Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1902-07-25

upon NE, anu sWlaL43.WaS worse !,
praised my methods ST calculating . ]
mystery. II cannot say which T dis !
liked the more. Indeed, had II not
been, that I had promised Miss Kit
water to take up the case, and that i
I did not want to disappoint her,
believe I should have. abandoned it
there and then, out Of sheer disgust:
A little later our hostess proposed !
that we should adjourn to the house,
as it was nearly lunch-time. We did
so, and I was shown to a pretty bed
room to wash my hands. It was
charming apartment, redolent of the
country, smelling of lavender, and,
after London, as fresh as a glimpse
Of new life. @s I looked about me,
took in the cleanliness of everything
and contrasted it with my own .dingy;s
apartments at Rickford's hotel,
where the view from the window was
not of meadows and breezy uplands,
but; of red roofs, chimney-pots, and
constantly revolving cowls. I, could
picture the view from this window in
the early morning, with the dew
upon the grass, and the. black birds
whistling in the shrubbery. am not
a vain man, I think, but, at ! this
juncture I stood before the looking.
glass and surveyed myself. For the
first time in my life I could have
wished that~I had been better-look-
ing. At :last:1 turned angrily away.
what duffer I am. to be sure!" I
said to myself off I begin:to get no
tions like this in my head there is no
Knowing where. 1 may end: As if any
girl would ever think twice about
met" ~
Thereupon 1 descended to the
drawing-room, which 4 found empty.
It was . true woman's room, laintilyf
furnished, s with little knick- knacks
here and there, a work basket put:
neatly away for the Sabbath, and an
open piano with one Of Chopi1'ss
works upon the music-rest. Leading
out of the. drawing-room was a small
conservatory, filed with plants. tt
was a pretty little place and I could:
not refrain from exploring it, i am,
Passionately fond Of flowers: but, my;
, life at that time. was not one that
permitted me much leisure to in
! dulge in my liking. As I stood now,
! however, inzthe charming place,
among the rows Eofaneatly-arranged
pots, I experienced sort. Of waking
dream. I seemed to see myself
standing in this very conservatory,
hard at work upon my flowers, "a
pipe in my mouth and my tfavorites
old soft felt hat upon :: my head.
| Crime and criminals were alike for
gotten; no longer lived in dingy
part of the town, and what was bet
| ter than all i had =, = ~. s>t$@5
do you, know T feel almost in-
clined to offer you the proverbial
penny" said. Miss Kitwaterls voice
behind me, at the drawing-room
door. 'Is it permissible to ask what
you were thinking about?''. E.=t II
I am not of course prepared to
swear it, but I honestly believe, for
the first time for many years, i
blushed. SD: ~ ~ za.s -
! It was thinking how very pleasant
/ country life must, be-" I said, maxi
1 ing the first excuse that came to me.
f'.I almost wish that I could lead
I one.'' e = .s1:Ss9$a ~ =
Then why don't you? Surelyait
! would not be so very difficult ~ sz
ct am rather afraid it would -
answered. ssa'sA And yet I don't know know
why it should be- .5571
Perhaps Mrs Fairfax sveouldssnot
!, care about it" she continued as we
returned to- the drawing-room To-
sgether 81 Il II - - ! e Z y
! 'tGood gracious!' ,-~aI remarked:
! 'eThere is no: Mrs. Fairfax. I-amsthe
most confirmed of Old bachel ors.s I
j. j wonder you could not see that Z. Is
mot the word scrustiness Written
plainly upon my forehead 2"
1 Il am afraid cannot see it, she
! answered. II am not quite. certain
who, it was, but ~ fancy it. was 4 my 8
uncle who informed me that you
were married.. z -. -
TT was very kind Of him said.
But It certainly IS not the case. j
\ fear my wife would have ratherssa
lonely time Of it if it were. am
Il obliged to- be away from home "a
/. /. much, you see, and for 50 long It j
time Z I! s* 81
Yours must Be lndeed 3 strange
profession, Mr.. Fairfax, ii e nav say IS,
"a, s sshe continued. Some time 400
~ came arross ana ccotlnt, Il, j. nsara
sztua.S our i &c, and the nany IS.
Sn.tatia cases In ~ vf,,1$ ~ $50