Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1901-11-14
TRANSCRIBED FLORENCE WARDEN
Author OF THE Marsh
by the Shore" "a of Dark
1900, by Florence warden.)

call handsome but they had such al
unpleasant. stealthy expression, as of q
man who was always on the watch ant
taking stock OF his companions, that
confess my own eyes never met his
1 without something like an inclination
to shudder.
1t was at a very early stage of the
voyage that the good doctor remarked
upon my aversion for his nephew. die
not deny it,
Come" said he in tone of good
humored argument. what's wrong
with him? Dicks a very good h earted
fellow"
His looks belle him. them said
candicly. He keeps his good heart tt
himself as effectually as he does his
good manners. Sorry if hurt your feel.
ings, Doctor. but we all think him q
surly beggar"
The old doctor seemed quite puzzled
! Not surly. Undemonstrative, per.
haps, corrected he earnestly. IL can
understand any one thinking badly OF
my Dick. I've brought him up: he lost
his father, my brother, when he was
quite young lad, and he's been son
and good son, too. to me ever since
Then why does he wear that hang
dog sort Of look" said boldly. think
ing now | was in for it if | might as
we'll speak out
! He never looks anybody straight in
the face and always looks more like an
anarchist conspirator than straight
, forward Englishman."
DR.. Mullion burst out laughing, and
iylz lad x,.st I,
answered me-
'Ha, ha, ha' That's what all youl
j thoughts are running on now" said he
laughing still Dicks no anarchist
III swear. It's true he doesn't look very
happy now, but the reason does him
credit. He's student at Bartholo-
news, as perhaps you know, and like a
good many other young men, he's been
a little bit wild, little bit inclined tc
be extravagant lately. Now perhaps
am rather-too strict in my notions: one
grows straitlaced as one grows older.
and | fancy the lad has taken my
structures a little too much to heart
But there's no harm in my boy, no harm
at all" And the old mans tone drop.
ped into solemn earnestness which he
wore upon occasion which contrasted
rattle finely with his usual air of good.
tempered, almost light-hearted sereni.
ty.
| was so much impressed by what the
old boy said that felt some compunc-
ton for my harsh thoughts of the
young fellow and for the very severe
criticisms passed upon him. OF which
had contributed my full share.
So. happening to saunter into the
smoking room only few minutes la
ter, and to see Richard Mullion sitting
in corner, with his knees crossed and
his back bent over book | walked
straight over toward him determined
to make an advance toward an AMIGA
bic understanding.
! He was so intent on his book that he
did not hear me come up, | was near
enough to see before | uttered a word
that the book he held was a small thick
one. and that, absorbing as it's contents
seemed to be. it was not a novel.
Then | just said: Halo
! got no further With a sort Of CON
vulsive sound in his throat. Dick Null
lion jumped up from his seat, shut the
book and slipped it into one of his
I pockets. and stood up facing me. his
face white, his eyes glazing. as il he
had been detected in the act of commit
ting crime.
! | shrank back with queer feeling in
my throat.