Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-05-17
BY U0H CON wAY,
CHAPTER 1v.-CoSrIsusp.

made proper entrance into society. A Lady
Clauson said, she must have been wrong
minded young woman, ~ this omimi0n
seemed to trouble her very little.
Tho Talberts who liked the little they bad
seen Of their niece went Into solemn conclave
on the request. They decided, In tho event Of
Sir Maingay giving his consent on that point
they were most exacting-she might come 10
them. Sir Maingay raised no objections, %
Beatrice Clauson came TO Haklewood House,
where since her arrival, about week ago,
she had lived In state Of amused wonder e.
the amiable peculiarities Of the "Tabbissr
gradually revealed themselves to her.
She lad, Of course, intended to make herself
useful to her uncles. It may have been the
want Of some occupation other than study
which made her turn her eyes to Haxlewood
House and tho two bachelors. She was no
longer schoolgirl, 30 at once broadly limited
that she was willing to regulate their house.
hold matters. The silent horror with which
the proposal was received told her at once that
her place was to b sinecure. She saw that
her uncles would on no account dream Of In
trusting their researches into domestic econ.
omy to any hands save their own, and themr.
passing capability Of those hands was desply
impressed upon her when, tho day after hsr
arrival, she found Uncle Horace bending over
x
patientest and gravest way teaching her the
most approved fashion Of handling needle
and thread
After having lived at Hazlewood HOUSE for
week Miss Clsuson must have been ready to
welcome any event Of interest. It Is NO won
der that when Horace Talbert, at Mr. Nor
dies suggestion, walked into the drawing
room and told his niece what had happened,
her curiosity and excitement rose to q hiRt
pitch. ,.. -
SIS it pretty child r. she asked. .i
"Wonderfuly no. Mordle and Herbert ars
petting it like couple Of women
Beatrice did not run at once to see for her.
Hlf. "What do you mean to do about Il,
uncle Horace" she asked.
II don't know Isuppose We must keep II
till tomorrow and SEQ II the mystery Il OK
planned You had better come out and give
US your advice" HTl
Beatrice walked into the hall. Tho child
had made great progress during Horace's
absence. The curats was tickling him and
making him laugh Herbert was stroking
his bright hair in quite = paternal way.
Even the respectable Whitaker was smiling
pleasantly.
"What dear little manr exclaimet
BEATRICE, as she walked to the table and
looked at the sturdy urchin.
She was the first woman the child had sesn
since he left his friends at the refrsshment
room. Maid servants, with the curiosity of
their sex and kind, had peeped surepttiously
over the balustrade, but had not attracted
notice. At such a tender ags - his, woman
isa child's natural protector. He at once
quilted his stalwart friends and ran across
tho table to the fair girl, who smiled and
opened her arms. The little man darted into 4
them, ard with chirrup of delight laid his
head on the girls shoulder and seemed per-
fectly happy and at rest. He was 70 pretty
that no woman could have refrained from ca
ressing him. Miss Clatson kissed him again
and again, then, like every one who came
near him, fell to stroking his golden locks
and twining them round her fingers The
child's eyes began to close under her soft and
soothing touches
"He must go to bed, }" said Beatrice, de-
cisively.
Certainly" said uncle Horace "Where
had he better sleepp
'Jano has most comfortable bed" said
Herbert.
his housewifely capacity knew the quality of
every bed in the house; even the amount Of
bedding on each. Mr.. Mordle turned away
He was afraid Of dsgracing himself by
burst of ill-timed mirth.
"No, no." exclaimed Beatrice; che shall
sleep with me. Look at him, uncle Horace;
isn't he perfect cherub3' ...
"Hos pretty little boy; but we don't
know where he comes from, my dear. Ihardly
think you ought to take strange infant to
sleep with you" ....
"Oh, nonsense, uncle Horacei Sec what
clean, beautiful boy it Is. Whitaker, send
largo can Of hot water to my room. Come,
my pet / will see how I can act the part of 0
nursemaid."
Singing and grooming and carrying the
child in the most approved fashion, Min
Clauson proceeded to bear her prize away.
"You had better look at his linan,
Beatrice" said Horace. ''It may be marked
with his name"
After this tho three men went back to tho
dining-room and talked the curious occur
renee over and over.
In about half an hours time Beatrics reap
peared with the intelligence that the boys
clothing bore no mark Of any kind. Indsed,
it all seemed brand new. She was apparently
much delighted with her new toy. She kept
running up and down stairs, to ASCERTAIN that
her protege was sleeping tho sleep Of innocent
babyhood. At last she went away alto
gether.
"Beatrice is more demonstrativs than b.
lieved her to be" said Horace, regrstfully.
Herbert echoed the regret, but NJ. Nordis
said nothing. He thought the instructive
kindness she showed towards this mysteri-
ously sent child added another charm to the
many he had already discovered In Mia Clau-
son.
The three men sat together until II was too
late to hope that matters would be cleared up
that night. No mother, no telegram came.
The curate bade his friends good night and
walked back to his lodgings In the village,
thinking what charming picture His Clau-
son with the child In her arms made. Poor
Mr.. Mordle He had only known Beatrice Q
week, and was already beginning to dream .
foolish dream.
The brothers continued itting one on sthss
side Of the fire. They were NOT early-to-bsd
people Now that they were alone they said
little more about tho arrival. For three hours
they had been discussing every possible the
ory whi might account for the child's ap-
pearance among them, so tho subject was
threadbare, and they sat In silence trying to
invent fresh causes. Suddenly most curious
and startling suspicion entered Horace Tai
bert's mind-a suspicion which now and again
made him glance at his brother. Could Her
bert by any chance know all about the mat
ter' He had certainly seemed greatly taken
with tho little boy. Horace remembered how
much at home the child had made himself
with Herbert. How, when he, Horace, came
out of the dIawing-room with Beatrice, he
had found Herbert stroking and patting the
little head Could there be romantic pass
ages in Herbert's life about which he knew
nothingl He pooh-poohed tho thought; but
il came again and again.