Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-10-16
conduct-her flight and ccncealment."
Certainly" said Herbert, ''most certain

conduct-her flight and ccncealment"
| Certainly said Herbert, ''most certain-
~"
So Frank told them all. AS he had the
command of language and spoke in earnest
| tones, as he had the skill to make certain
! shadows look lighter, and to bring out strong
| points In his clients favor most strongly; as
he could speak Of what she had endured, and
SO invoke pity as well as mercy, Beatrice
could scarcely have found better advo-
| cate.
But Horace! Herbert! A line of notes of
| exclamation would not properly express
| their surprise. With ewes fixel on the
| speaker they listened like persons under a
| SPELL Even when Frank had said his say
they continued to gaze at him Horace
was the first to speak. "Is this true?" lie
gasped.
every word of it-poor grip .aid Frank
'Ihen," said Horace, with his no appeal
manner, I'VE can never forgive her-never
see her again Neverm
He glanced at Herbert, as if expect;no tbe
usual echo. Bat it did ot COM, Franz ro;a
Every well; then there's nothing more to
be said. LII go and tell my wife to put her
things on. Which is the best Blacktown
hotel?"
This was staggering shot. 1t was a.
ahel shot. Carruthers was right when he
laid 1t would take great deal to make the
Talberts turn even dog away.
Tive Us few minutes to talk it overn
said Herbert Let us leave you here for
awhile"
''No. Pll go into the garden. I can't
give you more than twenty minutes, because
most OF our things are unpacked, and it is
growing late"
Before he left them he spoke again. This
time with all his former earnestness
Horace, HERBERT" he said, turning from
one to the other. I'm talking this over re-
member, that if you cannot forgive her we
must be strangers hereafter. By casting her
OFT you give the world right to saw what
1t chooses. Remember, also, she is nv wife
that she loves you-that she is even now
on thorns OF suspense awaiting your de-
cision.n
With this he LETT them, went into tba oar
den, and, out OF sight OF the house, walked
with his arm around Be atrice and babe her
be of good cheer.
Before the twenty minutes had expired,
Whitaker came to inform them that Mr..
Talbart desired him to say that tea was
waiting in the drawing room Frank
smiled, drew Beatrices trembling arm
within his own and led her indoors As
soon as Whitaker had Withdrawn after
handing round the tea FORAGE spoke. He
was standiug up, his cup in his hand, and
his calm eyes seemed to be gazing at nothing
''My dear Beatrice, he said very gravely.
81 think if you and Frank could manage 10
prolong your stay till tomorrow week we
might ask lew friends to m eet YOU at din
ner. The invitation will be short one but
under the circumstances will no doubt be
excused"
Carrnthers turned away to hide smile.
Yet he felt that, considering who the
speaker was, no words could have been bet
ter, more Judlciously or more delicately
chosen to express the fact that Horace and
Herbert had decided to forgive the culprit.
and not only to say no more about her mis-
deeds, but, also, if necessary, show the
world that they took her part 1t was a
triumph
No more was said; but Beatrice could not
refrain from letting few lie AIS of gratitude
bedew Horace's immaculate shirt front, or
from sitting for little while with Herbert's
hand in hers.
Sir Malngay had, of course to be told ALL
This was painful task, as telling Sir Main
gay meant telling Lady CIauson. Her lady
the girl had, after all, ''done something dis
graceful, !" but as sac thinks a great deal
about the honor of her husbands family,
she will not proclaim the correctness Of
her estimate OF Beatrice's charac en-
And others will have to be told The
Oakbury people will hear q great deal
They will shake their heads and gossip
But fortunately, or unfortunately, Mr.
and Mrs Carfuthers future life will not
be spent among these families of position,
SO such gossip will matter little to them
They Will live in the great world of Lon
don and Frank Carruthers may OF NAV
not become famous man. At any rate he
will be happy one.
And Beatrice? Beatrice will make a.
circle of friends. No secret will be made Of
the facts that she has been twice married.
and that little Harry is her child by her first
husband. And if some day it should be
VIII spered in that circle that for some rea-
sons only known to herself she passed for
years as single woman when she was a
wife-what will it matter Better that than
passing as a wife when woman is single
The world is like q cat pleasant and
sweet when rubbed the right way. Frank
and Beatrice are rich-the trustees raised no
question on account of the first marriage
they are hospitable, kind-hearted, clever,
young and good-looking, and Frank seems
likely to rise to eminence. In such cases
themselves very little about idle reports.
Indeed, all who care to inquire into Mrs.
Carruthers' history may know all there is to
be known.
No-not all. Not the means by which
happiness was brought within their grasp.
That is known only to wild-eyed white.
faced woman whose gaunt features grow
every day more gaunt, who, day by day,
sinks into more hopeless state. Only she,
this victim to the dreariest religious creed
the world has yet ENTHUSIASTICALLY drearv
because it is illogical and unanswerable-
only she knows how Baatrice's freedom was
bought, how her happiness was assured.
And she will soon die and go to her aps
pointed place. But she will die and make
no sign.
TEE END.