The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1883-03-22
A SOCIETY ROMANCE.

Sunny Slope is one of the prettiest
houses and estates on the Atlantic sea-
board.
Its owner, Mr.. Newman, was a care
less, handsome, attractive man, fond of
society, amusement and excitement.
His wife loved solitude, and found all
that she could wish for in the company
Of her only daughter Angela, and the
luxuriance of their abode.
Mr. Newnham, therefore, sought his
pleasures in the cities, and every year
paid q visit to Europe, sometimes ac-
companied by his wife, but more often
alone.
HewaS not an economist, and although
reputed to be wealthy, he had occasion
to borrow money from his old friend
Walter Percy, and at the time when our
story opens, Mr.. Newnham was troubled
in his mind, for the interest on the mort
gage was long overdue, and Mr.. Percy
had the character of being very hard in
money matters. To make matters
worse, the mail had brought the news
that Walter Percy intended accepting
his friends repeated invitations to spend
the holidays with them, and the next
day would arrive on his intended visit.
Mrs. Newnham was not pleased with
the prospective visit, for she had, as
she expressed it, ga holy horror" of that
bad man.
Mr. Walter Percy's badness consisted
in having met young lady in that city
of beautiful girls, Baltimore, wooed her,
and then, with all the cruelty imagina-
BILE, Tilted her. The poor girl was heart
broken and, being friendless, had no
one in whom she could confide. She
suddenly disappeared from Baltimore,
and it was feared that grief had caused
her to destroy her life.
Percy had suffered more from the
girls disappearance than his friends
gave him credit for. He really loved
Beatrice Meyer, but some face had fas-
cinated him for a time, and Beatrice
was deserted. When he found the girl
had left the city, or as some limited,
sought suicides grave, Mr.. Percy was
frantic with anguish.
This was the story, with MANY varied
colors, which found its way to Sunny
Slope, and caused Mrs. Newnham's
''holy horror.
Sunny Slope was about five miles
from the nearest railway station, and as
Mr. Percy had not told his friend by
what train to expect him, he had to hire
a horse and buggy to drive over to MIR.
Newnham's.
He was accompanied by companion
half servant, half secretary; one of
those confidential aids we occasionally
meet with.
They had not gone far, when the
horse SHE'D al some object lying on the
road. 1t appeared on closer inspection
to be a man, evidently drunken tramp.
Come, get upn' shouted Percy; lit
is fortunate we did not drive over YOU"
The man raised himself to his feet
and seized the horses head.
"Walter Percy, beware! If you value
your life go not to Sunny Slopen'
''Out of my wayr' cried Percy, strik-
inc at the man with his whip.
"Rewarer' again shouted the tramp.
"Who is hep" asked MIR. Percy of the
companions driver.
Don't know, sir. Never saw him
'afore, but he seems to know one of
you"
Mr. Percy thought for moment and
then answered:
Il have no remembrance of him"
Sunny Slope was particularly gloomy.
The host feared that his guest might
press him on money matters, and the
lady of the house bore herself haughtily
before her husband friend.
Walter Percy, however, chatted gaily
about their young days-their sprees at
Harvard and the scrapes into which he
and Newnham were constantly getting.
Suddenly he paused on hearing few
notes struck upon the piano in an ad-
joining room, followed by a sweet voice
singing
Take back the heart that thou gavest--
What is my anguish TO thee?
Take back the freedom thou craveSt
Leaving the fetters to me.
'Is that your daughtera" asked Mr.
Percy.
No. Angela has only just COM
menced taking lessons-it is her new
goYerness. answered Mr. Newnham.
1.-The voice seemed familiar" said
Percy, ''but | cannot recall where or
when heard it,
Perhaps you have met Miss Minusp"
minus = Minus? No" And then
Walter Percy sat for q time thinking
deeply. and the thoughts which coursed
through his brain would persist in turn
inc to Beatrice.
Il wonder where she is?n he thought.
The music ceased, and Walter Percy
saw through the open door figure pass
along the hall
1t was not the figure which enthralled
him, but simply the strange but delight
ful perfume exhaled from the clothing
of Miss Minus, the new governess at
Sunny Slope.
THAT perfumer' said Walter to him
self, Il could swear that but one person
possessed that perfume in America. l
brought it from Spain and gave it as the
most precious gift to poor Beatrice
Mr. Newman imagined that his
guest must be tired, for he had sat for
half an hour without speaking. Walter
was glad to take advantage of the hint
and proposed to retire to his room.
When alone in his bedroom, sitting be-
fore a glowing fire, he felt that there
was but little hope of sleep.
The fire sent out strange, fantastic |
rays of light, making weird shadows on |
the floor and wall.
He was nervous and agitated. He |
felt suffocating. Percy rose from his |
chair and opened the door. Again was
waited across the room that strange per-
fume, with its memories of the girl he |
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