Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-11-21

| an utterly m0nStr0uS proceedlng!"
| Horace attempted to explain mat
tiers again. 1t was useless; he might
as we'll have argued with a buffalo
| bull at that moment.
Mr.. Maybold." retorted the pro-
| fessor, ''the coincidence of your stay
| ing in the very locality in which my
| discovery was made, coupled with the
| fact that you endeavsred at the la t
| meeting Of the chronological SOC .ety
| to extract from me the ha bitat of this
new species, is quite too impossible.
| [ have nothing more TO say-for the
present. And the irate old gentle
man passed on.
Horace felt eXpressively vexed. Yet
he had done no wrong. Perhaps
when the old gentleman had come to
| his senses, he would listen to reason.
Jacobus now lead the way TO the
farmhouse. 1t lay only a mile away
and they presently rode up towards
the StOep. Two ladies were sitting
| under the shade of the ample thatC he'd
veranda-one was painting, the other
rea ding. Horace could scarcely be-
lieve his eyes. as he approached.
These We're his two fellow-passenge gers
of the Northam Castle, Mrs Stacer
and Rose Vanning-the latter looking.
if possible. more charming than ever.
| The ladies recognized him in their
turn, and rose with a little f1utter
Horace jumped from his horse and
SShn n y,
who ON earth," he said, could
have expected to meet you in these
wilds? I am astonished- de-
Lighted" he added, with glance at
Rose
Explanations ensued. 1t seemed
stepdaughter of the professor, who
was Widower. They had been en-
gagged by him in mild cons piracy
net 20 reveal his whereabouts, so fear
full was he of his precious butterfy's
habitat being made known to the
world; and so, all through the voyage.
no mention had been made even of
his name. 1t was his particular within
and request; and here was the mys-
terry at an end. The professor had
moved from the farmhouse in which
he had lodged the year before, and
had secured quarters in Mr.. Gunton's
roomy, comfortable ranch, where the
ladies had joined him.
Horace, who had inWardly chafed at
this unexpected turn, had now to ex-
plain his awkward Teconter with the
professor. To his great relief, Mrs.
Stacer and Rose took it much more
philOsOphically than he could have
hoped; indeed, they seemed rather
amused than otherwise.
But" said Horace with a rueful
face, 1.-The professors in a frantic rage
with me. You don't quite realize that
he absolutely discredits my STORY, and
believes l have been playing the spy
all along. And upon the top of all
this | have a letter to Mr.. Gunton,
and must sleep here somehow for the
night. There's no other accommodate
ton within twenty miles. Why, when
the professor comes back and finds
me here, he'll go out of his mindr'
Here Mrs. Stacer, good woman that
she was, volunteered to put mattens
straight, for the night at all events.
She at once saw Mr.. Gunton, and
eXp,a ined the impasse to him; and
away from the professors room, in
the farmers own quarters.
Leave my bother to me- said Mrs.
Stacer, as she left Horace. Il dare
say matters will come right"
At 10 O'Clock Mrs. Stacer came to
the door. Mr.. Gunton rose and went
out as she entered. "H'sh,'' she said
with mock-mystery as she addressed
Horace. 81 think she went on, with
a comical little smile, 'the professor
begins to think he has done you an
injustice. He is amazed at our know
ing you, and we have attacked him
all the evening, and he is visibly re-
lenting.''
Mrs. Stacer," said Horace, warmly,
Il can't thank you sufficiently. I've
had inspiration since l saw you. l,
too, have discovered, not far from
species hitherto unknown Can't l
make amends by sharing my discov-
cry with the professor? I've got speci-
mems here in my box, and there are
plenty in a kloof fifteen miles away"
''Why, Of course" answered Mrs.
Stacer. Its the very thing. Your
new butterfly will turn the scale. I'll
go and tell my brother you have a
matter of Importance to communicate,
and wish to make further explana-
tions. Wait a moment"
In three minutes she returned. 81
think it will be all right she whis-
pered. "Go and see him. Straight
through the passage you will find
door open, on the right. I'll wait
here
Horace went forward and came to
the half-open door. The professor
who had changed his loose yellow al
paca coat for a black one of the same
material. sat by a reading-lamp. He
wore now his gold-rimmed spectacles
in lieu of the blue goggles. - He
looked clean, and pink and comforta-
bic, though a trife severe-the pas
sion Of the afternoon had vanished
from his face, Horace spoke the first
word. II have again to reiterate,
professor, how veXed l am to have
disturbed your collecting ground. l
bod NOT tho smallest intantion of do