Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1886-12-10
THE BASILISK.

THE BASILISK.
A STORY OF TO-DAY.
CHAPTER XII.
MORE MYSTERY BUT TO TIE
POINT.
When Mary Fortescue had said the
words, Il hate him!'' she rose from
her kneeling position. and, with
almost tragic grace, left me. without
altering another word. She did not
know that read in her eyes what was
repeated in the tone of her voice-the
utter loathing which she felt for this
man Plowitz. "Was it fair to keep
back from her the secret of my
restoration of sightp" l asked myself.
WAS it just to take advantage of her
ignorance in order that I might the
more easily gaze upon the workings OF
that beautiful face?'' A thousand
times no! would follow her and tell
her all, trusting to her good judy
ment, if not to her forbear-
snce, as to whether the Beaufoys
should also be made aware Of the
false pretenses under which was
living at Hanover Lodge. As I ad-
vanced towards the foot of the stair
case met Plowitz coming down. My
good resolutions vanished like snow
before the sun. Some still small voice
Qerhaps not oonscience) whispered
to me, ''Stop! you are in the presence
Of an enemy. All is fair in
love odd war. Keep your Sc
sret." we all of US have pre-
sentiment of evil; do any of US have a
presentiment of good from evilp I
think had.
We stopped simultaneously. Re-
member, l could see, and he did not
know it. He was the first to speak.
''Mr. Coplestone, he said,'1 have q
Ia" VI ~ DON VI yOus
When ! was a boy at school we had
= common, but not classic, expression
called "sucking up to fellow" which
meant that the boy ''sucking up' had
. desire to obtain some favor from
the boy ''sucked up" to- On the pres
mt occasion the way in which DR..
Plowitz addressed me made me fully
aware that he was ''sucking up" to
me. Not only was the tone of his
voice almost musical in its sweetness,
but, despite my presumptiVe blindness,
his lips were wreathed in the most
fascinating Of smiles. / mistrusted
him on the spot. His manner was al
together too honeyed. resolved to
be wary.
"A favor, doctorp'' l answered.
What favor can possibly confer on
youe'
"Sit down." he said, "and I will tell
you. After all, it is not great mat
ter,'' he added lightly, as he drew his
chair beside mine. II want" he con-
tnued, Ito talk to you about Miss For
tesoale."
If I ha4s2Dt known that the man
was watckag me intently, should
have jumped up from my seat. As it
was. rcpressed my emotion, and with
assumed gravity asked, "And what
about Miss Fortescuep''
His next question was one OF start
ling abruptness.
'Do you think that she is perfectly
"SaneP" I echoed with astonish-
ment.
"Sane," he repeated calmly. .:Now,
my dear fellow" he went on, laying
his hand with affectionate familiarity
on my shoulder, ''believe me that ask
:; from a good motive. You, as her mu-
steal instructor, must have every op-
portunity of guaging the quality of her
mental character. Have you ever de-
tected any symptom of alteration OF
intellect in her conduct?'
"Never,'I replied firmly, ''never.
On the contrary, / should say that Miss
Fortescue was particularly gifted with
understanding.
"And should not said q woman 3
voice behind me.
l started 10 my feet. The speaker
was Miss Beaufoy.
-''And should not.' she repeated,
/. dashing her eyes upon me as though
they could pierce me through and
through.
"Why mott" stammered.
Plowit1 took up the thread.
=: ..That is precisely what we want to
tell You about" he said softly. IAN
privileged to speakf" he asked, turn
Ing TO the Basilisk.
She merely bowed her head, still
keeping her eyes steadily fixed on me.
.'Thank you," said Plowitz. las
IN Did friend of the family it gives me
great pain 10 question the state of Miss
Eortescue's mind, but I am constrained
to do SO in the interests o."
Here he paused.
''W US all,'' put in Miss Beaufoy,
with q contemptuous smile on her fine
mouth.
"Of US ALL" repeated the German.
..Tae reason we have for believing Miss
Fortescue to be more or less
out of her mind is this,
q speak on behalf of the highly
respected Beautoy family: Miss For
tescue asserts that she hears strange
voices in the night; Miss Fortescue
states that she has seen strange men in
this highly-respectable household. Miss
Fortescue goes further, and declares
that she has seen our adorable friend,
Miss Beaufoy, in strange DISCUSSES,
more suited to the ladies of the stage
than to q we'll known benefactress of
the poor. All this is very distressing
to- worthy Mr.. Beaufoy, to his still
worthier daughter, and-may l add?
Ito me. - =. -: ~.
>"It is extremely absurd" said the
Basilisk. '.Has she said nothing to
you. Mr.. Coplestone, of these mat
ters. .-
..Not . word,' I answered mechan-
ically. 5s:.. y