River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1886-12-16
THE BASILISK-
A STORY OF TODAY.
CHAPTER XIII.
Is SHE JEALOUSY

Is SHE JEALOUS
/ The conversation al dinner on this
eventful evening was again delightful.
PlOwilz was charming. All my suspi-
cion and dislike. intensified now by a
bitter and srudging 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
in a UGH more sympathetic light than
usual, and INDUCED in a vein of caustic
though somewhat pompous humor,
which made him much more of an ac-
QUESTION at his own dinner-table than
he generally cared to be. Giulia Beau
Toy was in unusually high spirits, and
she devoted herself. | could not help
thinking, to drawing me out in a rath-
l er marked manner. She seemed to
have placed me on a 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-
| dorscd Miss Beaufoy's action in consti-
tuting me a trusted depository of the
/ family secrets Under other circum-
! stances l should have keenly enjoyed
! this state of affairs. Ny social light,
/ such as it was, had been so long hid
/ den under a buShel of secluSiOn and des-
pondcncv. that the transference to a
/ circle which was, tonight at least, lit
! tie less than brilliant. to a recognized
/ and trusted position in friendly house.
! hold. should have been a strong and
/ abiding delight. But the confidence
/ which was at once a sign and cause
/ of this advanced intimacy, had for me
4 two-fOld horror. While / strove, and
apparently with success, to take my
4 part in the tourney of talk, two terrible
( thoughts were ringing an amending
mutlled peal in my brain:
"DO YOU think that she is perfectly
1 sane?' ''Dr. Plowitz is the allianced
| husband OF Mary Fortescue."
And this man at the head of the Ia
! blc-this perfect type of the cultivated.
! comfortable. commonplace man of bus
4 mess; This sample OF the innumerable
/ hosts of Notwithstanding whose
I daily exodus brings an atmosphere of
| wealthy repose even to the sordid bus
I tie Of a c.ty ttrminus-this man | had
/ seen. not n quarter of an hour before.
/ emerging, like an evil djinn of modern
/ DAYS through a mysterious aperture,
/ while the staircase of his house revolv-
| ed ike that of Il medieval stronghold
/ of romance.
What | had seen was so 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 occa-
4 sion.
Somehow | rot through the ordeal
/ IF 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
/ p 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 il only
/ prudent, under the circumstances, 10
avoid any shadow of suspicion, by yield
ing with all the grace / could assume
| to their solicitations.
''Mr. COplestone sets US a good ex-
| ample" said Plowitz. at is perhaps,
I -, vrfpn affaF- tho
| 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 Mr.. Beaufoy, "
[ answered disingenuOusly.
"My dear Coplestone, said Mr.. Beau
foy with a fine approach to bonhomie,
Il hope you do not think that we would
DC 50 wanting in courtesy. We have
cot made stranger of you hitherto.
Il might have been fancy, but
thought there was look of mOckery in
PiOwitz's eyes rs | accepted the situa-
lion, which made me long to brain him
with a decanter; but caution was
burned into mind.
| What had already seen convinced
me that my safety depended upon my
prudence, and a 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 the compul-
sion brought to bear upon Mary For
tescue. there could be 10 doubt that she
vas unhappy. There were strong
grounds for believing that she was in
danger. This was enough-mOre than
! enough-tO impose the utmost caution
upon me. 1t was in my power, If IN
anyOne's, to protect her, and through
no folly or forgetfulness of mine should
she be deprived of the aid that l alone
could be in a position to give her.
When at last we left the table and
Joined Miss Beaufoy. further period
Of enforced general interest was IN
store for me. Miss Beaufoy was seated
in a low chair beside the hearth, and
looked singularly winning and hand
some as she saw us entering. | hoped
that in some shaded corner / might
catch sight of Mary, but was soon
satisfied that she had not come down.
''And how is the invalid now?
asked Plowitz in an unctuous, purring
tone, assuming. evidently, the chief
right to take an interest in her.
..She is not well enough to come
down tonight" said the Basilisk de-
eidedly.
II hope it is nothing serious,
said in as unconcerned tone as
could adopt.
Nothing at ala little cold and
headache"
As she said this she raised her eve
brows and smiled at PlOwitz, who
purSed I'D his lips and slightly shrug'
ged his shoulders in reply.
| resolved at least to give no clue tc
my own feelings on the subject, anc
entered with feigned zest into the mus
ic. which detained us for some time
At length Mr.. Beaufoy and DIR. Plowiti
( withdrew. Miss Beaufoy detained me
IS 1 was about to follow their ex
ample.
You are not very tired, Mr.. Co
plestOne, are you?"
Iowned that was not.
Would you mind little more mus
ic? feel so much in the mood for i
tonight"