Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-09-01
The Mystery
----------z
Of the Towers


the ground, with only your white face
looking up at me. Oh, l was frightened
thought you were dead"
And she shuddered and fearful look
came into her eyes Lady 1sobel drew her
gently into her arms and kissed her. "Do
not speak of that day again. dearest"
heard her whisper. lit makes Mr.. Gas
ton unhappy"
..Nay, nay" said, "she does not hurt
me. 1 ought to consider myself only too
much honored for being mistaken for
Miss Madoline's fairy prince"
"How do you know you are not he In
reality?"
could not but smile at the innocent
way in which these words were uttered,
In happy ignorance of the second meaning
they conveyed, and from that day forth
when she was in her most lively moods
Madeline would cali me her fairy prince,
and loved to hear her do SO.
On the day of which write, after
pirouetting round the room Miss Madcap
dropped me graceful curtsey.
"Thanks, Fairy Prince; you have done
your work we'll"
"Yes and fear, since my work is DONE
l must be moving on" said quietly. "Is
1t not so. Lady IsobelP'
1.-THE task is certainly done, and most
skilfully," was the reply, "but we cannot
afford to lose you yet"
''You talk of going p said Madeline,
stopping short suddenly before me.
Whom shall we have to play to us when
you are goneT
"Ifear 1 had already overstayed my
time. Nay, dear lady, I beg you do not
make the obligation under which already
am to you, any greater"
In spite of all attempts to turn me
from my purpose, persisted that on the
morrow would depart. How earnestly
did those two good, kind ladies try to per-
suade mellow hard found 1t to resist
Madoline's commands - threats - en-
treaties, till at leugth she ceased to plead
at all, and throwing herself down on the
rug, lay with her eyes staring into the
fire. apparently lost in thought To break
the rather prolonged silence which ensued,
l drew out my harp and began playing,
half in the hope perhaps to renew the
interrupted harmony.
But either was not in the mood to play,
or one at least of my audience was not in
mood to listen, for Madeline and Fido
sadly distracted my thoughts by lndulging
in sharp quarrel. So loud at last did
this become, that Lady Isobel gently
drove the dog from the room. At this,
Madeline sprang from the floor-the first
angry word l had ever heard cross her
lips, was uttered. The next moment the
curtains closed behind her little figure,
and in the gaslight caught sight Of a
flushed face and flashing eyes
Altogether, my playing that night was
not success. The next morning as I sat
alone, for a wonder, in the MUSHROOM.
and-still more for q wonder-not busy
with my music, Lady Isobel came to me
with letter in her hand, her face radiant
with happiness.
at seems" she said, and her voice rang
with gladness, "fhat you are not to go
yet my husband writes to tell me he will
return tomorrow, and hopes then to see
the musician who has made our duh home
bearable to my little sister. So you see l
must keep you just little longer"
And now let me pause for moment 10
explain little the relations of the inmates
of Blackwater Towers. Isobel del Fara
had been born in Spain, but brought up in
England, where she had been my fathers
prNpil, as already stated, by Madeline
Oakley's father, after whose death, for the
first time the adopted sisters had been
separated.
Madeline was sent to run wild TN a
quiet little English village where an aunt
gave her a home; Isobel meanwhile re.
turning to her native land. She, however,
had not been long there before Sir Philip
Langton had seen and fallen in love with
her, married her, and brought her to Eng
land. A week before my arrival at the
home to which he had taken her, Lady
Isobel received news that MaRdOllne by
the death of her aunt, was once more In
want of a home, and nothing would
please her but that her adopted sister
should share her wealth, as she
had had her not too prosperous
days About the same time Sir Philip
had been obliged to start for Italy on i'm
portant business, and was thus unable to
greet his young relative on her arrival.
He had, however, sent her, by his wife, a
| a
for which he seemed famous; and now,
| in the letter which Lady Isobel showed me-
| he declared that at last he was free to re-
turn home once more 'to my beautiful
wife whose face has never once been alb
sent from my mind since 1 left her side,
and to whom lam fastening as fast as the
wings of love can carry me. Addio till
| then my beautiful. my wife. Your low
ing husband. Philip Langton."
Such were the conclu ding words of the
letter which by accident met my eyes.
How beautiful thought married life
must be How devoted Is this husband
| how loverlike he is still How more than
| wifely this peerless lady in her undis-
| Guised joy at the return of her lord !
| How the glad news flushed her face
| sparkled in her eyes-danced in her smiles
| echoed in her voice, and made itself felt
in the quickening Of her stately tread and
thousand little ways which told more
| than words
And Madeline All that day I saw
nothing of her; Lady 1sobel did not speak
| of her and l was too afraid to ask How
long the day seemed I know not why
but I was restless, dispirited, and
nervous; light football served to catch
my attention, and every time any one
entered the room started like one expect
| ing news.
This was perhaps my last day at the
Towers and how drearily it dragged byl
1 thought it would never end. The even
ing came at last, and, calming a nervous
excitement for which 1 could not account
1 sat down to the organ and began to
play; but music would not come. 1 tried
the piano, but nothing but discord flowed
from beneath my fingers. l rose from the
instrument even more dissatisfied, and,
when, a moment later, Lady Isobel en-.
tered, and asked meStf I would not play
as usual to her, 1 would willingly have re-
fused. But this dared not do seated
myself, therefore, at my harp and COM
piled with her request, YEARLY and dis