The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-12-17
a TALE OF A CARAVAN.
BY ROBERT BUCHANAN.
Continued from last Wednesday,
CHAPTER VIII.
THE DEVILS CALDRON

etitutionally lazy. The second fault
will appear more clearly in the sequel;
he was, also constitutionally inquisi-
tive. Now, his laziness was of that
not uncommon kind which is capable
of great deal of activity, so long as
that activity is unconscious, and not
realized as being in the nature of
work; and its possessor, therefore,
would frequently, in his idle way, be-
stir himself good deal; whereas if
he had been ordered to bestir
himself, he would have yawned
and resisted. Here his other constitu-
tional defect came in, and set him pry-
ing into matters which in no way seri-
ously concerned him. A little time be-
fore the period of his present eXcur-
sion, when he was studying law in
Dublin, and rapidly discovered that he
loved artistic amateurShip much bet
ter, he had often been known to work
terribly hard at ceases" in which his
curiosity was aroused; and may add,
in passing, that he had shown on these
occasions an amount of shrewdEess
which would have made him an excel
lent lawyer if his invincible objection
to hard work, qua work, had not in
variably interfered
No sooner was he left to his own
meditations, which the faithful Tim
(who had fortunately been away on
foraging expedition during the episode
described in my last chaptcr) was not
at hand to disturb, than our young
gentleman began puzzling his brains
over the curious information she had
given him. The facts. which he had
no reason to question, ranged them
selves under four heads:
% Matt had been cast ashore fifteen
years previously, ut an age when she
could pronounce the word papa" 1t
followed, as rational argument, that
she had been, say, one year old. or
Whereabouts.
(2) Mr. Monk had found her. and
given her into the care of William
Jones, and had since handed that
worthy sums Of money for taking care
of her. Query: What reason had the
said Monk for exhibiting so much care
for the child, unless he was person of
wonderfully benevolent disposition,
which my hero was not ut all inclined
to believe?
(3) Said Monk and said Jones were
on very familiar terms, which was
curious. seeing the difference in their
social positions. Query again: Was
there any private reason, any mys-
terions knowledge, any secret shared
in common, which bound thci, in
terests together?
(4 Last and most extraordinary of
all, Mr.. Monk had now expressed his
wish and intention of marrying the
wait he had rescued from the sea.
committed to the care of said Jones
and brought up in ragged ignorance,
innocence 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 bottom of it any deep
CT and more conceivable motive than
the one of ordinary affection for
pretty, if uncultivatcd, child?
The more Charles Brinklcy pondered
all these questions the more hope
lessly puzzled he became But
his curiosity, once reused, could not
rest. He determined, if possible, to
get to the midrif 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 break
fasting on the fare with which Tim
had by this time appeared, he strollcd
away towards the seashorc.
He had not gone far when he saw
approaching him Il tall figure which he
seemed to recognize. 1t came closer
and he saw that it was Mr.. Monk, of
Monkshurst
This time Monk was on foot. He
wore a dark dress, with inickcrbock-
ers and heavy shooting boots and car
ricd z gun. y large dor, of the species
lurcher, followed at his heels
BrinIllcy was passing by without
any salutation. when, to his surprise,
other paused and lifted his hat
Il beg our PARDON he said eve
have met once before; and | think |
have to apologize to you for unintcn-
ticnal in-ivility- The fact is-hum-I
mistooii You for vagrant did not
know You were a gentleman"
So staggered was the artist at this
greeting that he could only borrow
the vocabulary of Mr.. Toots:
'Oh, it's of no consequence he said,
attempting to pass on.
But the other persevercd.
II assure you, Mr.-NIr.-U have not
the pleasure of knowing your nancy
that had no desire of offending you;
and if I did SO | beg to apologize"
Brinklcy looked kccnly at the speak
or. His words and manner were great
ly at variance with his looks-cvcn
with the tone of his disfigurcd brow,
and his mouth twitchcd ncrvously as
Ii he were i'll at ease.
Regarding him thus closely. Brinlilcy
saw that he had been Somewhat mis-