River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1886-12-23

that receptacle. A quantity OF ashes
on the hearth showed that some papers
had been consigned to the fire.
l observed the room at leisure. Truly
there was no apparent reason for MIR.
Beaufoy's Jealous precautions. Not a
sign of anything unusual or compro-
missing was to be seen. The secret
door was perfectly hidden by the book
shelves. PlOWitz went OH busily writ
ing, occasionally saying a word or two
TO himself in some foreign tongue, but
too low for me to catch what he said;
probably it was at the end of the SEN
fences he was writing. l made use of
the time TO observe the garden, into
which the windows looked. / could
see a 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 out
side. / had a great curiosity to see
this garden. 1t might be that one OF
the upper windows, looking upon it,
might show me the face of which | had
so often thought.
At last PloGitz threw down his pen
and began putting his papers away in
a despatch box. As he did so he
talked.
"Mr. Coplestone, do you know that
you are a very favored man9"
Il don't see il, | answered bluntly.
You DO not see it? That is a pity, y
he said most Sympathetically. You
English, pardon me, are never too
quick To see some things. Have you
ever asked yourself what you are here
for?''
Il have no need to ask myself while
l do my duty. and certainly have no
need TO answer any body else. -
/ could not imagine what he was
aiming at. but he evidently did not
mean to be offensive.
Pardon. he said, ''you think take
2 liberty. No, my friend-no. would
do YOU a seTyice-you and another.
You were engaged TO teach our poor
dear Miss Fortescue music. Now, is it
usual to engage a gentleman in such a
way solely to teach young lady
music?'
You do not know, perhaps, l said,
''that Mr.. Beaufoy is interested in the
welfare of the blind"
do YOU know who is the master of
this house?' he asked. 1T is not Mr..
Beaufoy; il is bis beautiful daugh er.
Why did she engage you? To please
her cousin? Bah! To please you?
Well-.o rlease herself?'
Or Plowitz, | began, in extreme
indignation at his impertinence, rising
from the armchair, Il cannot allow this
sort Of conversation a moment longer.
To me it is an unwarrantable familiar
itv: to Miss BeaufOv-"
Mr. Coplestone, he interrupted.
layipg his hands lightly on my Shout
ders 4 -aoment, Il 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 would do you good office. too.
You have heard me. 1 know what |
am saying. l 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 a little" He led me out.
and turned up the staircase. 'Ah, 1
have left the door open" he cried.
Shut it, Coplestone, like a good fel-
lowf'
l turned back. He ran upstairs.
Quickly | slammed the door from the
inside, and while the sound still rang
IN the hall. opened it. slipped out, anG
put il quietly aiar. | then went into
the library. In minute heard a step
coming downstairs. and Plowitz calico
5ut:
If they return, kindly say l will
soon be back.
He went out by the hsll-door. and
sauntered TO the window. There, just
turning round into the avenue. / caught
sight Of a figure, an old man with long
grey hair and grey beard, hurrying OF
with the bUovant step of the youthful
and vivacious PloWtZ.
had no time then to lose in specula-
ton. / FASTENED back through the
partitiOn-door, which | carefully closed
behind me, and in minute was out IN
the garden through the study window.
II was small o5long plot of grass.
with vines and creeperS, and fruit-trees
trained along the walls, and herbs and
old-fashioned garden flowers in the
narrow beds beneath. | gazed anx-
iously at the back OF the house. at the
upper windows. My heart gave a
great bound of JOY, as l saw sure
enough at an open window the face of
Mary Fortescue. II was but for an in
slant, and l stood amazed. devising
some means for opening com
munication with her. But as
/ debated the advisability of con-
Tossing that l had seen her, a narrow
glass door opened. and she appeared.
With a low cry of Joy she hurried to-
ward me, holding out both her hands.
Mr.. Coplestone. Mr.. CopiestoDe,
how did you come here?' she cried.
/ kept my presence of mind and
sought her hands.
Miss Fortescue-MaIy. You have
been i'll. Are you getting well?''
Il am better" she said, in a choked
voice.
Have you really been ill?'' [ have
been so anxious. What has been the
matter?"
Il have been so lonely. so wretch
ed, " she sobbed; ''my only safety is in
being i'll. To be dead would be bet
ter.
What is it, A" asked, deeply moved.
Il cannot tell you, she said, sob
biug without restraint. Her poor tears
fell on my hands as she held them.
Yes, tell me, l said, gravely.
They want me to marry DR.. Plo-
witt, she sobbed out with a sLudder
laughed.
That is to be Is YOU wish. -
"Oh. l cannot help myself. There
is no one to help me-
Indeed there is, said T. Her pitt
full tear-stained ewes, whose beauty
was in no way diminished by the big
tears in them, went straight to my
heart. and if had not been restrained
b. the reserve of love, | should have
clasped her to my heart in pure pity.
Indeed there Is. She looked with a
shy hope, almost a smile, as l spok
thus. Ny self-restraint took a or, It
slide. Dear Miss Fortescuc, will
help YOU.
4 startled look shot over her face;
but gladucss was dawl ing strongly.
| clasped her hands GsJre firmly, and
looked into the depths of her soul.
MY poor child, how pale YOU look,
said. turning all my deep love into
pity. She raised my hands TO the level
of her shoulders with a sudden start.
She peered into my eyes with look of
wondering Joy, and then burst out
loud:
"Oh. you can see! You can see!
Thank God-thank God. YOU can seeI'
In another second that dear head
would have been on my breast. and her
thanks -, fznI "a hav-a 10 eeaE coma