The Dillon tribune., 1885-07-04

open, an act OF po'iteness which not even the
Ielatioiishlp OF uncle and niece or the pro-
vefolal contempt bred by familiarity al.
lowed the Talberts to forget.
1no oIothers resumed their seats. and fo,
whlle silence reigned. The truth is they
1e!t angry and annoyed perhaps even self
reproschful. Impossible as it YVES that Mr.
rawlings claims could be contested. both
Horace and Norbert felt sense of shame
natural to any Eaglishman who finds himself
compelled to yield by mere threat. The
Wish to light everything out to tho bitter end
made England what it is. Perhaps, after
al, when they came to think Of it. the
1aloerts were fonder Of the child than thew
cared to own. At any rate, after a long
brown study, Herbert, at least, showed signs
VI wavering.
II suppose" he asked, as one seeking for
information, sit would be out of the Question
Tor us to do as Beatrice wishesr'
Horace was equal to tho occasion. s.Ouite
out Of question, !" he answered sternly. 1--WE
should be placed in ridiculous position and
become the jest of the county"
They shuddered visibly at the thought and
30 far as the Talberts wero concerned the
boys fate was settled. To become the lest
OF the county is too terriblel 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 "A
q rule the ''Tabbies" were lust. IL cheese.
pairing, in their managenent-notu unreason.
able, II exacting, in their requirements. to-
day they drove the cook and poor Whit
taker almost frantic, aud set both wondering
"whatever the masters were going to get to.
In the meantime Beatrice had carried her
white face to her own room. She locked the
door, threw herself upon couch, where for
long time she sat with her hands pressed
against her brows. She did not weep, nor
''as her look that Of one resigning herself to
tate and getting ready to Yield to the newt
abe. It was rather that of ono searching
fer AID ex.: loriag every path which might
possibly ciier a way Of escape from a diff
Guilty. But it seemed as il every path she
trcd mentally resolved itself into cul de sac,
for the girl heaved hopeless sigh and the
tears at last began to force themselves
through her half closed lashes.
the boy to bo brought to her. He soon ran
into the room with the cry Of delight with
which he always greeted her. Miss Claussn
took tho little fellow ON her lap, claspcd him
to her heart, stroked and curled his pretty,
rufled bright hair, called him by thousand
endearing names and strange di.ninutives,
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 waa clear that no legal
menace, however dire, would make her &C.
quiescs in the tame surrender of her pct con-
templatcd by her uncles. Not one of her
many and rather Wild calculations SO much
as hinted at tho possibility of an impending
separation. In no sense were her caresses,
somo Of which were fearful ones, intended as
! farewell.
BY and by, with face even paler than
before, Beatrice took tho child by tho hand
and went down stairs. She paused for q
second before the closed door of the room in
which she had left her unclcs. II can see nc
other way. It must be done," she muttered.
Then, like ono full Of a solemn purpose, she
entered the room. Whatever sho may have
been about to do, the empty room seemed te
give her q welcome respite. Sho gave q
breath of relief. Nevertheless, it seemed
that the respite was to be but short, for
after waiting few minutes and finding
neither Horace nor Herbert appear, sht
turned as If to go in search of them.
But at that moment her mood changed
once more, or an alternative course at las
presented itself. A tinge of color leapet
back to her cheek. With quick steps sh,
led tho boy away, and ha-ing consigned hin
to Mrs Mi!lcr's care, again sought her owl
room, and again sat for long timo in deel
thought. ut is but slender chance" sh.
whispered, "but it caa be tried. To-day il
Thursday, and no steps can be taken unit
Saturday.
After this she wrote a note to Sylvanu:
Mordle, asking him if he could come to tht
house aud SEQ her either that afternoon OF
carly the next morning. She sent the note
down to the village and then went in scare
Of her uncle,.