Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1886-12-17
THE BASII,ISK
A STORY OFTO.DAY.
UHAPTER XIII.
n SHE JEALOUS

The conversation at dinner on this
sventful evening was again delightful.
Plowitz was charming. All my suspi-
cion and dislike. intensified now by .
bitter and grudging jealousy, remained
In full force. Yet l was obliged to be
interested and amused in spite of my
self ~. ~.
Under the influence of the versatile
German, Mr.. Beaufoy showed himself
I'm a n UGH more sympathetic light than
usual, and INDUCED in a vein of caustic
though somewhat pompous humor,
which made him much more of an &C.
QUESTION at his own dinner-tabl than
he generally cared to be. Giulia Beau
foy was in unusually high spirits, and
she devoted herself, 1 could not help
thinking, to drawing mo out in rath-
or marked manner. She seemed to
have placed me on footing of secure
and confidential intimacy, which was
different from her attitude, even at her
friendliest moments, during the pre-
vious period of my sojourn at Hanover
Lodge. --.'
Plowitz maintained towards me a
manner of suave Difference, which was
not only personally friendly, but en-
dorsed Miss Beaufoy's action in consti-
tuting me trusted depository of the
family secrets. Under other circum.
stances should have keenly enjoyed
this state of affairs. My social light,
such as it was, had been so long hid
den under bushel of seclusion and des-
pondency, that the transference to a
circle which was, tonight at least, lit
tie less than brilliant, to q recognized
and trusted position in 8 friendly house,
hold, should have been a strong and
abiding delight. But the confidence
which was at once sign and cause
of this advanced intimacy, had for me
= two-fold horror. While I strove,and
apparently with success, to take my
part in the tourney of talk, two terrible
thoughts were ringing an unending
muffled peal in my brain:
''Do you think that she is perfectly
sanep" ''Dr. Plowitz is the affianoed
husband of Mary Fortescue.
And this man at the head of the ia
ble-this perfect type of the cultivated,
comfortable, commonplace man of bus
mess; this sample of the innumerable
hosts of merchant-princelings whose
daily exodus brings m atmosphere OF
wealthy repose even to the sordid bus
tie of city terminus-this man I had
seen, not quarter of an hour before.
emerging, like an evil dim of modern
days through q mysterious aperture,
while the staircase Of his house revolv-
ed like that of a medimval stronghold
of romance. ...
What had seen was 80 strangely at
variance with the character of our din
ncr-taole talk that it required no slight
effort of will to enable me to subdue
myself to the exigencies of the ocoa-
sion.
Somehow got through the ordeal
Of dinner, encouraged by the hope of an
early retirement afterwards, and q
calm review Of recent events in the
solitude of my room in the tower. But
q prolonged trial was in store for me.
DR.. Plowitz would not hear of my
leaving them, and Mr.. Beaufoy joined
his guest IN pressing me to remain,
with such urgency, that felt it only
prudent, under the circumstances, to
avoid any shadow of suspicion, by yield
ing with all the grace I could assume
to their solicitations.
''Mr. Coplestone sets Us q good ex-
ample" said Plowitz. 1T is perhaps,
barbarous to enjoy our wine after the
ladies have gone, but Miss Beaufoy will
excuse us while she goes to visit her
cousin
you might,perhaps, have your own
affairs to talk about with MIR. Beaufoy, "
1 answered disingenuously.
my dear Ceplestone," said Mr.. Beau
foy with . fine approachto bonhomie,
..'Ihope you do not think that we would
: be so wanting in courtesy. We have
not made q stranger Of you hitherto. -
It might have been fancy, but I
thought there was a look of mockery in
Plowitz's eyes as accepted the situa-
ton, which made me long to brain him
with q decanter; but caution was
burned into mind.
6 What had already seen convinced
me that my safety depended upon my
prudence, and higher and mere
powerful motive than mere self-preserv-
alton counselled extreme circumspec-
ton. Whatever might be the nature
Of the mystery Of Hanover Lodge,
whatever the character of tho compul-