The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1901-01-03

! RMS was sufficiently vague 10 3
alarming. As l handed the letter bacl
to her saw more clearly the fear il
her face, but the questioning look sh
gave me remained unanswered. VIVA
could say; what advice could boy
Of Is give? To be sure 1t was plair
enough that my father had made enc
mics, but I had no doubt whatever
that he was capable of taking care OF
himself. How his quarrel could per
sonally affect ME or my mother was
ut loss to comprehend. Therefore !
returned her inquiring look with one
equally uncompromising.
perhaps you can understand now
why the sudden appearance of this
stranger upset me. What if he is your
fathers enemy. what If he Is seeking
to do him an injury? Heaven knows"
she continued, what it all means but
your father would not write in this
strain unless the matter was one of
the utmost Importance"
And yet | cannot say that was I'M
duly impressed, for few ideas began
to buzz confusedly In my brain, and
tried to grasp them and set them in
proper order. With this end in view l
took up my hat and went out, hoping
that l might have another glimpse of
the man. My mother made me promise
that l would not go of the road. a
promise to which l laughingly assent
ed, but l followed the road right into
Slough and round to the railway sta
ton, yet never saw sign of the man
with the strange eyes.
II were TO say that my fathers
wsrning made Inc very frightened |
fear should hardly be con6ning my
self to the truth. think my mothers
serious face caused me the greater
alarm. Once away from 1t the warn
ing did not seem fraught with much
or, If it were, | could not
grasp it. Uncle Jim would probably be
over that afternoon. We should hear
what he had to say. Jim was man
of nerve and practical common sense
and as such always knocked the bot
tom out Of my silly, sentimental fan
cies.
AS returned along the road I saw
his well known trap standing before
our gate. the big bay stamping impa-
ticntly and tossing the flies from his
ears. High up on the drivers cushion
sat Saunders, the boy, diminutive
rascal with wien face. He greeted
me with formal salute and an extern
sive grin and favored ME with the SUI
perfuOus bit of information that the :
guv'nor was up at the 'ouse. Then,
inter asking him sundry questions con-
corning his rats, his dogs and the chase
| turned to open the gate, |
when I was attracted by something |
which l saw on one of the posts.
At first thought that the village ur-
chins had, in accordance with their
usual custom, been endeavoring to de-
face our paint, and mentally express
Ing the pious wish that | had only
caught them at the game l stepped up
closer to inspect their handiwork. The
gate and the posts were grained so as
to represent light oak, and as the
work had only been completed some
Ihrce months previously / was ex-
proud Of its smart appear
incc. TO my surprise however, found
hat the destroyers had confined them
selves to one particular design. This
was an elIiptical or egg shaped ring
lrawn with red pencil. The design
vas very accurate, the steadiness of
he lines proclnnng the adept. That
t was meant for an egg there could be
10 doubt. A little filling In would have
made the drawing perfect.
Afraid to attempt cleansing OF the
'ost for fear of making a smudgc. l
urned toward the house, meaning lat
r on to obliteratc the mark with a wet
10th: but as entered the hall heard
he voice Of my Uncle Jim in the adj
AGENT sitting room, and l forthwith
orgot all about the sign.
At the time of which l write my un
10 was man just verglng on to 40, a
yoll set up, powerful creature, with !
God natured face. rather inclined TO
uddiness. lie was man who seemed :
o enjoy every hour of his life, and I
ont believe I ever saw him when his
lue eyes had not merry twinkle in
hem. Therefore the serious look with \
'hich he now greeted me was just q |,
tile disconcertiIg. My mothers trou- i
led face also added chilllness to the h
aception. b
"Well, Davie, lad" said he, "what Is c
II this that has been troubling your +
C
] told him all knew, repeating word "
,r word that which had passed be- :.
vcen me and the stranger. k
II have heard as much" said he, 4
hen had finished, land upon my i,
ord I can't see any cause for this UNI 2
,sness. Your mother has got fright, L
" boy, and nothing can say will con-
|nce her Of her folly"
"You may call it folly II you like"
he replied. land I wish could think
}, but feel sure my husband would
1t have written In this strain without
,od cause" 2
Jim shook his head. Out Of respect
her feelings he did not say what ]
as on the tip of his tongue. He had
1t his sisters admiration for my IA
er. n
"A man who can leave his wife and
lid for seven years Is capable Of
riting anything" he growled. :
"Ah. but you don't understand" she
piled. "You don't know the dangers :.
i'd vicissltudes Of seafaring life. II u
has not come, you may be sure it aI
as for very good reasons" VI
'Humphv grunted Jim, but perhaps " y