advantage of
my helplessness, and the proneneSs of Bridget
and Sarah for half crowns, to ransack the
whole place. My blood boiled with indigna-
ton. And then his present-if it were
overwhelmingly nailed against the wall,
too, as if / cared for his carvings, or did
anything but despise his miserable manners
and his uncharitable self. He could not take
my word that no one had stolen his UNI
brella, oh dear, mol He must prove for him.
self that was not speaking the truth. How
hated himl
was recommended to take drive next
day, and hired q hanson cab and went to
Goswell road, Islington, with the carved
bird. discovered No. 967 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 the last few days, and no one in Cos
well road knew what had become of him.
SO 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.
/ do not think the drive did me any good, I
was so terribly vexed that Mr.. Bird was not
to be discovered, and that had to return to
Prossiter street with his hateful carving on
my lap. l would have thrown it out of the
cab only was afraid of hitting somebody
between tho eyes and creating an uproar in
the metropolis
''Put that wretched thing away where I
can't see it," l said to Bridget on my return.
eyes, MN; leave it to me, MN"
II don't mean where we can't find it,
added, meeting q decisive expression in
Bridget O'Gowan's green eyes that alarmed
mo; "the man may call again, although /
doubt it very much"
Next week l was.Strong enough to join the
Brians at Margate-that salubrious retreat
where one meets everybody he knows, if he
only waits long enough. And on the jetty
extension that evening met Capt Choppers
and Mr.. Goode, who had both como down
'sby accident" and who had been passing
each other on She jetty all the evening as
though they had never met in the whole
course Of their lives. Mr.. Goodies two sons
were in Margate also, but, having fallen
headlong into the water while fishing, had
gone home to bed while their suits were being
dried And the next morning whom should
meet face to face, and smiling as vigorously
as ever, but Geoffry Bird, the carver.
1t was early morning, when few people
were stirring, and ] had gone for walk
along the fort 10 put my blood III circulation
and get an appetite for breakfast The
Brians were not early riSers, and / knew II
was no use calling at their apartments til
$50 o'clock.
Mr.. Bird was clad in dark blue pilot suit
with a very yellow straw hat set on the back
of his head and large telescope under his
arm. He was supremacy nautical, and took
him for somebody rather high in the coast
guard service-a sergeant or something
before he raised his hat and came with an an
telope kind of spring toward me.
miss Neild,n he exclaimed, Il am so very
glad to sec you about again. You really
cannot imagine how glad / amt!
II don't understand why it should occasion
you any pleasure, sir" l said, in my most re
served tone of voice.
Don't you, thought Oh, well, I'll tel
you.n
He turned and walked by my side, and
did not see on the instant how it was possible
to get rid of him. l felt my equanimity wa:
seriously disturbed by his appearance, by hi:
insufferable obtrusiveness. This was par
and parcel of his ordinary behavior-a tota
want of forethought, which was as evident
that day as in the small hours of the morn
| ing when he had reused me out Of my first
sleep by nearly battering the house down.
He alluded to that little incident at once.
SIN answering me that unlucky night
Miss Neild, you nearly caught your death,
! he explained, land nobody can imagine how
miserable / was-how desperately wretcheC
until | heard you were out of danger.
should have never forgiven myself, upon my
honor, and did not know q moments peact
till Bridget, your girl, told me you were out
of danger. Lor, what a trial it wasp
81 don't see why-I don't understand at al
p
II can Just fancy how a man feels who ha
committed a murder and is not found on
yet, he continued; sit was dreadful, and al
my own fault, too-every scrap of it."
did not feel SO bitterly toward him ate
this. His manner was genuine, if too forci
bic and fluent for everyday wear. / nigh
have even thanked him for his exaggerated
interest in my health and said good morning
if l had not suddenly remembered his sur
reptitious visits to my dodgers apartments
Then was adamant, and he saw it. He wa
certainly en- observant man, whom yer,
little escaped. | noticed the broad smil
disappear, and lie said, almost with astonish
ment:
''Why, you're offended with me still"
AZ have W 1nafO
my life, cannot very well speak of bein
offended, Mr.. Bird-but must say''--
''No. no, don't say it." he cried, interrupt
ing me, don't say q word more, please. L
know it was a great hberty--an unwarrant
able lberty-but l could't help it. wante
to make little return for all the trouble an
misery l had brought about, and couldn'
think of anything else had just done il
you see."
"Done whats" l exclaimed, snappishly-
could have screamed at him for two pins
: "Why, the little bit of carving-arent 20
talking about thatG" he inquired.
'No, sir, although I'll trouble you to II
move the article from my premises as 500
as you conveniently can"
''Ohv
'But am abiding now, sir, to your I'll
gentlemanly behavior in bribing my servant
to let you inspect my apartments
! II didn't bride your servants, Miss NeilC
; Poor girls, l frightened them, but l did M
; give them money as bride. You migl
have thought better of fellow than that
he said, very sorrowfully; although VIII
you should l don't know exactly"
'You had no right to go into my ledger
rooms and search for that trumpery umbrel
you lost"
q mo rightm he repeated.
! "Certainly-no right
"But one of those two old beggars has g
it," he cried, energetically; I'm sure
that"
: ''How dare you say this to me!'
"Who else can it be? know you haven
got it, he cried. II am sure your two Sc
wants are as innocent as babes unborn, ar
they were the only two besides in the hou
that night-the upstairs lot had gone to Tu