Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1888-05-10

VIII opbelVeQ-nOt II the library, bu
afterward-that whenever the aunt and
niece were together he totally forgot the
presence OF the latter, as she seemed on
these occasions to be portion of the
aunt.
He also discovered that the nieces age
was between sixteen and seventeen.
Como, Adal" said Miss Bentley, "let us
show Mr.. Tryfoil to his room"
Will opened the library door, and fol-
lowed the aunt and her niece into the hall.
up broad, richly carpeted stairs, and into a
handsomely furnished apartment, with the
same expression Of ponderous comfort as
he had noticed in the first room. He ut
once expressed his satisfaction.
Withhold your opinion about Hazel.
wood, and the view from that window, Mr..
Tryfoil, until you see them TO- morrow,
when hope the fog will have ceared
away"
Il will do as you bid, Miss Bentley. .
Will replied. Though fear shall not
be able to give an unbiased opinion, for
| your great kindness has already prepos-
sessed me in their favor"
In the dining-room the young man was
introduced to distant relation of Miss
Bentley'sa SLOWLY dressed little lady of
sixty, with undecided features and an alb
stracted expression. Her name was Har-
court; and, in more ways than one, she was
ladylike edition of Mrs. Graham, Emily's
mother
! The dinner was in the bost possible taste.
It was long since Will Tryfoil had mixed in
| good society, or imbibed good wine, SO
both were very acceptable to him.
Miss Bentley had made him feel at homo
before the dinner appeared-a we'll bred
respectable, and not free -and- easy at
| homo fhnnnb or Viii
| plicable manner, little afraid of his fair
hostess.
He was conscious of being as hook to
her; but the thought did not trouble him
much.
He was, somehow, confident that she
would read that book correctly; and Will
Iryfoil, read correctly, was not an ugly
book by any means.
Will learned during the dinner some
trivial facts which had better be recorded
here.
In the first place, that Mrs. Harcourt
lived at Hazelwood House; that his pupils
surname was Wentworth; that, excepting
Sir Landy Lindsey. Miss Bentley received
no VISITORS that his pupils affection for
her aunt was painfully intense; that his
pupil was an enigma; and, that when Miss
| Bentley refused anything it was reckless
waste Of time to ask her to change her
mind.
Dinner over. Will accompanied the ladies
to the drawing room.
This was the apartment in which he first
saw his pupil and. now that the gas was
lighted, 1t looked very bright and cheerful.
Ada Wentworth as they entered, glanced
timidly at the sofa, and then beseechingly
at Will, both times with astounding rapid
ty.
The look she gave him, said, quite
plainly:
Pray, don't tell aunty."
Win Tryfoil did not forget that expires.
sion. 1t impressed him so vIvidly that a
host of reflections arose in his mind.
After coffee, Ada, without invitation.
took her seat at the piano; and. turning
her head away from it, ran the fingers Of
her right hand over its KEYS.
Will looked on for moment, and then,
asked:
Does my pupil play. Miss Bentley"
More y Mr.. Tryfoil; your pupil COM
ooses."
aWeil2" he inquired, in an undertone,
mo. Miss Wentworths execution and
conception are wild-perhaps crude, she
answered. smiling.
| She was about TO sigh, checked herself
and said to her niece.
Mr.. Tryfol would be glad to hear some-
thing OF your own composition, please,
Ada"
Ada Immediately began playing.
4 Will listened 1ntently. At first the notes
seemed to him disconnected and nnmelo-
lions, rs though tie player called them out
| 1t random.
After few more bars, he found that he
was wrong in that OF inion
rough, weird melody ran through the
whole piece; its originality and eccentricity
+ were startling; its external character changed
repeatedly; its Inle-nal character never al
tered from first to last. Soft, gay. mourn-
full, reckless, meek, then almost devilish in
its defance--yet always appearing 10 tell
the same wild story.
Ada Wentworth who had within few hours
seemed to him as d ad-then as simply a
merry child--then rs part of the aunt She
so loved. was lost to him now in her own
music. He did not see her-he simply felt
her in the strangely linked melody she
played.
Suddenly the music ccased Tho effect
vas strange more 30 when the yonng COM
| poser left the piano with a scared express.
sion. glanced at the sofa. and ran to hel
aunt as though pursued by some hideous
thing.
"0hl aunty --aunty!- she cried, in a voice
Of terror.
In another instant shs was kneeling at
Miss Bentleys feet. and sobbing rs though
her very heart would break.
Her face was buried in Miss Bertlev's
lap. and her aunts hand was gently strok-
ing her hair.
Will Tryfoil, very much mystifed, turned
away and engaged Miss Harcourt in con-
yersation.
The old lady did not seem to be at all
surprised at Ada's strange conduct. but took
it as matter of course. She was appar-
entity accustomed to it.
In a few minutes the sobbing ceased. and
Miss Bentley informed Will that her niece
was far from we'll and was. extremely nerv-
GUS and hystsrical. He must, therefore,
forgive her.
The rest Of the evening was spent in
trifing conversations; for, after the strange
girls music and its odd effect upon her,
Will felt naturally a little awkward and
under constnint.
They at last parted, and viii Tryfoil was
left to enjoy the smoke he had forfeited
nfter dinner.
While he was lighting cigar Miss Bent.
ley, to whom he had just said good night
re-entered the room.
"One sentence, Mr.. Tryfoil. said that
lady. with her hand on the. door, "Ada