The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1869-07-02

lowe" F" said the Earl smiling. "Isaw by
your face and Beatriee's manner, that
you had been renewing your proposal
OF marriage to her, and | fancied she
| had not given you decided rejec-
/ ton"
"You are right in your fancy" re-
sponded Lord AdloWe. THE Lady
Beatrice has promised to consider my
offer, and to give. He an answer when
shall ask for it..
The Earl was delighted.
"Why that is positive encourage
ment of your suiti' he exclaimed.
|'Certainly it is,' sal Lord Adlowe.
"The Lady Beatrice meant it as such. .
81 scarcely know what to.say Lam so
astonished," declared Lord Hampton.
"Before you came in this evening, ]
spoke to Beatrice about you and she de-
! clared, as she had done a thousand
times before, that she should never
marry. Only last week, she refused
the Duke of Landlord one of the best
matches in England. And now she
encourages you to believe that she will
/ become your Wife,
1T does seem strange thatI should
| succeed where so many have failed,
assented the guest, with a satisfied
! look. "For the present of course, we
must keep the fact to ourselves. That
she has taken my proposals into con-
| sideration makes it necessary for me to
declare you my prospects"
1T is not necessary" said the Earl.
! 81 have known you from your boy
| hood, Adlowe, and am more satisfied
with the possibility of near relation
| ship between us. / know of no one
whom / would so gladly welcome as
| a son-in-laW.n
Thanks; but the explanation must
| be maze, nevertheless. First am the
| inheritor Of the title and debts of my
| late father - and Lord AdIowe's tones
were decidedly ironical. II have been
| somewhat disSipated, and travel and
/ too great profuSeneSS Of expenditure
| have somewhat cramped my resources.
| That is one side of the picture. Con-
/ trast against it the fact that / am de-
clared heir of my Uncle Trevelyan.
and there is handsome Offset to nv
| shortcomings. | am a great favorite
with Lord Trevelyan, and miserly as
are his habits, he is always generous to
me-"
s'Lord Trevelyan has the fortune of
prince replied the Earl. "When
you come into the Trevelyan estates,
you will be one of the richest noble
men in the kingdom. With your un-
| cle's wealth united to Beatriee's for
| tune, you will have colossal income.
| should like to see the two fortunes
welded" J"
"And so should /, said Lord Ad-
i lowe. II love her, my lord and shall
have no object in life save to win her."
"My influence shall be used in your
favor" declared the Earl. | am get
| ting old and want to see Beatrice set
| tied before / die. You are the first
! person she ever permitted to hope for
her favor, since Godfrey Trevelyan
died and believe that she will yet be-
come your wife,"
Lord Adlowe's eyes sparkled, and
his face beamed with hope. He knew
well enough that the Lady Beatrice
/ detested him, and that he could never
| win her save through her fears. He
saw that he had, in some inexplicable
way touched upon those fears in his re
cent interview, else she would have
| given him naughty and curt dismis-
sal.
To solve the mystery surrounding
her was now his object.
He had that mystery in his thoughts
as he said, carelessIy:
! "Will not the Lady Beatrice re-
turn to us this evening, my lord 3n
I'll think not" stammered the
Earl, his face flushing. Beatrice has
retired to her room, and she never
/ likes to be disturbed,
'.But L understood she was to re-
turn"
"Oh, that makes a difference" said
Lord Hampton, his brow clearing. II
viii send message-~no, I'll go my
self and request her presence, Excuse
| me, moment AdloWe.n
He arose aud departed On his errand.
Lord Adiowe stole after him to the
door, listened, and then crept halfway
up the stairs, from which point he
could hear the proceedings of the Earl.
Lord Hampton haStened along the
| upper hall to a suite of rooms inn
! mediately over the edrawing-room. He
knocked upon the principal door, first
softly then more loudly.
No oneanswered him.
He turned the knob and the door
was locked.
He called his daughters name soft
ly, yet in penetrating voice.
There was no response.
! There were other doors along the
hall, opening into the different cham
bers comprised in the suite of the La
| dy 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 couvulsed with
agitation.
"What is this mystery % he whis-
| pered, leaning against the door. ''Is
Beatrice wrapped in the thrall of some
delirum producing drug or liquor :?
Is she awake? What is she doing ?"
| Again he listened for a token of
movement within the rooms.
They were as soundless as a tomb.
"There is no use in lingering here, I"
he thought. Beatrice will not make
her appearance again tonight. 1t is
always SO when she shuts herself up in
this manner
| He sighed so heavily that the inspir-
alton was almost a moan.
Then he moved from the door tow
ards the staircase.
Lord Adlowe noiselessly fitted on be-
fore him, entering the drawing room
without having been seen,
The Earl descended the stairs, and
paused in the lower hall to command
his features and to repress his agitation.
He fancied he had succeeded, when he
opened the door and entered the pre-
sence Of his guest and certainly Lord
Adlowe's unconcerRed manner went
to confirm the opinion,
"Beatrice regrets that she cannot
join us again this evening"" said Lord
Hampton, with an appearance of sim
cerity. ''The dear girl was agitated
by her recent interview with you, and
having headache"
"No apologies are necessary" inter-
rupted Lord Adlowe, as the Earl in
stinctively hesitated in his speech. l