The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1894-11-14

THE WATCHERS ON THE CLIFF.
hesitated, but only for moment, and again
steeled himself to this sncaking way Of spy
ing upon an unsuspidous and lovely being.
At a glance they took in the whole state
of affairs.
Directly below sat the Princess, bending
over her painting. Thank Heaven! the
sketch was not yet finished.
At least two days work upon it were nee
essary ere it could be taken, even in the
rough state, to finish In the studio. At the
expiration of that time he hoped to return,
and-thenl
Close beside Natalie sat Lydia, IN open
book in her lap, lost in brown study.
The air was very calm and the two spies,
without much effort, could hear the slight
est sound below. The Princess, bending
low over her painting,wa saying,in aquiet,
Indifferent tone Of voice:
"Lydia, who was that with whom you
were talking last nightr'
Lydia became suddenly wide-awake, and
nervously replied:
"You mean the young American with
whom was te,e-a-tete, as you came down
the stairs, suppose. Whyl"
Because" said the Princess, turning her
large dark eyes toward her questioner, in q
frank, ingenious manner, "because he had
20 sad face, l felt interested in him. Do
you know his historyl"
~ was about to ask when you had met
him, Natalie, and what you knew about
hint"
Fairfax's face flushed crimson at the Prin-
cess mention of himself. Now that he had
become the subject Of their conversation, he
could be eavesdropper no longer and at
tempted to pull Dick away by force But
that wide-awake individual suddenly be-
came as obdurate as his friend. In q loud,
clear whisper he said
''If you don't unhand me I'll yell; and
then your game III be up"
Fairfax, surprised at this unexpected turn
in affairs, and recognizing the fact that
Richards obstinacy had become aroused,
retired in confusion.
A secret joy filled his heart. Natalie had
acknowledged an interest in him-more than
his widest dreams could have realizedl To
be sure it was q contemplative sort Of an
interest," but she hadn't vouchsafed even
that to any other male-at least 80 Dick
had said
For the moment, the foolish young fellow
gave himself up to joy, and had the effront-
cry to thank Heaven for his luck
Meanwhile, the incorrigible Dick, who
was now in his element, chuckled to him.
self and lay there listening with all his ears.
At Lydia's question, Natalie turned TO-
wards her with unfeigned surprise every
thing about this girl was genuine; she ex-
pressed nothing she did not iceland re-
marked, almost dropping her painting
palette
my dear Lydia, II neper sac him be-
fore! What do you meanw
''Then, why did you both blush so con-
sciously when your eyes nett never saw
man so disturbed as he was when he
caught sight Of you"
A slight flush suffused the face Of Ma
talie, as she answered.
~ wasn't aware that he was disturbed.
II so, it may have been at finding himself
the cynosure Of staring pair Of eyes.
was simply annoyed at finding myself
caught gazing so boldly at an entire stran.
lger."
"That may be true in your case, but GER
Itainly not in his No strange man ever yet
Icould be so visibly embarrassed as he al
finding himself the objective point Of o
ipretty wonan's eye,n replied the wise
Lydia, with Solomon-lilke air $50, there,
jny dear, you're entirely wrong, know"
You may just bet on that, ma chere," said
1.-THE irrepressibe Richard, MOTTO uoce from
Iabove.
"And," continued she, ''to tell the truth
lyou and have no secrets, you know-Tm a
little curious as to the history Of the fellow
myself.
Here she slyly bcnthcr head down and ex.
lam:ned her boot for moment "And I'm
Igoing to amuse myself by studying him a
ltri1e. That fiy-away, Dick Oxford Dick
made wry face and remarked aside;
u Thank you maam,'-" says he is of noble
birth ana .ei.u trace his lineage back to Lord
Fairfax; that he is gentleman of leisure
lbut, from q feeling Of duty, has accepted q
very, high position in some department. Of
lGovernmeH ~
May God forgive me for that whopperr
mutterod the penitential Dick to himself
But" he added, apologetically, "he Ger
tainly is noi of gnoble birth, and uo be.
lieve he is descendant Of the old Fairfaxes
He isl gentleman of leisurc-at present, al
loast, until school-tcaohing begins, And I'm
sure it was feeling of duty Ito himself, t.
save himself from emigrating to the poor
house that led him 10 accept a high position
in the department of Government ahem
Of a set OF SPOILED youngsters. So that lie:
no: so bad .dter all, added he, with feel
ing of comfort
But, at any rate" continued Lydia
"wAa:ever his position, or FROM whom de
seconded, he has interested me as few mel
have
The Imaginative Dick thought he coulC
perceive q shade Of jealousy creep Up th'
Princess back hair AM sp.c1d itself oyCi
her hal. But he couil not see her face, fol
she bent more lovly over her work anC