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

Hayle," he replied. until then I
shall know no peace. Surely you
must understand that?" 49, -
Then, imagining, perhaps, that he
had gone too far, he began to fawn
upon me, and what was worse
praised my methods of calculating a
mystery. I cannot say which I dis
liked the more. Indeed, had It not
been that had promised Miss Kit
water to take up the case, and that
I did not want to disappoint her, I
believe I should have. abandoned IL
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 was shown to pretty bed
room to wash my hands. It was q
country, smelling of lavender, and,
after London, as fresh as a glimpse
of new life. I looked about me,
took in the cleanliness of everything;
and contrasted it with my own .dingy
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. 1 could
picture the view from this window in
the early morning, with the dew
upon the grass, and the blackbirds
whistling in the shrubbery. am not
vain man, 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 I turned angrily away.
What duffer am, to be sure!" I
said to myself. "If I begin to get no.
tions like this in my head there is no
Knowing where I may end. AS if any
girl would ever think twice about
mel"
Thereupon I descended to the
drawing-room, which 7 found empty.
It was a true woman's room, ,daintily
furnished: with little, knick-knacks
here and there, a :work-basket put
neatly away for the Sabbath, and an
open piano with one of Chopin's
works upon the music-rest. Leading
out of the drawing-room was a small
conservatory, filled with plants. It
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 stood now,
h0V <h4
: among the rows of .neatly-arranged
pots, experienced a 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 favorite
old soft felt hat upon: my head.
| Crime and criminals were alike. for
gotten; no longer lived in a dingy
part of the town, and what was bet
ter than all I had
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. SIS it permissible to ask what
you were thinking about?'' .>,:
I am not of course prepared to
swear it, but I honestly believe, for
the first time for many years, I
blushed. ii
/ IT was thinking how very pleasant
] country life must be-" said, max
ing the first excuse that came to me.
f"I almost wish that I could lead
one" 90"
Then why don't you? Surely it
! would not be so very difficult q *.--....
( II am rather afraid it would" I
answered.. And yet I don't know
why it should be-
Perhaps Mrs. Fairfax would not
!, care about it, she continued, as we
] returned to the .drawing-room to-
tgether: - M - ": - - =.
"Good ~~ gracious!'', remarked.
''There is no Mrs. Fairfax. ans the
most confirmed of old bachelors I
j wonder you could not see that. Is
mot the word :crustiness written
plainly upon my forehead?" ~
II am afraid I cannot see it." she
answered. II am4not quite certain
who it was, but [ fancy it was nv
uncle who informed me that you
were married. =, 49,,
1T was very kind Of him.. I said.
"But it certainly is not the case. i
fear my wife would have rather
lonely time of it if it were. II am
7 obliged to be away from home 90
much, you see, and for SO long at 4
time"A ~. r ~.Es< - Gs@ 80
yours must be Indeed a strange
profession, Mr.. Fairfax, II I may say
!. 50. . she continued. Some time ago
i came across an: account IN q maya
Il ztna,S Ct your life, and. the many f.
nsoas cases in which you haa taken
part ss5 - <.;.@:s So .= S
i. "Ah! I remember. th wrebcl,el
thing, u said. = am sorry that you
should ever have seen it -'',.szs.zsss..zsss
And why should you be sorry p.