Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1863-10-24
MY MYSTERIOUS FOE.

not many months ago. The affair made
some talk in private circles, but l believe
it never "got into the papers, For obvi-
Gus reasons Fictitious names have been
given in this account, which l give to the
| public in the belief that it may throw
some light upon the mysterious question
Of Natural Antipa,hies." l shall be
happy to communicate privately with any
person who is engaged in scientific inqui'
ries upon this obscure subject Any let
lers from such persons, directed to *.
L., care Of the Editor of Hsrpers Maga-
zine," inclosing an envelope directed and
stamped for a reply, will meet with early
consideration. l shall net, however, at
tend to any inquiries which appear to be
prompted by mere idle curiosity X. l..
never liked him. Nay, my whole ma.
! ture fairly recoiled from him in terror
when my glance first met his small, pier.
cling eyes, As he suddenly passed through
the reception parlor, where | snt gayly
chatting with Lieut.. Charles. The Lieute.
nant noticed my terrified start, and the
change of color which doubtless accom-
, panied it, for he sprang up instantly, and
would have followed the intruder bad |
not promptly checked him, aud, with
forced smile, endeuvored to resume the
conversation so unpleasantly Interrupted.
And you will not give me the picture,
Fanny?" asked the Lieutenant, after a
few moments pleading concerning carte
de risite which had lately had taken.-
You will not give it to me- he echoed,
sadly, after reading his answer in my
countena"ce. "but surely you will show it
to ME 2"
"Certainly wi'l,' answered quickly,
halt re2rcst'eg the coquetry which had
prompted me to deny him At all in tbe
matter. ut is in my room will bring
it to you in an instant.
Rising from my seat ss spoke, has
tened into the hail. Good gracious! there
He stood, At the very foot Of the stairway,
mo,ionless, as though he had been Iis,en>
ing to our conversation. | sprang back
into the room with q beating heart, and
Tears Of vexation gushing to my eyes
s"loa have seen him againl'' exclaim.
ed the Lieutenant, starting from his seat.
But before the door was reached nv
hsnd was upon bis arm
"No," | urged do not 20 it will be
useless, and excite an unnecessary alarm
m the house hold. Ia moment he will
go away, and | will then ge, you the pic.
ture, aud laugh at my folly u, the same
time
"Your folly in getting me the picture p
ban'ered the Lieutenant, payly. Forgive
me, Fanny he added hastily, and at
anxious ci"ud passed over his counte.
nance. This matter is more seriou.
with you than l 1t all imagined. Surely
there is
Say no more about it," interrupted,
trying TO smile. There are some iuflu.
ences which it is useless to attempt to
explain. We can only recognize them
and, II need be, struggle to resist them |
am ashamed Of the weakness on my part
which you have witnessed this morning,
and must trust 10 your generosity not to
interpret it too harshly."
He pressed my hand respectfully, and
Was silent But what meant that shrewd,
almost sarcastic smile, when. a moment
afterward, as we heard the hall door shut
heavily, he said, Your enemy is probably
out of the way, now will you bring me
the picture?
This enemy" as. alas the Lieutenant
had only too truly called him, was, liz.
myself, lodger in my my boarding.
house. The landlady, Mrs. Hone, heard
me sympathically when, in confidence. l
hinted at the annoyance be caused me,
and, in her peculiar phraseology, promis.
ed Ito rid the house Of him. as 500 n as
she possibly could but begged me to say
nothing Of the matter in the meantime,
for there was nothing, she said, which
she dreaded, so much as "a stir" among
her bosrders, AID among her lady board
ers she was sure this business would
make stir it anything could.'
] promised 10 remain silent, though
more than once af,erward was tempted
to regret my hasty acquiescence. There
WAS Mr.. Williams, n strong young man,
with whom | wasah favorite, living on the
fourth floor, who, could bis assistance have
been asked, would doubtless soon have
effected the removal l SO much longed
for. As for leaving myself, that was i'm.
possible. ! was an orphan, a dependent
On wealthy thoug invalid uncle, who,
being once comfortably settled in Mrs.
Homes excellenlIy kept house. would not
OF course bs tempted to leave it except
for some more po:cn: aud tangible reason
than could offer. -..
Whether my tormentor knew my senti-
ments toward him or not | cannot say:
but | never, during the uneasy days that
followed, heard him hurrying along the
hall, or passing my room close to it's very
door sill, but felt an involuntary shud.
der, and with difficulty suppressed the
cry that arose 70 ny lips. Once | me,
him on the stairway, and. scarce conscious
OF what | was doing, | bounded pas. him
with quick scream, and rushed into my
room Why ! canot tell, except that my
whole being Ioa,hed the creature, and felt
n presen.iment Of coming evil from h.s
presence. Not Que word had We ever