Omaha daily bee., 1885-08-29

u = NJ MS hduA FNA DTOSSl1 III
THANK you, "she said, gratefully. Then sh,
passed through the door which Herbert helC
open, an act of politeness which not even tn,
relationship Of uncle and niece or the pro
verbal contempt bred by familiarity al
/, lowed the Talberts to forget.
Tho brothers resumed their seats, and fol
a while silence reigned. TIL truth is they
felt angry and annoyed, perhaps even self
reproachful. Impossible as it was that Mr..
Rawlings claims could be contested, both
Horace and Herbert felt a sense of shame
natural TO any Englishman who finds himself
compelled to yield by o mere threat. The
wish to fight everything out TO the bitter end
made England what 1t is. Perhaps, after
all, when they came TO think of it, the
Talberts were fonder of the child than they
cared TO own AT any rate, after a long
brown study, Herbert, at least, showed signs
of wavering.
81 suppose" he asked, MS one seeking for
information, 'it would 30 out of tho question
for us to do as Beatrice wiShesf'
Horace was equal to the occasion. 'Quite
out of question, u he answered sternly. "We
should be- placed in n ridiculous position and
become the jest Of the county"
They shuddered visibly at the thought and
so far as the Talberts were concerned the
boys fate was settled. To become tho Jest
Of the county is too terriblet Country wit,
as we all know, is SO delicate, yet so sharp
and pointed
With minds i'll at ease they sought dis
traction in their housekeeping. Although as
q rule the "Tabbies" were just, if cheese
pairing, in their management-not unreason-
able, If exacting, in their requirements, to-
lay they drove the cook and poor Whit
saker almost frantic, and set both wondering
whatever the masters were going togetto."
In the meantime Beatrice had carried her
white face to her own room. She locked the
toor, threw herself upon q couch, where for
long time she sat with her hands pressed
against her brows. She did not weep, nor
vas her look that Of one reSigning herself to
nate ana getting ready to yield TO the lnevlU
able. 1t was rather that of one searching
for and exploring every path which might
| possibly offer a way Of escape from a diff
Guilty. But it seemed as il every path she
trod mentally resolved itself into n Guide sac,
for tho girl heaved a hopeless sigh and the
tears at last began to force themselves
through her half closed lashes.
She rose, rang the bell, and gave orders for
| the boy to be brought to her. He soon ran
| into the room with the cry of delight with
| which he always greeted her. Miss Clauson
| took the little fellow on her lap, clasped him
Il W DtI Ltill v, ollOhOu anu ShiiNo LIS lNSbNN5
| rufled bright hair, called him by u thousand
! endearing names and strange ~dtminutivcs,
kissed him ON his lips, his eyes, his neck, his
dimpled arms and fat legs, and generally
went through the well-known ceremony of
child worship. It was clear that no legal
menace, however dire, would make her ac-
quiesce in the tame surrender of her pet con-
templated by her uncles. Not one of her
many and rather wild CALCULATIONS so much
as limited at the possibility of an impending
separation. In no sense We're her caresses,
some of which were fearful ones, intended as
o farewell.
By and by, with a face even paler than
before, Beatrice took the child by the hand
and went down stairs. She paused for a
second before the closed door Of the room in
which she had left her uncles. II can see no
other way. 1t must be done" she muttered.
Then, like one full Of a solemn purpose, she
entered the room. Whatever she may have
been about to do, the empty room seemed to
give her a welcome respite. She gave a
breath of relief. Nevertheless, it seemed
that the respite was to be but short, for,
after waiting a few minutes ind finding
neither Horace nor Herbert appear, she
turned as if to go in search of them.
But at that moment her mood changed
once more, OF an alternative course at last
presented itself. A tinge of color leaped
back to her cheek. With quick steps she
led the boy away, and having consigned him
to Mrs. Miller's care, again sought her own
room, and again sat for a long time in deep
thought. at is but a slender chance" she
whispered, 'but it can be tried. To-day ID
Thursday, and no steps can be taken until
Saturday"
After this she wrote q note to Sylvanus
nJa,l1o ocl-;nr hin, ~ ha cn,,lI Gonna f0 fha
house and SEQ her either that afternoon or
early the next morning. She sent the note
down to tie village and then went in search
of her uncles.
They looked at her rather timidly, perhaps
conscience stricken. They fancied she had
come to renew her argument n offer up
fresh entreaties. 1t may be they feared that
in such an event they would be forced to
Weld, in spite of the consequences such an act
of weakness must entail. But Beatrice did |
not reopen the attack. She quietly asked if
she might have the clothes worn by the boy
when he INST disturbed the seclusion of ,
Hazlewood House; which clothes, it may be
remembered, were carefully slowed away by |
Horace in the big safe. AS there appeared
to be no harm in the gratifying of this re-
quest the safe was unlocked, and q neat
brown paper parcel Endorsed in Horace's |
IOuS, BILL tul5A dlhJ 6A'Nh sNS b. |
you will not answer the solicitors letter, |
I hope,' she said.
"No; it needs no answer. The delivery of
the boy will be answer enough"
In the afternoon Sylvanus trotted up on
his tricycle.. His face was radiant from the
combined effects of the sharp, fresh cir, tho
exercise, and the delight at having received
such a summons from Miss Clauson. To-day
he was leagues above his lugubrious name.
He clipped his hands together, not SO much
for the purpose or promoting circulation as
account o. tho cheerful sound OF thedetona-
lions mado by the meeting palms. He wished
old Whitaker q happy new year in n way
which clearly implied that happy years were
the rule, sad ones the exception. Whitaker
returned the greeting with due respect, and
ventured to express his approval of Mr.. Nor
dies Christmas Day sermon. Then Mordlo
said something which made even Whitaker
laugh. Miss Clauson heard the curate's
brisk, crisp voice long before he was shown
into the drawing room.
He greeted her pleasantly, and learned
that her uncles were out. AS tho Talberts
always took their out-of-door exercise of an
afternoon, this news was no surprise to him.
Who shall say that Sylvarus did not time
his call by their ~well.known elock-work hab-
itsl A tete-a-tete is often pleasant, although
the two heads harbor no thoughts save those
of friendship.
"You want me" said sylvanus. 'Behold
me. Hero | am"
81 want you to do me a favor, SO Iven-
tured to write to you" Beatrice's words
were conventional, but there was something
in her manner which made the quick-witted