The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-09-12

momeut he could not speak. The sight o
Beatrice, the touch of her hand sent Tho
blood rushing through his veins. DAYS
weeks, months, he had pictured this meet
iug, and now it had come TO pass!
She was fairer than cver-fairer thar
sverl The pure classical features seemed
even more perfect, the clear pale face more
b'auti nj. he dark gray eyes more wonder
iul than II old. Aud, as soc had given that
little cry os joy, something had Irapt int
h r etc, which Carruthers had never before
seen there, or never before seen so clearly
and unGi s.uiseily. The surprise of seeing
him had swept away caution, and for tht
space o. two seconds, Frank was able tc
read the very secret of her soul.
No won Ter he held her hands and pnze]
silently in her face VI hat had he to lay
what could he say. The certainty that she
loved him made his task no oasier-the task
Of telling her that he knew her secret, or al
least "A great part of 1.-THE task Of asking
her to conf lc in him and let him help her.
So he remained silent until she gently drew
her hands from his.
The light had fade from Boatrice's face.
She al o, after moment Of forgctfulnaSS,
was coming back to mr. own world ana its
troubles. Her eyes dropped and her face
clouded.
"How did you find me-" sac asked in
troubled tones.
"By strange chance. / will tell you how
some day
"Tell me now"
Frank shook his head.
"Not now" he said. Let it suffice that
have found you
But said Beatrice with agitation, do
others know-cin others find mel If you
learned it why not anotherN
He saw the display of fear, and FASTENED
to reassure her. mo one save myself can
learn it in the same way. Your retreat is
safen
She sighed her relief. There was an
awkward pause. Frank was the first to
break it.
Beatrice" he said, 81 have come long
way to see you. have much to say-you
may have much to say to me. Can we go to
some place where we can talkN
ayes, we can go to my home" Beatrice
called her boy, and Frank, glad of anything
t. break the awkwardness Of the moment,
greeted the little fellow and ma le friends
with him to such purpose that he insisted
upon Mr.. Carruthnrs holding his chubby
hand and walking with him.
"What a pity to cut that bright hair!"
said Frank TO Beatrice.
at was more than pity-it was cruel, but
It was cruel necessity" she said sadly.
Beatrice led the way TO the house in which
she lived. She walked with her head bent,
and as one in deep thought. She could not
make up her mini whether to be glad or
sorry at Franks coming. She saw, how
ever, that it put an end to her present mode
OF life. That 1t meant confession, revealing
of everything. That 1t meant return to
England and to such frienls as would still
be her friends. That if it meant shame and
sorrow, it also meant safety and immunity
from persecution She began to regret that
she had yielded to Sarah's wish to go to Eng
land and see Hervey But that was not of
much consequence. She felt sure that as
soon rs Carruthers learned her history her
affairs would pass into hands more compe
tent to deal with them than the hands of two
weak women. So on the whole her feelings
we're those OF relief.
And yet for some, for one reason, Frank
was the last person she would have chosen
to whom to reveal her secrets. She shrank
from having to show the man she loved that
her life for years had been one of deceit.
Now that the deceit had to he confessed to
him, IL seemed to lose all the innocent ma
ture which she had hitherto flattered herself
IL possessed. In Short il such thing can
bs imagined, Beatrice felt, as Carruthers
once felt her to be, as an idol would feel
when Just upon the point of being hurled
down from its PEDESTAL.
Carruthers, who had his own thoughts to
trouble him, and to whom it seemed that
any conventional remarks would at the pres
ent juncture be mockery, respected her
meditations, so that save for the hsping
prattle of the boy, silence reigned until
Beatrice found herself in her room with
Frank sitting near her. 1t struck her as SC
strange that he of all others should he here
that even now she wondered if she was
dreaming She Stunned his eyes, fearing tc
read reproach in them.
"How are they all at homer she asked
"How are my uncles, and dear old Halle
woodr Her eyes filed with tears. Her
emotion did not escape Carruthers.
"Thev are all well,n he said. IL heard
from Herbert few days ago, He sent me
| your letter.
"Will they ever forgive met" said Bea
trice. "Will they ever speak to me againf
~ hope So" said Frank gravely. "Tbey
were, OF course, much vexed and upset"
| Beatrice glanced at him nervously. Ever
he had but held out a hope of forgiveness
and he loved her. She wished he had moi
come to Munich.
| DO they know my reason for leaving
Englandf' she asked, timidly.
No. They have hazarded many guesses
but not one has been near the truth"
She started at his answer The truth
| Did he know the TRUTH II SO, how had hs
learned i'll
"Do you know why leftr' she asked.
A look Of pain settled on Carruthers' face
Yea" he said, softly. Chance b.
given NE your story. But to me-only {,
! me-