The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-01-03

to the room, and stood by, stroking the
girls hair as if she was consoling her
Then the light was extinguished, and
suppose they went to bed, but l was
wakeful all that night.
From that time forward kept a close
watch on Leslie Brown, and soon found
that he spent four evenings out Of sin
with pretty Lucy Barrett.
Always the programme was the same
he sat close beside her, reading the
lOve-sick verses such occasions always
demand, while Mrs. Barrett sewed neal
by, or the old grandfather sometimes
took her place and played propriety
though the poor old man always fell
asleep.
On the evenings when Mr.. Brown did
not appear, Lucy occupied the parlOl
alone, and wrote interminablc letters,
over which she sometimes cried.
At other times she might be seen in
her little bedroom, standing at the win.
dow in an attitude Of deep detection,
rs if longing for her lover.
Little cause had she for detection,
however. for Leslie Brown was as de-
voted as he could be without exciting
his mothers suspicious. He, too,
wrote long letters q could see him
plainly enough, for he occupied the
second story front room. and he almost
always left his windows wide open dur
ing the first part of the evening), but
he seemed to be very fastidiOus about
the composition of his epistles. Some
times he would fill and tear up half a
dozen sheets of paper before he was
suited. Then he would put his letter
in large yellow envelope an un-
romantic color, tOO!-and send it by
the negro waiter to his young neighbor
when he could not 60 himself, and then
l was sure to see her perusing the we'll
filled pages afterward.
| What he could have found to write
about so continually was Il mystery to
me, as they met so often; but suppose
lovers nonsense always was and al
ways will be endless.
just about this time made another
and most significant discovery. Twas
selecting some Berlin woods for new
footstool, when Lucy Barrett entered
the shop and asked one of the sales
women if she could get some handker-
chiefs marked for embroidering.
Ladies' or gentlemen's handker-
chiefs?' asked the girl. l pricked up
my ears and listened.
Gentlemen's =" was the answer. OF
course! The book of patterns was
taken down and the letters selected.
BY dint of strict attention, while APP
peared to be looking for shade of
crimson, l heard the girl say, L. b.
all right Miss: you can have them to-
morrow" and then Lucy left without
observing me.
IL. b." that was just what l ex-
pected-that meant Leslie Brown, be-
yOnd doubt; and, oh! what would his
mother say? began to feel that l had
a duty to perform in this matter, for
only the day before had heard from a
friend of my own, who knew the
Browns slightly, that Leslie was sup
posed to be engaged to a young lady
who was at present in Europe, but
who was soon expected to return. My
duty began to look very plain, in view
of this last fact. and was not long in
coming to determination.
must notify Mrs. Brown without de-
lay, but how? Should seek an inter-
| view or write letter? On the whole,
| inclined to the letter, and, before re-
tired to rest that night had dispatched
the following:
"If Mrs. Brown will take the advice
of sincere friend. and look about her
closely, she will find that her amiable
and unsuspecting son is in danger. An
INSCRIPTIONS family will use every pos.
sible means to entrap him into mes
alliance. Accept this warning from
one who shall be nameless."
That was certainly comprehensive
and explicit without being compromis.
ing for me. if my agency in the matter
should leak out. I posted my note
with my own hands, for Rosa. my maid
although an excellent woman, has an
unfortunate curiosity which some.
times prompts her to take undue libcr.
ties with my letters, and l knew the
address on this one would attract hcl
attention at once.
The next morning was on the watch
for the effect of my warning, and, sure
enough, the explosion came. The
postman delivered his budget at the
Browns, and Mrs. Brown, leisurel,
shipping the dead leaves of her gera.
NUNS at the parlor window, took the
letters and began reading them al
once.
Suddenly she started, crumpled the
one she had read in her hand, and van
ished from the parlOr, to reappear ir
another moment, in her sons room
above. My letter, beyond a doubt.
Breathlessly watching, l saw hel
seize the young man by the arm and
point to the just-read page. He caught
it from her hand and studied it atten
lively, and then they talked excited,
together for some moments.
What would l not have given to hea1
as well as see for the next half hour
But as that was impossible, l wa
forced to content myself with double
vigilance. Finally the conference
ended, Leslie taking his way dow
town, while his mother returned to he
plants. How had it ended? l fel
sure that Mrs. Brown was indignant
and the young man, of course, wa
wretched. In less than an hour some
thing new happened-Mrs. Brow
came out of her own house, looked N
and down the street, as if hesitatin!
over her course, and then took her wa,
into the Barretts'.
| My excitement at this stage of IT,,
little drama became painfully intense
evidently my warning had opened he
eyes, and that talk with her son ha.
made her aware of his infatuation
How grateful she must be to her un
known correspondent! and how cor
daily she would receive me some day
when could avow my authorship, an,
explain the seemingly unimportan
circumstances which had pointed me t,
the truth.
| remained at my post of observation
of course, until the close of the inter
view, which was just fifty minute
long. Nothing more happened; Mrs
Brown returned to her own house, an
the day wore on quietly; but that even
ing Leslie did not pay his accustome
visit. was sure of this, for l waite
and watched until after nine O'Clock