River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-05-05
AN APRIL FOOL.

The young tutor looked up from thc
Latin exercises which he was consider
ing, and reached for the letters handed
through the schoOl-roOm window
There wer, three of them-an unusua
number to receive at one time, seeing
that he had scarcely had any CORE
spondents-and he examined the adj
dresses, one after another, with some
curiosity.
The first he knew to be from either
his mother or his sister Helen Glanc-
ing at its contents, inst to assure him
self that all was well with them, he laid
it aside for the enjoyment of a more
leisurely perusal, then opened the next.
This was written in a clumsy, awkward
hand, and ran as follows:
'SIR:-You have been watched, and
your actions has been observed. II
you ever presume to meet certain
Young lady again on Cummerford
Heath, and walk with her. or write any
more letters to her, you must prepare
to take the consequences. Vengeance
will follow upon your track! Your
blood be upon your own head.
Mr.. Robert Norwood'R eyes grew
very vide as he read this mysterious
and bloOd-thirsty communication.
What could it mean? Who could have
writer it? True, his walks of late had
been generally across the heath, for
he loved its breezy space and freshness,
he said, to himself; and once, not long
ago, he had encountered q young lady
there, and extricated her from bOggy
piece into which she had been led III
search Of forget-me-nots. He could
not deny that he had since then once
or twice again met her, and had lifted
his hat in passing; bun as to deliberate
" seeking interviews. or prRsuming to
write to her, why, of course, he had
hever dreamed of such a thing.
"SOme illiterate lover or admirer,
Mr. Norwood thought, whom jealousy
has made a fool of"
And so he opened the third letter,
which was written In free, fair hand
like gentlemans writing disguised:
''If Mr. Robert Norwood. tutor at
Rroomiied School, will call Mt Black
water Manor House, this evening, be-
tween six and seven O'Clock, and in
quire for MIR. Gregory, he will hear
something to his advantage"
Dear me, said the bewildered tu-
tor, this is very strange What can II
mean, | wonder?'
He read the two I.otes over and over
Though written by different persons
they had evidently reference to the
same subject; for did not the pretty
girl with the forget-me-nOts reside II
that gloomy old mansion on the border
of the heath known as Blackwatel
Manor House? What singular plot
was this Of which he seemed the sub
rect? and should he obey this mysteri
GUS summons, against which the frs
note seemed warning him?
Between SIX and seven,' repeated
the young tutor. glancing up at tht
school clock. Just thirty MINUTES
past six. Yes, will go, and find out
if possible, the meaning of this.
How much the fair face, and the pos
sibility Of again seeing it, had to d'
with this decision, he did not pause t
INQUIRE of himself He carefully
brushed his worn hat and threadbar,
suit. mixed shiny seam in his RICH
elbow, and drawing on a pair of scru
pulously preserved gloves, sailed iortt
on his expedition.
/; was a half hours walk across thu
moor to the little pool called Black
water, beside which the manor hous
was situated, but by walking fast h,
could reach it in the given time, though
rather late.
The spring evening was drawing to
close. but the birds were still singing
and the sun, rs it slOped downward
tinged every rise and swell of the broa'
heath with a rosy glow.
The Young tutors spirits, general.
subdued under Il sense of his pOvert
and loneliness, rose in sympathy witt
the gladness and freedom Of nature, an
ne whistled cheerilv to himself as h
passed along with brisk step throug
tile budding heath and furz
Straight onward he went to wher
the low gables and tall Eoplars OF tn
old Blackwater Manor House lay re
Elected in the dark pool at his feet.
Suddenly as he drew near clum
Of willows, he saw a mans form hldln
behind the trunk, and at the same ii
slant his ear caught Il suppressed snlcb
er, from dense bed of gorse ami heat
close to the pathway.
Turning sharply around he beat tn
bushes with the cane which he carrie
and he started up before his eyes Nv
familiar forms. What is this eXclaim
ed tl,e tutor sternly, Young Cheste
and Roberts. junior. What are yo
doing here, SO far from home?
Nothing, please, sir, answere
Young Chester, the most mlSchlevou
and troublesome boy ia B.roomtiel
School
Nothing, Then had you not bette
Toe doing something going nome 70
instance. and study your lessons 70
tomorrow.
The bows were moving oil withou
reply. when he again called:
Hello. Roberts, junior! do You knox
who lives in the house vond ar?'
YES. sir-old Grig-l mean, Nh
Gregory, Sir; and'-here a contortlo
of the mouth, to suppress "a grln-"hl
niece, Miss Alice, sir. Some folks thin
her handsome.
"Ah," said the tutor, ndltterently.
Il wouldn't 60 there il was you, VI
Norwood" put in Young Chester WI
great appearance of concern lie
such a queer old cove-sets dogs ate
folkss7nd leaves the pool without lal
ing around il, so that people may IN
in and get drowned. Ny eye. yo
wouldn't catch me there this time
day"
"Uudoubtedly Won viii be better :
home Who Is that behind that tire
yonder?"
Its Mr.. Snead, sir. But | don't Sc
as what bro ught him here, unless
And here, with a quick glance az Ii
companion. he checked himself.
Mr.. Snead was under-teacher z
Bloomfield, and, as Norwood knew, u
very good friend of his-a light, dand
fed Young fellow, whose delight il va
to play practical jokes upon the gras
upper-tntor, whose situation he va
eagerly hoping and man9uyering
obtain.
Norwood rather wondered what b