The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-06-19
THR D0uBLE LIFE.

THR DOUBLE LIFE.
closer to the pleasant nre, preparatory 70 conaden
y entered rather inoppOrtuney. Above" said said
| manner that you had been renewing your proposal
Of marriage TO her. and fancied that she had not
given yO0 decided rejection"
"Gol are right In your fancy" responded Lord
slider my oner and o give pe an answer when shall
~ ss .si rssi Was delighted. -.aa.r Z *.
WY, that Is positive encouragement Oh yo~
~. Certainly 4 is,. said Lord Adlowe. 1.-THE Lady
~ scarcely know what to say am so astonished,"
declared Lord Hampton. Before you came IN this
clared, as she had done thousand times before,
that she should never marry. Only last week sie
matches in England. And now she encourages you
to believe that she win become your wife,"
r does seem strange that should ,Sa n, succeed St
with satisfied look. For the present. OF course,
we must keep the fact to ourselves. That she has
necessary for me to declare to You NV prospects"
known you from your boyhoOd, Adowe, and am
relationship between u.s. know or no one whom
would so gladly welcome as son-in-law."
Thanks; but the explanation must be made,
nevertheless First, am the inherit0r OF the title
and debts OF my late falher;" and Lord Adl0we's
tones were decidedly ronica al have been some-
what dIssipated and travel and too great proluse-
ness OF expenditure have somewhat cramped my
resources. That Is one side OF the picture Contrast
against 1t the fact tnat am the declared heir or my
uncle Trevelyan, and there 1t handsome offset 70
my shortcomings. am great favorite with Lord
Trevelyan. and misery as are his habits he Is
always generous TO men
Lord Treveyan has the fortune Of prince" re-
Piled the Earl "When you come into the Trevelyan
estates you VIII be one Of the richest nobemcn in
the Kingdom. With your un les wealth united to
Beatrlces fortune you will have colossal income.
i should like to see the two fortunes welded"
"And so should l." said Lord Adowe. 81 love
her my lord, and snail nave no object IN life save
"My influence shall be used in your favor" de-
clared the Earl ~ am getting old, and want to see
son She ever permitted to hope for her favor since
Georirey Treveyan died, and believe that she Will
yet become your wife,
with hope. He knew well enough that the Lady
Beatrice detested him and that he could never win
some neXplicable way, touched upon those fears in
his recent interview, else she would have given him
q naughty and curt dismissal.
To solve the mystery surrounding her was now his
object.
lie had that mystery in his thoughts as he said,
win not the Lady Beatrice return to us this even
ing, my lordf"
"I-f think notn stammered the Earl, his face
flushing Beatrice has retired to her room, and she
never likes to be disturbed"
But understood that she was to return"
ooh, that makes q difference" said Lord Hamp-
tom his brow clearing. ~ will send message-no,
I'll go myself and request her presence. Excuse me
"
He arose and departed on his errand
Lord AdlOwe stole after him to the door, listened
point he could hear the proceedings OF the Earl.
Lord Hampton fastened along the upper hall to
suit OF rooms Immediately over the drawing
room. He knocked upon the principal door, first
softly, then more loudly.
No one answered him.
Re turned the knob, but the door was locked.
He called his daughters name softly yet in o
penetrating voice.
There was no response.
yyprA nj har hon napin
into the different chambers comprised IN the suit
OF the Lady Beatrice. and at each one Of these
the Earl Knocked softly, calling upon his daughters
name.
Still there came back no reply.
The Earl's face was CONFUSED with agitation.
''What is this mystery ~ he whispered, leaning
against the door, ais Beatrice wrapped In the thra
Of some delirlum producing drug or liquors Is she
awake? What Is she dOing?"
Again he listened for a token Of movement within
the rooms.
They were as soundless as o tomb.
"Ihere Is no use In lingering here" he Thought.
Beatrice will not make her appearance again to.
night IL IS always so when she shuts herself up In
He sighed so heavily that the inspiration was al.
most moan.
Then ne moved from the door towards the stair.
Lord Adlowe noiselessly nitted on before him,
entering the drawing room without having been
The Earl descended the stairs and paused in the
his agitation. He fancied he had succeeded, when
he opened the door and entered the presence OF his
guest; ana certainly LORD Ad0WeS uncOncerned
manner went to confirm the opinion.
beatrice regrets that she cannot join us again
this evening, ;" said Lord Hampton, with an appear
ance of sincerity. "rhe dear girl was aeitated by
her recent interview with you and having'a head.
ACHE
mo apologies are necessary interrupted Lord
Adowe, as the Earl instinctively hesitated in his
speech. ~ should be to disturb her under the
circumstances. viii call upon her after my return
from the country"
The Earl sighed. 1t was hard for him. with his
clear perceptions OF integrity and honor, to offer
beatrice VIII not be visible before three to.mor.
row., he said. 'These town dissipations tell upon
soon as the warm weather comes We shall be your
neighbors then, Adlowe, for Treveyan Park is not
many miles distan! from our country home. You
Will stop at the Park. suppose"
Lord Adowe replied In the Affirmative. The Earl
resumed his seat, and the two pursued their con.
versation with an appearance OF interest IN ; but
all the while the fathers heart wandered to the
mystery OF his daughters strange secluson, and all
the while Adlowe studied upon the same subject.
"If1 could only get clue To Beatrice's secretr'
thought the guest
Fate seemed inclined to throw the desired clue
into his hands.
The two gentlemen were In the midst OF an apparent
y absorbing discussion concerning person for whom
neither cared, when veried porter, whose duty IL
was to stand near the entrance door, burst into the
drawing room his face the picture OF widest alarm.
OF what he wss saving ere is sSaSs com
ing from the Lady Beatrice's dressing ROOM Some.
thing must be on nre within"
The Earl leapcd to his feet.
"The room on nrel' he calculated.
ayes my lord. III give the aarm.''
'Nor commanded his master, sternly. "Say no.
thing to your fellow servants. stay in the lower
hal.r
His lordship pushed aside the astounded seryitor.
dashed up the stairs three steps at me and rushed
towards hts daughters rooms.
Lord Adlowe followed at his heels.
There was smoke In the hail. issuing from one of
the rooms OF the Lady Beatrice Clearly something
was burning within.
near the door. The Earl ordered them away pc
remptorly, and they dared not dIsobey MN. They
flied away through the various passages towards
their own domains
''Go down stairs. Adlowe,r said the Earl. ~ am
going TO break the door int"
al will help your was the brief response
The eyes OF the two men met The Earl did not
dare to say that he knew not what should meet his
gaze when the door opened. lie had neither time
nor inclination to explain. Submitting to the una
yoidable presence Of Adlowe he said:-
Come, then: put your shoulder to the door ~
Adowe obeyed. The Earl lent his assistance. The