The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-08-15

| could not i've anDtler month unless suc "eIs
his wife. He redoubled these assurances
when Beatrice told him indirectly that when
of ago she came into a large income. No, let
them be married at once. Her fathers con-
sent could be won so much better after the
ceremony. His Maurice's) darling must be
guided by him. Beatrice hesitated, Hervey
pressed, and at last, like other darhngs OF
eighteen, she consented to be guided by the
man she loved.
He guided her to her first act Of deceit
She informed Mrs. Erskine that she was
going to Bournemouth for fortnight to see
an old school friend. She comforted herself
| by thinking it was but an equivocation. She
was going to Bournemouth, and friend OF
hers lived. or did live there-no doubt she
would see her. Every one knows that equivo-
cation is the inclined plano down which
people slide to the pit.
With respect to her father she comforted
herself by thinking that, as he married to
please himself she had right to do the
samoa kind Of reasoning by analogy not
uncommon to young people. Besides, he
would know Maurice very soon, aud, OF course,
learn tc love him.
So TO Bournemouth she WENT but befors
going was quietly married to Maurice Hervey
and the fortnight spent at Bournemouth was
! their honeymoon The rays of the honey
moon go sometimes far towards dispensing
the glamour with which a bride surrounds
her bridegroom. Some curious things hap
pened to Beatrice.
In the first place, her husband even now
objected to Sir Maingays being told of his
daughters happiness, and Beatrice, not wish
ing to cross him il these early days, con.
| hea
guided by his superior knowledge OF the
world.
In the second place the postmau one morn
ing brought large letter for Hervey. Beatrice
watched him rather curiously as he opened 1t,
aud she saw it contained a document, the
Endorsement of which informed all who could
read that it was a copy of the last will and
testament of William Talbert, Esq. Hervey
explained that he merely took an interest in
bis darlng's affairs, and thinking he ought
to know something about them had written
for the copy. This explanation sutliced, and
Beatrice laughingly suggested that she should
sit beside him and read the will with him.
This was agreed to.
Hervey, with a smile of satisfaction, read
how one-third of the residuary estate was be-
queathed to Beatrice or rather to Horace
and Herbert in trust for Beatrice. This was
followed later on by another clause which in
the event of Beatrice's making, before she
was of tn. age of twenty-on an unsuitable
match, or even what appeared to her trustees
an unsuitable match, Horace and Herbert
were given what amounted to an unlimited
power of dealing with her share, power
which fell little short Of appropriation. Old
Talbelt had determined that until his grand
daughter arrived at years of discretion her
uncles should be able to defy fortune hunters.
This clause which was so clearly worded
that even she could understand it, made
Beatrice glance at her husband. His face
was pale his hands were shaking, and all of
a sudden IA string of fierce oaths dropped
from his lips. a sharp pain ran through the
girls heart. Without word she rose and
| left him.
He soon followed her, apologized and be-
lieved he had pacfied her, but his conduct
had planted in her heart the doubt-the most
painful doubt which a young wife can feel
that her husband had married her for her
money, not for herself.
The next day Hervey went TO town, on inn
portaut business, he said. Beatrice naturally
resented the desertion, but not having been
long enough married to know what fraud
that plea of business often is, made no com
plaint. Nevertheless, something told her
that her husbands business was in some way
connected with the will. So the doubt be-
came all but certainty.
Curiously enough or naturally enough,
Beatrice had no longer the wish to apprise
her father Of what had happened. DInly
she began to SEQ the meaning Of the step she
had taken.
| et,1 eho 70 M,xy
Erskine's and as slight misunderstanding
is not sufficient to terminate the relationship
between husband and wife Of a fortnights
standing, it was also arranged that Hervey
should take lodgings in the neighborhood,
to which lodgings his wife could me as a
pupil to drawing master. The fellow had
by now resumed his mask, and seemed to be
irving to efface the recollection of the will
scene.
But the mask had been dropped once, and
Beatrice, except in her conduct, was no fool.
She went back to her home with a pain in
her heart, and feeling years older than when
she had left fortnight ago. Mrs. Erskine
manifested no interest in the visit to Bourne
mouth. She merely hoped that Beatrice had
spent pleasant time.
The girl felt very miserable; kind OF
dread. which she vainly strove to thrust
away, hung over her. She needed sympathy,
needed a confidant. Such a secret as hers
was too great for one breast So she told her
maid Sarah what had happened. The woman's
slave like worship and dog like fidelity assured
her silence.
Mrs Miller, who, in spite of her religious
peculiarities, knew the world, and knew also
what such marriage as this meant, sup
pressed the grief she felt. But to endeavor
To ease her mind, she made such inquiries as
she could respecting Mr.. aaurice Hervey. She
even watched him, waited for him, tracked
him in his goings out and comings in. She
told Beatrice nothing of this self-instituted
INQUIRY. To do the woman justice, had she
| found Hervey up to the standard of her re-
i ouirements for Beatrice, she would have Of.
| fered ND thanks to heaven more fervently
than she had ever done in her life.
One day when Beatrice was paying visit
TO her husband, he turned to her suddenly.
II must have money" he said, there's no
GOOD beating about the hushn
! Have YOU no money! asked Beatrice.