The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-12-10

why doesn't he keep you?"
"Iie do, only live along O. William
Jones'"
Again Brinlslcy began whistlinp
lightly and working away vigorously
with his brush. Presently the CONVEX
sation began again.
Matt, what things did you come
ashore in?"
II Dunno"
"Iou have never heard whether any
thing was found with you which might
lead to your finding your relations?"
NO: no more has William Jones.
lie says maybe they'll find me some
day and reward him, but Mr.. Monk
says they were all drownded, and I
amt got no friends 'cept him and Will
liam Jones'"
We'll, since he found you suppose
he ought to know; and since you have
no relations, Matt, and no claim upon
anybody in the world, it was very kind
of Mr. Monk to keep you instead of
sending you to the worlxhouse, us he
might have done"
On this point Matt seemed rather
skeptical.
Well" continued Brinkley, as he
went on lightly touching his work,
perhaps l have done my equestrian
friend a wrong. Perhaps his unamia-
bic exterior bellies his real nature; per-
haps he is good and kind, generous to
the poor, willing to help the helpless
like you, for instance"
"Is it him?" exclaimed Matt;
"Monk, of Monkshurst! Why, he
don't give nothin' to nobody. No
fear"
And yet, according to your own
showing, he has helped to support you
all these years-you, who have no claim
whatever upon him"
This was an enigma to which Matt
had no solution. She said no more,
but Brinllley, while he continued his
painting, silently ruminatcd thus:
"It strikes me this puzzle would be
worth unraveling if l could only find
the key. Quero, is the young person
the key, if but knew how to use her?
| Perhaps, since the amiablc Monk evil
IDENTIFY dislil1es my coming into com
munication with her. But it would be
useless to lay the case before her, since,
if she is the key, she is quite uncon-
scious of it herself
/ He threw down his brush, rose and
stretched himself, and said:
Look here, Matt. I'm tired Of work.
The sun shining on those sand hills and
on the far-off sea is too tempting
shall go for Il walk. and YOU. if YOU are
in the mood, shall he my gudc."
She evidently was in the mood. for
she was on her feet in an instant
''All right, MASTER" she said, I'll
| GO
Very we'll. Tim, bring forth some
refreshment. We will refresh the in
ner man and girl before we start"
Tim disappeared into the caravan.
Presently he rcappcarcd bearing u
tray, on which was a small flask Of
brandy, large jug of milk, some bis
cults and couple of glasses. This he
! placed on the camp stool, which his
master had just vacated, and which,
when not in use as seat. served as a
table. Brinkley poured out two glasses
of milk, then, looking a Matt, he held
| the little flask on high.
/ Brandy. Matte"
| She shook her head
Every well, child; think YOU are
wise. Here, take the milk and drink
Matt took the glass of milk and
drank it down, while Brinllley fastened
to dilute and dispose of the other.
Then he gave some orders to Tim. and
they started off. As they had 10 par
ticular object in view, they chose the
pleasant route. and clearly the pleas
ATTEST lay across the sand hills. Not
because the sand hills were pleasant
in thcmsclves-theyw were not especial
ly on a day when the sun was scorch-
ing the roads and making the sea like
mill-pond-but because by crossing
the sand hills one came on the other
side upon foot path which led by
various windings gradually to the top
of breezy cliffs.
To the sand hills. therefore, they
wendell their way. Having gained
them. they followed route which
Matt knew full we'll, and which soon
brought them to the narrow foot path
beyond. During the walk She was sin
gularly silent, and Brinklcy seemed to
be busily trying to work ont some alb
strusc problem which had taken pos
session of his brain.
When they had followed The foot
path for some distance and had gained
the grcensward on the top of the cliffs,
the young man threw himself upon the
grass and invited Matt to do the same
t was very pleasant there, soothing
both to the eye and to the mind. The
cli1f was covered --SomcWhat Sparsely.
1t Is true with stuntcd grass: and just
below, on their right, lay the ocean.
calm a any mill-pond. but signing
softly as the water kissed the rocks
and flowed back again with rhythmic
throbs. On their left lay the sand
hills, glittcring like dusty gold in the