Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1868-09-18
Selected sllisfellanp.
THE MYSTERY OF MRS. BROWN.
From the Galaxy.l

LODGINGS 10 luC Il AdLcn WI
through the Via CondOtti and the Corso. to
the dingy shop of an old bookseller, stu
ated in the Piazza iii Montecltorlo. L had
several reasons for going by that peculiar
place. which 1t is not my purpose TO ms
close at present-theTe was one reason why,
if had been perfectly free, should nave
walked through any other streets, to any
other place in Rome. Yes, l verify believe
that for certain overwhelming motives, i
should have preferred daily walk through
the hateful catacOmbs with no other COM
panion than the learned but tiTesOme anti
OuaTian who conducts professional sight
seers through these subterranean vaults
Even he would have been far less shocking
TO nv sensibilities than the individual who
was always waiting for me at the corner OF
the Via COndotti and the CoTsO, and who al
WAYS went with me TO the old bookseller S
shop
| am not romantic, and am no particular
admirer of n woman. If / were L should
probably have been delighted with the great
opportunities for intrigue which were
afforded by the association thus forced up
on me, for my companion was a woman,
young pretty, well dressed and well-bred,
except that she would persist in forcing an
acquaintanceship upon me which she must
have perceived was disagreeable.
short Of altogether giving up my accustomed
exercise. even went so far as to intimate
in very significant language, that L prefer
red taking my walk without being accom-
panied by her. / could not omit 1T often
or defer il TO another hour without incur
ring the risk of greater difficulties than any
she was likely to lead me into, and finally
Iaccepted my fate with resignation, and
submitted to quasi cOmpaniOnsmp which
was anything but pleasant.
From the first | noticed that there was
something strange about the lady, aside
from her very singular behavior. There
were certain appearances, which to my not
inexperienced eye, indicated great emotion
al disturbance. and there was at times an
underlined air of WEAKNESS and sorrow IN her
bearing. which would have excited my
sympathy if had not at very early period
of our intercourse formed strong suspicious
as To their cause
She always came in her carriage, alight-
ed, and sending it away, babe me good
morning and joined me; walking by my
side with her arm IN mime, she always kept
up a continual conversation, always on one
topic until we reached our destination,
then she entered the shop with me, and be-
coming intentlv engaged with the books,
left me to myself, till, her carriage, IN about
an hour. called for her; then with few po
lite words to myself and the old bookseller,
she stepped lightly into the vehicle, and
was driven away, taking with her the vol
umes she may have purchased, These
books were always such as related to the
subject of her morning conversation.
At last the time came tor me to leave
Rome. As 1t approached L noticed that
her demonstrations towards me increased;
and that, moreover, there was a degree or
Il 4
demeanor which convinced me that the de-
movement of her singular conduct was at
hand. All this tended to rouse my eurios-
Hy. There was mystery connected with
myself that was anxious to conceal, and
to DO which had required my strongest
efforts This had prevented me from
taking any interest IN the affairs OF my ma
tutinaI companion; but the persistency and
determination which had characterized her
actions at length began to impress me, and
so ON the morning before L left Rome,
when. with hesitating manner, as If not
sure of doing right but as if irresistibiy
impelled, she invited me to dine with her
that day. / accepted, not only with great
prOmptness, but really with good deal of
pleasure.
Perhaps some of the wiseacres who read
this fragment may think me fool, or at
any rate deficient in ordinary force of char
acter, to allow myself to be prosecuted by
woman whose attentions / might readily
have shaken off by calling the nearest
policeman They are at perfect liberty to
think what they please L have long since
passed that point of my existence when L
cared for the opinions OF mankind. shall,
therefore, make the explanation of my
course. l will however, say that | was
never regarded by those who knew me as
being lacking IN sense or strength of mind
On the contrary, was, and am, a man of
strong will, accustomed TO have my own
way and perhaps somewhat inclined to be
tyTannical. thoroughly detested that wO-
man. andif 1 could have kept her away
from me / should not have hesitated to ex-
ert my power, or have been very scrupulous
as to the means. Suffice it to say, there
fore that could not free myself from her,
and that 1 was obliged to treat her with a
certain amount of consideration.
As the hour approached for dining with
her began forming suTmises as to what
might occur. L had now known her about
four months. had met her first at the
old booksellers, and observing that she
was IN search of a rare treatise of which
had heard, had offered her my assistance.
1t was a difficult undertaking to attempt to
find anything there, and the old proprietor
himself having lost the run of his books,
and being feeble with age, was unable TO
give much aid, Practice had rendered me
perfect In such work, and in moment OF
thoughtless pOliteness l had offered my
services. As she turned toward me and
thankfully accepted them, / had a good
view OF her cOuntenance, which the dark
ness of the dingy room had hitherto pre-
vented me obtaining. l saw that she was
very beautiful and young-about twenty ]
suppose AT first took her to be English:
but she had a delicacy and refinment OF
features and expression which are very
rarely seen IN women of that nation and
very soon made up my mind she was an
American. Her hands and feet were fault
less. / took special pains to satisfy myself
In regard to them, and though the first
were glOved. and the latter as much as DOS
sible concealed by thick boots, knew they
were more perfect than any ideals formed
by the sculptOr's chiseL
As have said, was no particular adj
mirer of women / had had ample oppor-
tunities for becoming thoroughly accquaint.
ed with all varieties of the female sex, and
my experience had not tended to elevate
the female character in my estimation.
Nevertheless, / was not an anchorite, and
the sight of so much loneliness somewhat
unsettled my nerves. / passed an hour
with her that morning. / perceived that
she was well educated, and that she had