UNDER SUSPICION

That night, tossing in bed, Mark Griffin found the lady of the tree
occupying the center of his thoughts. He had to acknowledge to himself
the simple truth, that she interested him more than any other woman he
had ever seen; and he had a vague idea that he had met her before--but
where? He was wise enough to know where such interest would ultimately
lead him. The more he worried about it, the more a cause for worry it
became. The very idea was foolish. He had seen her twice, had spoken
to her once. Yes, she was charming; but he had known others almost as
charming and he had not even been interested. Now he might go
deeper--and what of the risks?

Saunders was certainly shadowing the woman. The town constable was
constantly with him, seemingly ready to make an arrest the moment the
detective was sure of his ground. It was easy to figure that out.
Worse than all, the woman was afraid--or why the veil? Why the secret
door through a tree? Why her embarrassment when she faced the danger
of having the detective see her face?

On the other hand, she was a friend of the priest, and Mark had formed
a very favorable opinion of Father Murray. Then she had referred to
the incident on the bluff road very openly and without embarrassment
These things were in her favor, but--well, the rest looked bad. Above
all was the danger of falling in love with her.

Mark thought of his people in England and of his brother the Irish
peer. He knew their prejudices. What would they say if the heir
presumptive to the barony came home with an American wife? Yet why
should he care?