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

Basilis and don 8 Hsten % ha1 6flly
stories; they aIe too ridiculou n1ch
too ridiculous 3
Both she and Plowitx laughed
heartily. But what was IN their
laughter was not ii their
eyes. II mine told me true, they were
relieved of 3 great fear.
s'U course said Miss BaaufOy,' .
what we have told you is in the strictest
confidence ~
IAN English gentleman purred
Plowitz, ''does not need to be re-
minded of that
I could not help retorting:
'tNor German one either"
'Goodv' said Plowitz, rubbing his
hands. ''Good! After tho French,
you are the readiest people under the
sum mean under the fog. Good
good again!''
l could have kicked the man, but
my mind was too full of conflicting
ideas to resent his imperinence.
Nevertheless, my face must have be-
trayed my feelings, for Miss Beaufoy
said quickly: nc
You mustn' t mind DR.. Plowitz, Mr..
Coplestone. He is privileged here"
''Of course" laughed Plowitz; ''of
course. So ought to be-. -
'tPerhaps I should add something to
what we have said,' said the Basilisk.
'HaveI your permissionP" she asked
Plowitz.
"By all MEANS" he replied gaily,
again making use of the invisible soap;
.'by all MEANS"
"You must know, them" continued
Miss Beaufoy, without symptom of
interest, without shade of tone,
''that DR.. Plowitz is the affianced hus-
band of Mary Fortescue."
could not speak. There was dull
weight on my brain, which seemed to
tie my tongue by sheer force of pres
sure. What manner of man was this,
trying to prove his future wife madP
what manner of woman was this ready
to wed a man whom she hatede My
heart was as heavy as my head.
"You seem surprised" said Miss
Beaufoy coldly; ''but the match has
been arranged for years. Now you IN
derstand why these strange fancies of
Mary make DR.. Plowitz so sad.''
$50 very sad" echoed Plowitz
mournfully; but, as I could see, with
hy@na-like expression on his counte-
nance.
II can understand it, said, trying
to be calm.
At that moment the dinner-gong
sounded through the hall.
1--WE shall be too late to Dress" cried
Miss Beaufoy. II wonder where papa
u.s."
''Shall call himP' asked Plowitz,
with significant glance.
| She nodded.
He raised small tube, which hung
by the side of the mantelpiece, to his
lips, and blew softly. Then he shout
ed aloud:
''Mr. Beaufoy! Mr.. Beaufoy! dinner
is ready!''
But while he was shouting, saw the
top of the stair. case double backwards,
leaving chasm, out of which MIR.
Beaufoy walked as easily as he would
have done, from doorway!
As the stairs noiselessly resumed
their ordinary position and appearance,
he descended them with good deal Of
noise.
"Ah, my good friends" he said. as
he reached us, ''l'm quite ready for
dinner. I've been hard at work.
Come, Mr.. Coplestone, lead the way in
to the dining room. Even you ought to
know it by this time"
Invent on ahead like q man in q
dream; but not so much in front but
that could hear Plowitz say, in re-
ply to whispered remonstrance Of
Beaufoy's:
''Pooh, pooh! it was an excellent
joke The blind man couldn't see, and
it even frightened you. Old friend,
like jokes.'
We sat down.
"Mary is too unwell to come down. ~
said Mr.. Beaufoy. "Poor girl"
The Basilisk and the doctor saluted
one another with smiles.
no BE CONTINUED.