The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-08-17
my life that I know Of. And yet he
would not so much as let me touch the

my life that know of. And yet he
would not so much as let me touch the
tips of her fingers"
DID he say so?"
That and a deal more. tell you,
Watson, I've only known her these
few weeks, but from the first just felt
that she was made for me, and she,
too-she was happy when she was with
me. and that I'll swear. There's a light
In womans eyes that speaks louder
than words. But he has never let us
get together, and it was only to-day
for the first time that I saw a chance
OF having a few words with her alone.
She was glad to meet me, but when she
did, 1t was not love that she would talk
about, and she wouldn't have let talk
about 1t either If she could have stop
ped it. She kept coming back to it that
this was place of danger, and that she
would never be happy until had left
1t. I told her that since I had seen her
/ was in no hurry to leave 1t, and that
If she really wanted me to go utIe
only way to work it was for her to ar
range to go with me. With that I Of
fered In as many words to marry her.
but before she could answer down came
this brother of hers, running at us with
g face on him like q mailman. He was
Just white with rage. and those light
eyes of his were blazing with FURY.
What was l doing with the lady! DO"
dared I offer her attentions which were
distasteful to her? Did I think that
because I was baronet I could 90 what
liked? II he had not been her brother
should have known better how TO
answer him AS it was I told him that
my feelings towards his sister were
such as l was not ashamed OF. ana that
I hoped rnat she might honor me by
fo Iot
make the matter no better. so then l
lost my temper too, and I answered
him rather more holly than I should
perhaps, considering that she was
standing by So it ended by his going
off with her, as you saw, and mere am
as badly puzzled a man as any In this
county Just tell me what it all means,
Watson, and Ill owe you more than
ever I can hope to pay"
tried one or two explanations, but,
indeed I was completely puzzled my
self. Our friends title. his fortune, his
age, his character, and his appearance
are all in his favor, and I know moth
ing against him, unless it be this dark
fate which runs in. his family. That his
advances Should be rejected so brusQue-
ly without any reference to the.
lady's own wishes, and that the lady
should accept the situation without pro-
test is very amazing. However. our
conjectures were set at rest by visit
from Stapleton himself that very after
noon. He had come to offer apologies
for his rudeness of the morning, and
after a long private interview with Sir
Henry in his study, the upshot of their
conversation was that the breach is
quite healed, and that we are to dine at
Merripit House next Friday as Sign
of it.
IT don't say now that he isn't crazy
man." said Sir Henry: Il can't forget
the look in his eyes wien he ran at me
this morning but I must allow that no
man could make more handsome apoi-
ogy than he has done"
did he give any explanation OF his
conduct"
.uIis sister Is everything in his life,
he says. That is natural enough, and
am glad that he should understand her
value. They have always been together.
and according to his account he has been
a very lonely man with only her as q
companion, so that the thought Of losing
her was really terrible to him. He had
not understood, he said. that I was be-
coming attached to her, but when he
saw with his own eyes that 1t was really
so, and that she might be taken away
from him. it gave him such a shock
that for time he was not RESPONSE
BILE for what he said or did. He was
very sorry for all that had passed, and
he recognized how foolish and how selfish
it was that he ssould imagine that he
could hold beautiful woman like his
sister to himself for her whole life.
If she had to leave him he had rathe"
it was that he should imagine that he
anyone else. But in any case it was a.
blow to him, and it would take him some
time before he could prepare himself to
meet it. He would withdraw all opposi-
ton upon his part If would promise for
three months to let the matter rest and