The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1888-03-01
BAR HARBOR.
A Wild, Weird Tale Of Love
and Adventure.
BT a NJ o. LEE.
PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT win
THE AUTHOR.
Copyrighted, 1857. By o. " DiliiaghGm-Al
Rights Reserrsd.l
CHAPTER III.-coNrrNrrp.

CHAPTER II-CONTINCED.
II it is asked what had been the cause Of
his unpleasant mcditations along the high
way, that is easily told.
He was an American, well born but poor.
His friends and relatives, from tho first, op-
posed his choice Of q profession, declaring
the latter to be humanity, enervating and III
together impracticable. He himself began
to doubt his own abilities. His was plant,
impressionable nature, easily influenced by
others not wholly from weakness; but, also,
because his natural lack Of self-confidcnce
had been aggravated by o mistaken course
of carly discipline which taught him always
10 yield to the opinion Of his elders. The
constant reiteration OF dismal prophecies,
N strust of his own talents, aud, above oil,
the unwilling, disappointed acquicscence Of
his parents in his choice oil this caused
him to wavcr in the wish OF his youth, and,
at last, to abandon it.
Dlshcartened and imbittered 1t the
thought of foregoing the one and only real
desire Of his Life. no now became drifting,
unhappy man; uncertain what to do; sp-
parcntly incapable Of selecting profession;
soured as much as one Of his happy DISPOSE
tions could be; unfit for any immediate du-
ties and, yet, obliged, in some way or other,
to earn o livelihood.
He was not one to give up in despair. He
tried, first one thing, then another-not
from choice. but necessity, because he
deemed it his duty-always hating most
what he last was engaged in; and, although
now not far from thirty years Of age, he
was still unsettled and, Of course, unhappy
-Woefally SO, OF times.
Finally, realizing the seeming hclplessness
Of his state, he lost the will and, ct length,
even the wish to decide. So he resolved
upon tho cowardly course Of allowing mat
tors to shape themselves and force him to
some decision.
Yet, although no protested no longer to
trouble himself IS to his future, like many
Of those in similar predicament, he expert
enced moments when his wasted life, his
present aimiessncss, his disappointments
and unrcalizcd hopes overwhelmed him in
oil OF their dismal aspects. When thus dis
turbed, OF he would go on some long, lonely
walk, lost in gloomy reflection.
Some slight occurrence Of the previous
evening had brought back tho old, old trou-
blcs upon him: and now, although the after
noon was far spent, he was still completely
under their influence, and the reader finds
him on the outskirts Of small country vii
lage, near Oman, in Britanny-for he had
managed to scrape together . few dollars
and venture even upon . trip to Europe
suffering from q fit Of dependency, super
induced by reflections Of the foregoing
character.
Despite the fact that he could lay no
claim TO good looks, Fairfax, when excited,
gained q rather unusual color in his checks,
and his eyes were won't to fash and sparkle
with unusual brilliancy. Had he not been
In such haste and so absorbed in his prep
arations for the ball, he might have
paused a moment before the mirror TO re-
mark the transformation In his appearance.
His high, full forehead, over which had
dropped an unruly Napolconic forelock;
his bronzed complexion, heightened by tho
unusual color Of the face; his long, droop-
ing mustache, and, more especially, those,
brilliant, flashing eyes that seemed to burn
with fire in their sockets, made him, to say
the least, rather observable.
At last, he put the finishing touches to his
costume and, entering the carriage, prom
iscd tho coachman extra money, II the Int
ter would drive rs rapidly as possible.
This had been lucky day to the young
American. Why should not luck continued
Might it not be possible that he should meet
her there this evenings He felt almost GER
tain that he would.
s'On, as fast as you canr called he to the
driver.
That individual, aroused by the hope Of
reward, dashed his horses, until, tired as
they were, they tore along at a furious pace.
Covered with foam, they dashed past the
porters lodge, along the avenue to the
chateau, and drew up, steaming, before the
entrance.
Seeking out his friend, Dick Oxford, Fair
fax asked the latter to take him to the
Warehouses, his hostess. To her he made
his apologies.
pray that she may present you to the
Princess" whispered Dick, in his car.
But the old lady saw fit to leave him to
the tender mercies Of remarkably bright,
handsome and physically-vigorous young
English girl, daughter Of the Earl of Broad
acres.
So eager was Fairfax to discover il the
object Of his search were in the room that,
at first, he was not even civil to the girl;
paying little heed to her delightfully."- orig.
inal and brilliant conversation.
No Natalie was anywhere to be scent All
the guests seemed to be gathered in the
large hall. The ballroom and the adjoining
rooms, too, were deserted. Beside, he had
seen no one on the porch when he entered.
Alas she was not here! Or had gone
He sighed profoundly; and, unconsciously,
nlurmured:
MY fatc!'
The English girl, who had, heretofore,
never lacked appreciative listeners, felt
piqucd at his inattcntion and non-committal
answers. She had made extra efforts to
win his interest, ard now burst FORTH icily,
with the remark:
"Mr. Fairfax, you seem to forget your.
self"
Thus recalled to his senses, Fairfax, after
apologizing, confessed that he expected to
meet friend there that evening, but had
been disappointed. Too polite to inquire
whom he meant, yet Modified BY biz answer,
the girl resumed her talk