Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1881-05-06
An APRIL FOOL.
Al NE Year Ronnet

Letters, SIT.
The young tutor looked up from tn,
Latin exercises which he was consider
ING, and reached for the letters handed
through the sch0ol-ro0m window
There were 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
lis mother or his sister Helen Glanc
ing al its contents, just to assure him
self that All was well with them, he laid
it aside for tie enjoyment Of a more
leisurely pcrusal, then opened the next
This was written in clumsy, awkward
hand, and ran as follows:
Sir You have been watched, and
Yolr actions has been observed i
ION 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
10 take the consequences. Vengeance
will follow upon your track Your
blood be upon your own head.
Mr.. Robert Norwood'5 eyes grew
very wide as he read this mysterious
and blood-thirsty communication.
What could it mean? Who could have
written ii? 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 young lady
there, and extricated her from n boggy
piece into which she had been led in
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; but rs to deliberate
ly seeking interviews, or presumlng to
write 10 her, why, Of course, he Ind
hevcr dreamed Of such thing.
Some illitcrate lover or admirer,
Mr. Norwood thought, whom jealousy
has made fool Of"
And so lie opened the third letter,
which was written i'll 4 free, fair hand,
like Il gentlcman's writing disguised
IF Mr.. Robert Norwood, tutor ut
Broomtield School, will call ut Black
water Manor House, this evening, be-
tween six and seven O'Clock, and in
sItlit loI VII NItSOtNJ ne VIII Htd1
something To his advantage"
Dear me" said the bewildered tu-
tor, ''this is very strange. What can it
mean, ! wonder?'
He read the two notes 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 in
that gloomy old mansion on the border
nf the heath known as Blackwater
Manor House? What singular plot
was this Of which he seemed the sub
.l.ct2 and should lie obey this mysteri-
ems summons, against which the first
note seemed warming him
Between siX and seven, repeated
tire young tutor. glancing up 1T the
school clock "Just thirty minutes
past six. Ics, will 60, and find out
if possible, the meaning Of this.
How much tile fair face, and the pos
sihility Of again seeing it, had to do
with this decision, he did not pause to
inquire of himself. He carefully
brushed his worn hat and threadbare
suit, mixed a shiny seam i'll his right
elbow, and drawing on pair of serr-
pulously preserved gloves, sailed forth
ON his expedition.
l. was II half hours walk across the
moor 10 the little pool called Black
water, beside which the manor house
was situated; but ny walking fast he
could reach it III the given time, though
rather late.
The spring evening was drawing To Il
close, but the birds were still singing,
and the sun, lis il sloped downward.
tlnged every rise and swell Of the broad
heath with i rosy glow
The young tutors spirits, generally
subdued under sense Of his poverty
and loneliness, rose in sympathy with
the gladness and freedom Of nature, and
he whistlcd chccrilv to himself as lie
passed along with brisk step through
the budding heath and furz
Straight onward lie went to where
the low gables and tall poplarS OF the
old Blackwater Manor House lay re-
elected i'll the dark pool at his feet.
Suddenly as he drew near clump
of willows, he saw mans form hiding
behind the trunk, and ut the same in
slant his ear caught Il suppressed snick-
er, from n dense bed of gorse ami heath
close to the pathway.
Turning sharply around he beat the
bushes with the cane which he carried
and he started up before his eyes two
familiar forms. What is this exclaim-
ed the tutor sternly, Young Chester
and Roberts. junior What are YOU
doing here, So far from home?"
Nothing. please, sir answered
young Chester. the most mischieyous
and troublesome hoy in Broomtield
School
Nothing Then had YOU not better
be doing something going home for
instance, and study your lessons for
tomorrow.
The boys We're moving off without
reply, when he again called:
Hello, Roberts, junior, do You know
who lives in the house wonders"
Eyes, sir-old Grig-I mean, Mr..
Gregory, sir; and''-here a contortion
of the mouth, to suppress a grin-"his
niece, Miss Alice, sir Some folks think
her handsome"
''Ah.'' said the tutor, indifferently.
II wouldn't 60 there If was you, Mr..
Norwood" put in Young Chester with
great appearance of concern Hes
such a queer old cove-sets dogs after
folksssnd leaves the pool without lail-
ing around it, so that people may fall
in and get drowned. My eyel you