The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1886-12-23
..Not Il all" / answered. III yop

- mT. O08u1Oy . 0tuQys An0AOs ~
good friend, sit down." and he placed
. comfortable chair for me, and seated
himself 1t the writing-table.
Il have large correspondence" he
said, land mapy affairs to attend TO-"
There was I small pile Of letters be-
side him, and the door near tho waste
paper basket was streWn with torn en-
vcfopes and letters which had missed
that receptacle. A quantity Of ashes
on the hearth showed that some papers
had been consigned to the fire.
I observed tho room at leisure. Truly
there was no apparent reason for Mr..
Beaufoy's jealous precautions. Not >
sign Of anything unusual or compro-
missing was to be seen. The secret
door was perfectly hidden by the book
shelves. Plowitz went on busily writ
ing, occasionally saying word or two
to himself in some foreign tongue, but
too low for me to catch what he said;
probably it was 1t the end Of the SEN
fences he Was writing. made use OF
the time to observe tho garden, into
which tho windows looked / could
see high wall covered with richly
colored creepers. This garden must
be that inner one, whose wall. and the
little door in it, / had noticed from ont
side. had . great curiosity TO SEQ
this garden. II might b that one Of
the upper windows, looking upon i,
might show me the face Of which had
% often thought.
At last PloWitx threw down his pen
and began putting his papers away in
. despatch box. A no did 30 he
talked.
.sMr. Ccplestone, do you know that
You are . very favored mani"
II don't see it, answered bluntly.
you do not see iti That il pity"
he said most alphabetically. ''You
English, pardon me. are never too
quick to see some things. Have you
ever asked yourself what you arc here
forp''
Il have no need to AK myself while
l do my duty. and | certainly have no
need to answer anybody olse."
could not imagine what he WAS
aiming at. but he evidently did not
mean to be offensive.
Pardon he said, "you think I take
liberty. No, my friend-no. would
do you . service-you and another.
You were engaged to teach our poor
dear Miss Fortescue music. Now, y 1t
usual to engage . gentleman in such :
way solely to teach : young lady
music?"
.You do not know, perhaps, = I said,
s.that Mr.. Beaufoy is interested in the
welfare OF the blind.n
..Do you know who IL the master OF
this housep" he asked. ut II not Mr..
Beaufoy; it is his beautiful daughter.
Why did she engage you? To please
her cousinp Bah! To please your
Well-to please herselfe"
..Dr. Plowitz, l began, in extreme
indignation at his impertinence. rising
from the armchair, Il cannot allow this
sort Of conversation moment longer.
To me it is an unwarrantabl0 familiar
ity; to Miss Beaufoy-"
..Mr. Coplestone, he interrupted,
laying his hands lightly on my shout
ders moment. II am not surprised
that you think me impertinent. You
are wrong, though. / am an old friend
of the family. l speak for their good.
and l would do you . good Office. too.
You have heard me. know what
am saying. I see for you, as you can.
not see for yourself. What have said
is buried between Us. Act as you think
fit" He went to the door. Come.
must 90 out little" He led me out,
and turned up the staircase. ''Ah.
have left the door open," he cried
shut it, Coplestone, like . good Eel
low!"
I turned back. He ran upstairs
Quickly slammed the door from thu
inside, and while the sound still rang
in the hall. opened it. slipped out. AND
put il quietly ajar. | then went into
the library. In q minute heard q steE
coming downstairs. and PlOwitz called
out:
If they return. kindly say I vii
soon be back"
i He went out by the hall-door, and
sauntcred to the window. There, JUS
J turning round into the avenue. l caught
sight Of figure, an old man with loL(
grey hair and grey beard, hurry ing of
with the buoyant step Of the youthful
and vivacious Plowitz.
had no time then to lose in specula
ton. FASTENED back through thu
partition-dcor. which carefully closes
behind me, and in minute was out j,
the garden through the study window
It was q small obloDg plot Of grass
with vines and-creepers, and fruit-tree
.. trained along the walls. and herbs ant
old fashioned garden flowers in tn
narrow beds beneath. l gazed anx
iously al the back Of the house. at tn
upper windows. My heart gave
great bound Of Joy. as l saw sur
enough at an open window the face O
Mary Fortescue. It was but for an in
slant, and I stood amazed, devisinl
some means for opening com
munication with her. But q
l debated the advisabilitv OF con
Tossing that / had seen her, ! marrow
glass door opened, and she appeared
i With low cry of joy she hurried to
ward me, holding out both her hands
"Mr. Coplestone, Mr.. CoplestoDe
how did you come herep" she cried.
| / kept my presence Of mind an,
sought her hands.
miss FOrtescue-Mary. You hav
been i'll. Are you getting wellp'
Il am better" she said, in . choke'
voice.
j Have you really been illi' hav,
been 50 anxious. What has been tn
matterp"
Il have been 20 lonely. % wretch
ed" she sobbed; my only safety i Il
being i'll. To be dsad would be bet
ter"
What Is IT," asked, deeply moved
Il cannot tell you" she said, sob
bling without restraint. Her poor tear
fell on my hands as she held them.
Yes, tell me, l said, gravely.
'.Ihey want me to marry DR.. Pic
witz." she sobbed out with shuddsz
! laughed
That is to be ~ you wish"
.'Oh. ! cannot help. myself. Their
Is no one to help me-
Indeed there il" said I. Her pit
full tear-stained eyes. whose beaut