The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1897-06-15
.6Y q. CONAN DOYLE

those of a man who was fashioned Tor
active physical work. Meanwhile ne
was popular with his fellow brokers, re-
spected by his clients and beloved at
home, but his spirit was restless within
him and his mind chafed increasingly
against his surroundings.
do you know, Willy" said Mrs. Hay
Denver one evening as she stood be-
hind her husbands chair, with her hand
upon his shoulder, II think sometimes
that Harold is not quite happy
"He looks happy, the young rascal,
| answered the admiral pointing with his
cigar. 1t was after dinner, and through
the open French window of the dining
room a clear view was to be had of the
tennis court and the players. A set had
just been finished and young Charles
Westmacott was hitting up the balls as
high as he could send them in the mid
die of the ground. Doctor Walker and
Mrs. Westmacott were pacing up and
down the lawn, the lady waving her
racket as she emphasized her remarks,
and the doctor listening with slanting
head and little mods of agreement.
Against the rails at the near end Har-
old was leaning in his flannels talking
to the two sisters, who stood listening
to him with their long dark shadows
streaming down the lawn behind them.
The girls were dressed alike in dark
skirts, with light pink tennis blouseS
and pink bands on their straw hats, SO
that as they stood with the soft red
of the setting sun tinging their faces,
Clara, demure and quiet, Ida, mischiev-
Gus and daring, it was a group which
might have pleased the eye of a more
exacting critic than the old sailor.
Yes, he looks happy, mother" he re-
peated, with a chuckle. cit was not so
long ago since it was you and [ who
were standing like that, and I don't
remember that we were very unhappy,
either. It was croquet in our time, ana
the ladies had not reefed in their skirts
quite SO taut. What year would it be?
Just before the commission of the Pencil
ope."
Mrs. Hay Denver ran her fingers
through his grizzled hair. ct was when
you came back in the Antelope, just be-
fore you got your STEP
"Ah, the old Antelope! What a clip
per she was! She could sail two points
nearer the wind than anything of her
tonnage in the service. You remember
her mother You say her come into Ply
mouth Bay. Wasn't she a beauty?"
"She was indeed, dear. But when
say that I think that Harold is not
happy 1 mean in his daily life. Has it
never struck you how thoughtful he is
at times, and how absent-minded?"
''In love, perhaps, the young dog. He
seems to have found snug moorings now
at any rate
81 think that it is very likely that you
are right Willy" answered the mother
| seriously
But which of them?'
81 cannot tell
swell, they are very charming girls,
both of them. But as long as he hangs
in the wind between the two it cannot
be serious After all, the boy is four
and-twenty and he made five hundred
pounds last year. He is better able to
marry than [ was when 1 was lieuten-
ant"
II think that we can see which it is
now" remarked the observant mother.
| Charles Westmascott had ceased to
knock the tennis balls about, and was
chatting with Clara Walker, while Ida
and Harold Denver were still talking by
the railing with little outbursts of
laughter. Presently a fresh set was
formed, and Doctor Walker the odd
man out came through the wicket gate
and strolled up the garden walk.
Good evening, Mrs. Hay Denver"
said he, raising his broad stray hat.
MAY I come in?"
Good evening, doctor! Pray do!'
"Try one of these said the admiral,
holding out his cigar-case. '"They are
not bad. I got them on the Mosquito
Coast I was thinking of signaling to
you, but you seemed SO very happy out
there
Mrs Westmascott is a very clever
woman" said the doctor, lighting the
cigar. "By the way, you spoke about
the Mosquito Coast just now. Did you
see much of the Hyla when you were
out there?"
mo such name on the list answered
| the seaman, with decision. There's
the Hydra, a harbor defense turret-
| ship but she never leaves the home
| waters
The doctor laughed. 1--WE live in two
separate worlds said he. '"The Hyla
is the little green tree frog and Beale
has founded some of his views on pro-
toplasm upon the appearances of it's
nerve cells. Tt is a subject in which 1
take an interest,"
There We're vernin of all sorts in the
woods. When L have been on river serv-
ice / have heard it at night like the
engine-room when you are on the
measured mile. You can't sleep for the
piping, and croaking, and chirping.
Great Scott! what a woman that is!
She was across the lawn in three jumps.
She would have made a captain Of the
foretop in the old days"
She is very remarkable woman"
ga vo1.v cranky one