Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-07-24
A FAMILY AFFAIR.
BY HUGH CONWAY.
AUTHOR OF "CALLED BACK DARK
DAYS" ETC.


one seemed so quiet and centennial
sighed Herbert. 'eTrue, that affair about
those people and the boy upset her"
Now said Horace. II believe you are
getting nearer the mark. Can it De possible
that any fear that the child would be taken
from her induced her to make this foolish
hight-I can call It nothing elsef'
Herbert objected In his turn Beatrice had
been 50 certain that the claim would come to
nothing, and events had proved her sagacity.
So they talked and talked, suggested and rea-
soned, but never got near the truth. They
could not sgen frame q theory. Nothing in
this world Is more annoying than to be with
out a theory.
At last Horace rose. Something must be
done" he said, decisively.
YES assented Herbert, inquiringly.
"We are, it appears to me, placed in a
most unfortunate position This mysterious
fight involves the most grievous conse-
quences. We must do something which !
feel sure will be repugnant to both Of u.s.
"You will not employ any one to trace
herr
Certainly not. She is her own mistress,
and can go where she chooses. l am think
ing more about ourselves. Life will become
intolerable if the matter gets bruited
abroad
How can we help it, All the household
knows that Beatrice has gone, and gone with
out any luggage"
THAT said Horace, with mild triumph,
II have thought out" He rang the bell and
asked for the parlor maid.
Jane he said, ''Miss Clauson has been
called to London. Will you be good enough
to get such things packed in her trunks as she
is likely to want for a lengthy visit; also pack
the nurses box and the child's things.n
Jane courtesied and withdrew. Presently
she returned and asked how many dresses
she had better packl
1.-TWO morning and four evening dresses
said Horace, promptly. Herbert admired
his brothers great mind, which rose so equal
to the occasion.
Then Jane wanted to know which dresses.
The two new ones, of course. Then WHAT
The black silk, the black lace, the high body
with jet trimmings the brocade upper skirt,
or what2 For the moment even Horace was
at fault. He soon recovered.
I'VE will come and assist you" be said
30 they went to Beatrice's room, and with
eyeglasses fixed stood one on each side OF
the trunk and superintendent the packing.
Much as they delighted in odd jobs of this
kind, to-day they felt no pleasure. They
scarcely dared to glance at each other. They
felt ashamed, as all honorable men do, who
by irresistible stress Of circumstance are
compelled to act a Lie. The packing was
completed. Jane was sent to see to Mrs. NIL
ler's and the boys things. The selection Of
these our friends did not superintend. The
boxes were brought down, placed in the
wagonette, and Horace and Herbert drove
away with them. Nothing could have been
more s~killfully managed. Even Whittakel
wa completely deceived.
They took the boxes and warehoused then
in Blacktown. "You see," said Horace, a
he turned the horses heads homewards
Beatrice has gone to London. She mean
to make a lengthy stay. She must want hel
things. Any woman would"
Every word you spoke was the exact
truth" said Herbert, consolingly.
But they were horribly upset; so upset
that they forgot all about Franks impending
visit, OF forgot about it until the mex
morning, when they found it was too Lat,
to telegraph.
Frank, with "hope eternal" growing lib
a eucalyptus, anne down as he had fore
warned his friends, by the morning train
He was rather surprised at not seeing hi
two tall cousins on the platform, or an,
signs of the wagonette outside the station
He secured a hanson and drove straight t
Lakewood House.
Whitaker opened the door. "AIl well
Whitaker asked Carruthers cheerily. II
did not hear the servants reply, for at tina
moment Horace and Herbert appeared an,
shook hands heartily. They took him int
the dining room, and once more the thre
men shook hands.
swell, how are you bothF asked Franz
They told him they were quite well, but a
the same, Frank knew by their solemn fact
that something had gone wrong. He wul
dered what the cook had been up to.
"And Miss Clausona BeatriceW he col
tinued with a assumption of carelessnes
but longing for the door to open and adm
her. The Talberts exchanged sad glances
Beatrice" said Horace, "is not here.n
His voice was so solemn that Frank
blood ran cold. Horace was not addicted t
the use Of canting colloquialisms, but th
words were spoken in such a way that Fran
believed mot heren must inevitably b
followed by 'but gone above" He wa
immensely relieved when the speaker stoppe
short.
"Not here" he said. 'tGone out, yo
mean. My greetings must watt
The brothers eyes sought counsel Of or
another.
Beatrice went to London yesterday
said Horace. Frank seemed much asto
ished.
ITO Londonl She left London only a fe
days ago. Is she gone back to her fathers
He was already framing excuses for leavir
Hazlewood House and returning to tow
An ominous silence followed his questioI
'Wha is the matter9 Is anything wrong
he asked In great agitation
my dear Frank" said Horace, 'som
thing strange has happened, but it Is
strictly a family affair that we are conside
ing whether we ought to mention it to 70,
Not but what your advice might be Of SER
ice to us.n
Frank grew seriously alarmed. "But
am one Of the family he said hastily. II
Talberts shook their heads doubtfully. The
were not sure about il. The family COZ
sisted Of two, or, counting in Beatrice, thrt
at the outside.
81 have another right to know-a strongt
right STILL" said Carruthers, who was Q
thorns Of suspense. 'There Is no reaso
why I should make a secret Of it l hay
loved Boatrice since the day we met M
a hope Is 70 make her my wife clai
the right 3 know anything that concerI
her"
The astonishmsnt depicted ON the brother