Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1886-10-06

the large sofa. and relapse into soil
tude. People approach close, but none
speak to me. l thrill with expectancy
at the sweep of light skirts, but they
pass to and fro, and make no stay.
My services are called into requisitior
for several accomplishments. and il
seems to me that the evening is slip
ping away at a great pace, and, so far
as my interests are concerned, in vain.
At last, at the conclusion of a thun-
derous performance upon the aggrieved
piano. l am conscious of some one sit
ting down beside me. and the voice
have been expecting to hear sounds at
last.
"How do you do. MI. Coplestonep''
and the hand which l instinctively raise
is taken in a firm and emphatic Grasp.
Il began to think you were not com
ing, Miss Beaufoy, and that the fruits
of our practising would be wasted"
1--WE are late" she said. my faith
er wished us to wait for him, but he
was 50 late l have come without him,
after ALL"
This was rather disappointing to me,
as l was anxious to have the scheme
she had preached set upon a frmer
footing.
''Is Miss Fortescue here?" / asked.
"Mary," she said, ''here is Mr..
Coplestone, whom you roet the other
day"
found, Or imagined that Miss Fort
escue had been standing close by. She
spoke IN her sweet subdued voice, and
l begged that she would find q place
beside me.
"Have you thought any more of the
plan of taking music lessons2" 1
asked.
Il should like it very MUCH" she
began rather hesitatingly, as if una
customed to be consulted in matters
concerning herself.
Ooh, WI have not forgotten" broke
in her cousin in a tone from which all
the charm seemed to have departed.
Then, having apparently asserted Miss
Fortescue out of the conversation, she
proceededin a different tone:
Il have spoken to my father about it,
and he sees NJ objection at all. He
means to talk to you about it tonight.
At this juncture she was called upon
to sing, and when the song was over
she was engaged in conversation by
some strangers, and l resumed my
place on the sofa.
''Are you here still, Miss Fortescue?"
I asked.
She was. l began to think that where
she was once placed she was in the habit
of remaining. Ihad already formed a
distinct and pleasant picture of her.
As she made no effort to begin a con-
versation, I was constrained to fall
back upon the proposed music-}essons.
She stood thawed, and we conversed
with some freedom. She seemed ex-
tremely simple, and even childish in
some respects. but I could not form any
clear idea of her age.
81 suppose you go out a good dealP'
[ hazarded.
mo, not much; I don't care much
about it. My cousin used to 90 out =
good deal more, and then sometimes
went with her, but now she doesn't
care about it,"
do you live at your uncle'sP" I
asked.
EYES," she answered, and seemed to
be going to say more, but checked her.
self. She was evidently constrained,
and from what I heard of the imperial
Beaufoy's manner to her, l imagined
that her life was not exactly a very
happy one.
"Oh yes!" she said with an approach
to fervor.
"Yhen you will find regularly study
ing it a great interest"
I'm sure I shall. l almost fear it
won't come true,' she said naively, and
then laughed an embarrassed little
laugh.
Here comes my cousin" she said in
a much less friendly tone than she had
used during most of our little chat.
us Mr.. Beaufoy therep"
Eyes; he is coming here too"
mi. Coplestone," said the voice of
Miss Beaufoy, ''here Is my father"
rose, and bowed to darkness in his
presumable direction.
"Mr. Coplestone." said a very hard.
dry voice, crisp and precise, my
daughter has spoken to me about your
musical abilities. l should like to have
u little conversation with you"
A movement was being made for Q
freshments, so Mr.. Beaufoy suggested
that we should remain where we were.
We remained accordingly.
IF you come" he said incisively,
''these are my requirements. You will
give lessons to my niece, and help my
daughter in her music. You will be
able to give me considerable assistance
in scientific pursuits in which l am in
terested. You will live as one of the
family. W. are a very quiet family; I
do not approve of much going out, and
I have a very strong objection to tattle
and gossip: l will pay you for your
services E1OO a year. You will see
me before we 60. and then you can
give me your answer"
With this he turned, and walked
away with q firm and creaking tread
down the room. -;
/ stood in q maze for q minute.
Whatever conditions had been offered,
I believe I should have accepted them,
so delightful was the idea of once more
becoming a factor in the world. But I
had not thought for q moment of the
possibility of being paid for my ser
vices. f10O year seemed a magni6-
cent prospect. Out of that 1 could
make some small return to St. Barti-
meus's. True, Nv. Beaufoy struck me,
as far l could judge. as being one of
the hardest of men; but in my exulta-
ton, I was prepared to face hosts of
hard men l clapped my hands to-
gether in the now silent room, and
exclaimed:
~"Splendid. splendid"
was thinking Of my prospects.
"You will come, then1" said q soft
voice close to me.
1t was Mary Fortescue. felt some
what ashamed.
II didn't know anyone was here,"I
said.
''Oh, I am SO sorry. I ought to have
spoken she answered, as if ashamed of
having taken advantage Of my blind
ness. . 5.
Are you alone here?' I asked in
surprise. s
Yes she said: .sthey have all pone