The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-08-17

them, very much puzzled as to what
should do next. To follow them and
break into their intimate; conversation
seemed to be an outrage, and yet my
clear duty was never for an instant TO
let him out Of my sight. To act the
spy upon friend was a hateful task.
Still, I could see no better course than
to observe him from the hill. and to
clear my conscience by confessing to him
afterwards what / had done, It is true
that ii any sudden danger had tnr.ate:l-
ed him was too far away to be of use,
and yet I am sure that you will agree
with me that the position was very diff
cult, and that there was nothing more
which could do.
Our friend, Sir Henry. and tho lady
had halted on the path and were stand
Ing deeply absorbed in their coonverca-
ton when was suddenly aware that
I was not the only witness of their In
terview. A wisp of green floating in
the air caught my eye. and another
glance showed me that 1t was carried
on a stick by a man who was moving
among, the broken ground. 1t was
Stapleton with his butterfy-net. He
was very much closer to the pair than
I was, and he appeared to be moving
in their direction. At this instant Sir
Henry suddenly drew Miss Stapleton to
his side. His arm was round her, but
il seemed to me that she was straining
away from him with her face averted.
He stopped his head to hers and she
raised one hand as II in protest. Next
moment saw them spring apart and
turn hurriedly round. Stapleton was
the cause of the interruption. He was
running wildly towards them, his alb
surd net dangling behind him. He ges-
ticulated and almost danced with ex-
element in front Of the lovers. What
the scene meant I could not imagine,
but it seemed to me that Stapleton was
abusing Sir Henry, who offered expla-
nations which became moro angry as
the other refused to accept them. The
lady stood by in naughty silence. FL
nally Stapleton turned upon his heel
and beckoned in a peremptory way to
his sister, who, after an trresoA4te
glance at Sir Henry, walked of by the
side of her brother The naturalist's
angry gestures showed that the lady
was included in his displeasure. The
baronet stood for a minute looking at
ter them, and then he walked slowly
back the way that he had come, his
head hanging, the very picture OF deJec-
ton.
What all this meant could not ina
CINE, but was deeply ashamed to have
witnessed so intimate a scene without
my friends knowledge. I ran down the
hill therefore. and met the baronet at
the bottom. His face wa, flushed with
anger and his brows were wrinkled,
like one who is at his wits ends what
to d. eae
''Haloa, Watson! Where have you
dropped from?' said he. ''You don't
mean to say that you came after me in
spite of aH:''
I explained everything to him: how I
had found it impossible to remain be-
hind, how I had followed him. and how
I had witnessed all that had occurred.
For an instant his eyes blazed at me,
but my frankness disarmed his anger,
and he broke at last into a rather rue
full laugh.
You would have thought the middle
Of that prairie a fairly safe place for
a man to be private" said he, "but. by
thunder, the whole country side seems
to have been out to see me do my WOO
ing-and a mighty poor wooing at that!
Where had you engaged a seat?"
II was on that hill.''
"Quite in the back row. Ell? But her
brother was well up to the front. Did
you see him come out on us?''
Eyes, I did"
did he ever strike you as being
crazy-this brother Of hers?"
st can't say that he ever did"
st daresay not. I always thought
him sane enough until to-day, but you
can take it from me that either he or
I ought to be in a strait-jacket- What's
the matter with me, anyhow? You've
lived near me for some weeks, Watson
Tell me straight, now! Is there any,
thing that would prevent me from max
ing q good husband to woman that
loved?''
II should say not"
.'Et can't object to my worldly posi-
ton, $50 it must be myself that he has
this down on. What has he against
me? I never hurt man or woman in