The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1881-07-28
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THE STORY OF A MYSTERY.

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THE STORY or A MYSTERY.
The shower was ended. A brish
breeze WINS rapidly tearing away the gray
thunder clouds from the lace u the June
sky. and the sun shonc down with 10
ncwed fcrvor.
As h.t A. twas before the raiul" ex-
claimed Mrs. Curtis = she opened her
parasol, aud leisurely stepped from the
Haywood dry goods store In which shs
Ind. half Al hour bsiore, taken sheltss
from the storm.
YES, it Is. ma'am, said Mr.. Brown,
the proprietor, handing her the bundles
she mud bought from him, and he added:
You'll have q hot walk under this
brilin hot sun. Better run in 70 our
house and stay 70 tea You haint seed
the twins. Smartest little critters ever
was. Mrs. Browne getting on finely,
and will he glad 10 see YOU"
Thanks; Id like 10, but / must hurry
home md can my currants. Besides, [
wouldn't undertake that long walk
through the pine wood after dark for
anything in the world tie glorious
enough in the daytime. Give my no
srccts to your wife; tell her Ill drop in
soon and see her and the babies. Good
day"
''Good-day," said Brown, and hs
added, rs he saw Mira. Curtis hurrying
down the street, "Queer critter!''
Yes, by all the inhabitants Of Haywood
Mrs. Curtis Was called peculiar. She
was upwards u fifty years, tall and
erect, with iron.gray hair, rudy cheeks,
aud keen. dark cyes. And, decidedly,
she was = person that minded her own
business. She had lived Ia Haywood
for five years, yet in all that time not .
single person had been able to CLEAN any
information concerning her past life.
AL that could DO ascertained was that
she WAS widow, childless, and with q
little property, consisting Of little cot.
tage surrounded by few acres Of land,
aud with few hundred dollars in the
Haywood hank.
Meanwhile. Mr.. Brown returned 10
his counter 10 wait on customer, and
Mrs. Curtis pursued her journey homo.
ward. For some distance her road led
along the dusty highway, then ahe turned
into little footpath through the daisy.
dotted meadow, then across the creek
bridge, until presently she came 10 the
dense pine woods whose shade was very
pleasing to her.
When abont half way through the
woods she came 10 small patch Of late
Strawberries. She stopped 10 nick them.
Her brown, hard. working hands were
nearly full Of the luscious, red berries.
when a rustling and = footstep startled
her. She hastily glanced up. In an in.
xtant M iron.like hand was clutching he,
throat. and-only the frightened. wild.
wood birds could tell her the rest,
About two miles from the yillare al
Haywood, and on the banks Of brai,
Greek. dwelt Peter Groat He Was ,
German, who, with his family, had
lately come 10 America, and In the pro.
vlons autumn had bought . few acres d
land bordering the creek. Here he hat
erected small. but comfortable house
aud was. 70 all appearance, An honest
Woodworking man. The only thing
that could be said against him BY . few
grumblers WAS that no was too "close,
clinging tightly 10 his hard earned pen
MES, aud ever on tho lockout for more
But this certainly Was excusAhle when H
was known that he had mortgage q,
his farm, which together with the want,
Of . rapidly increasing family. va
enough TO mako any man greedy .
grain.
II was evening Of tho day on whicl
our story began, Peter. surrounded b.
his wife and children, sat smoking hi
pipe on the little grasa plot in iront Q
tho house.
The supper had been eaten, tho COW
MIXED. tho piga fed, tho chicken
housed from thicvish rata, and all th
family. young aud old. felt entitled 10
season Of rest. Hans and Fritz wer
turning sammcrsanlts on tho soft grass
Gretchen, = ilAxen.haired laasie, ~
feeding 4 pet robin: Franz, the ii
months baby, was cuddled mp in hi
mothers breast, contontedly smackin
his lips over his evening meal.
The snn won't down, tho shadow
deepened. The clock in the distant Vi
lage struck the hour Of eight. Pete
Great rose. shook tho ashea from hi
pipe. and said:
Come. kinder. IL il late. Tho dew
falling. and let'a 10 bed"
Water. vater!" suddenly cried Han
and Fritz. running up from tho gat<
there is man coming In our yard
stranger!
Peter sloxly sauntcred down 10 me,
the new conner.
He was An elderly man, With . tanne
and rugged lace. sandy hair sprinkle
with gray. and dark. deep-set eyes, com,
what imtiamcd. His clothes were I
good material, although worn and dust
with travel. In his hand no carried
large satchel.
Good evening"" he said, oourtously
Evening to you, air" replied Pet
Groat.
I'm pesidler." said the man, speal
ing in German. II have sold nearly Z
my goods, and am on nv way hack ,
New York. I got left BY tho train, On
undertook to walk 10 tho next station.
lost my way, and iind I must get lodi
ings for the night. Can you help me
THE good book commands M 70 sho
hospitality said Peter. And althoug
We WV Hus IACNs VIC never yet IuTNC
away benighted traveller. So, CON
IN, and my frau shall get you somethin
to eat.
The table was soon spread with nea
white cloth. upon which was placed
platter 81 cold boiled meat, Rarnishs
we'll with vegetables. then ! plate
white bread, roll Of butter, . dish
shining blackberries. and plate Of spit
ginger cookies.
Il feel tao dirty TO sit down TO a
cent table," said the traveller with
smile. May ! trouble You for basi
Of water ?"
It Nas brought. he took OF his Goa
preparatory TO washing his face ar
hands. Gretchen who stood beside hi
with a fresh towel in her hands, uttere
slight scream.
Blood" she cried. There's blood Z
your slecves,'
The basin Of water fell from Il
strangers hands. His face shone viii
through the glistening drops Of water
hal dashed upon it. Then, with an q
fort, he said carelessly:
a