The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1881-12-29
but changed tho subject as soon o. pos

were In varying degrees excited in the
breasts Of the several members OF oul
company. Most Of the ladies' declared
that they were daily expecting some.
thing serious to happen. That those
expectations were not altogether uniul.
filled will now be made plain.
There were two new arrivals on the
day on which our story opens. Our
company had hitherto been pleasant and
select, but the lady and gentleman who
now came among us, and who were
named Mr.. and Mrs. Grice. were cxcep.
tions to this. Showily dressed, aud loud
in their conversation, they male great
| efforts to mix with case in our company,
and for some inscrutable reason seemed
to make special endeavors to become
intimate with our own party; Mr.. Grice
attacking my uncle, and his wife devot.
ing herself to us.
We were at no pains TO conceal our
aversion to their ill-manncrcd and often.
sive intrusion, but they seemed deter
mined to accept no rebuff Lily said tina,
We Ind met here the most pleasant and
the most unpleasant persons whom we
had ever seen in our travels. The
former class, / presume, mainly
embraced Mr.. Gregory.
Ever since Mr.. Smiths visit on the
previous day, my uncle had seemed to
80 unusually worried and anxious.
Something had happened at the office,
it appeared, which caused him very
great uneasiness, and Ito kept constant
watch for the post. Lily and were
troubled about 1t, but were hardly pre-
pared for his sudden announcement ut
lunch next day, upon receiving letter
from town, that We must pack MP Mt
once and return by the first morning
| train.
W. had no objection to escape from
the Grices, but, i'll spite Of Mr.. G.egory's
iil-repnte for his mysterious arts, We
were very sorry To leave him, to say
nothing Of the abrupt and unexpected
| termination of our holiday.
The Grices were sitting next to us
when my uncle made this announce.
men.. and l saw peculiar .ook OF sig
| nitieance pass between them. Mr..
Gregory was sitting ut the other end Of
long dining-table, and quite ont Of
or shot, but he came mp Immediately
after - rose from the table, aud said:
avery sad thing, this sudden depart
IRE uf vonrs
"Mr. Gregory" / replied, "yon are
perhaps aware that YOU are under grave
suspicious Of being in league with the
| powers of darkness. and this is another
proof. Iiew could you possibly know"
"Oh, i'll news travels fast, . he said,
laughing. :" Dut it is very hot after
noon. what do you say to n little read
| ine ?"
Lily here squeezed my nrn vigorously,
hut answered. II far my uncle will
not h. Us 20 ont Of his sight. He feels
il his duty h keep special guard over us
while We are in such dangerous CON-
pany.'
Never mind" he said, 81 will read
to him rs well.
We were now iii the corner OF the
drawin.-room, near q window looking
oft Oh - Il covered balcony which over
loo.,,lt ne garden. Mynncle came mp and
returned Mi. Gregor, couatesIs greet
ing in n manner which was, fear, not
very gracious.
MAY l trouble you for the paper
after sou, sir?" he sid.
Certainly was the answer. "But
may We not enjoy il all together? With
,soar pern sioa / will read aloud 10 the
company.
Ny uncle looked considerably aston
ished IT this unusual psero.ai. Lily
looked III with open eyes and curious
expression, this being not exactly the
Aind o! reading shc had Intended. But
the offer Was seriously made and ~
pcasel, and my uncle. who dearly liked
being read 10, gave dubious consent.
MaNs L .sAt n-fl G.sal aas. -.
him particularly comfortable in al arm
char, aud Mr.. Gregory commenced
reading long, prosy article on French
politics. lie real with anything but his
USUAL spirit, and i'll Il silt, low. aaoHe;o-
nous Voice. The consequence was-as
had poss lily hcen Eot wi..lis unforeseen
that my mel. was soon enjoying his
accustpme III, raooa aies,a. Tie sca.!-
ING, having become gradually slsa.r and
softer. now ceased, and tie reader, look
ing IL, suggested hy q slight gesture an
adjournment to The gar,'en.
Lily and tried to smother our laugh-
ter aud loot shocked. hut We adopted
the suggestion. 4 book os poetry was
| quickly produced. ana / found that
there Is n difference between hearing
French politics read Ia stuff, drawings
room to miaal..agei gentleman, and
hearing "Enoca Arden read III cool,
shady alcove, 10 pretty, aark-eyel,
loyahic maiden, with tender bosom h,av-
ing in sympathy with poor Enoch's sor-
rows. especially when the reader is q
handsome young bachelor, with m cx-
Observation-Disclosures voice, able to do
full justice to the harmonious numbers OF
the Laureate.
At the end of halt an hour / was
startled Ivy an exclamation from Lily.
Looking up. saw in the garden Leio,
sitting on seat under the trees VII.
their faces toward US, our dear friends.
Mr.. and Mrs. Grice.
The gentleman was keeping up, ap-
parently. desu.tory conversation with
his wife. They waved their hands on
catching our eye, and heckoned to us
to come and join them, which we did moi
Mr.. Gregory, instead of going on with
intently, and asked us whether we knew
them.
We said, "No."
But they seem to know you," he
said.
We explained low they had favored
| IL with their attentions. To our disap.
poiniment, lie could no; he induced 10
go on with his reading. hut he continued
to stare At the couple before him: and
Wien at last they stro,l,a OFF in different
directions. lac said that he must apollo.
| glze for having an engagement, and he
left us abruptly. "a strange young
nsn, indeed" we thought, Esli We were
It'll more surprised when in about an
hour he returned, and asked my uncle
to be allowed short private converse.
tion with him. NV unele seemed
startled at this request land so, by the
way. did Lily but after short pause he
led the way into an adjoining apart.
men..
The conversation which ensued, as ",
subsequently learned, was a. follows:
Il am about, sir, said Mr.. Gregory,
ito refer to your private affairs to an ex.
tent Which will surprise You, but hope
to be allie to render you service which
l will liza an amnla eyanse for nj = IN trr, siap