Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-08-14

oIeeIe
evil you step in and ask if a lady can see
a Mrs. Rawlings, who is staying there?"
Mordle obeyed.
Beatrice drew down her vail and leaned
back in the cab. She closed her eyes, as ii
for the moment to shut out her surroundings
eft must be done!'' she m11rmured Her
eyes were still closed when she heard Mordle,
his clear accents just tempered by surprise,
saying that the person she wanted was in the
house, and would see her. Beatrice moved
as if to leave the cab. The curate kept the
door closed.
"Miss Clauson," he said, ''can not do
your errand for yous This seems scarcely
the place for you to enter"
He spoke more gravely than usual. His
mind was picturing the CONSERVATION into
which Horace and Herbert would be thrown
did they but know that their niece was visit
ing such place as this. He felt he was be-
traying trust, and until he could assure
himself that the end more than justified the
means would be i'll at ease.
"No," said Beatrice, IT alone can do it.
Please do not follow me; but should be glao
if you will wait for me-"
Very reluctantly he opened the cab door,
and with many n1isgivings watched Beatrice
go past the sodden-faced man, who cast after
her look of maudlin approval; he watched
her go past the colored bottles and the pewter
counter, and disappear from sight. AS she
vanished, Sylvanus, who was shrewd enough
ofeel that it would be moral ruin for clergy
man, especially one who was but curate, tc
be seen at such an hour Of the morning hang;
ing about the door of such tavern, ensconced
himself in the depths of the cab, and waited
and wondered. He honestly believed that
whatever might be the mission which
brought Beatrice to such place, its object
was perfectly pure and womanly. Yet he
was unhappy, and felt guilty. Horace and
Herbert sat heavily on his conscience. Char
liable as be knew them to be, prompted by
charity as he persuaded himself was Bea-
trice's unknown errand, he was fully aware
thai no milk of human kindness possessed by
the Talberts would induce them to consent to
their nieces exercising the sacred quality in
such dingy purlieus, or under the roof of
such questionable establishment as the
Goat and Compasses.n The limits of the
charitable obligations of Lakewood House
were strictly defined by the boundaries of
Oakbury parish.
At the end of the cleaning pewter coun-
ter Beatrice encountered the widowed
landlady. whose frame, expansive after the
manner of widowed landladies, filled up the
narrow passage. She eyed Miss Clauson
curiously, and then conducted her to snug
parlor at the back Of the bar. Inn parlors
of this sort are always cosy and warm This
was no exception to the rule, A cosy, low
room, and lot without cheerful ornaments,
seeing that it boosted large tea tray inlaid
with mother of pearl, several colored prints
and handsomely framed copper-plate writ
ten document, which proclaimed to all who
cared to read it that the deceased proprietor
was member of the Ancient Order Of Odd
Fellows
Beatrice noticed none Of these artistic en-
bellishments She took the chair which was
offered her, and, without raising her veil,
awaited the appearance of Mrs Rawlings.
As no woman with any pretensions to re-
spectability and solvency would think Of
facing an unknown visitor without some
little smoothing of plumes and adjustment
of attire, Miss Clauson had to wait several
minutes for the desired audience. At last
she heard the door open, and, with q stiaed
sob, she rose, turned, and faced the new
conner.
Mrs. Rawlings good-natured round, COM
monplace face wore an expression of wonder
ment. She saw that her visitor was Of a
class different from that which usually hon
ored her with morning call. As tribute
to Miss Clauson's undeniably lady -likea appear
ance the good woman's greeting, which be-