Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-07-17

early in August found her uncleS In high con-
clave She saw at once that something had
happened, and for the moment feared to hear
that the red cu1rant jelly recently made from
their own receipt and almost under their own
supervision, had turned mouldy. 1t was not
that Miss Clauson was particularly fond of
red currant jelly, her fears We're simply on
account Of the distress such a catastrophe
would cause her uncles' kindly natures. How
ever, the matter was not so serious as she
imagined.
Uncle Horace handed her an open letter.
"Read that, my dear, and tell us how we
shall answer it.n She read the following;
''Dear Mr.. Talbert: You and your brother
have several times asked me to pay you a
visit. May come for a week or two this
vacation? I am rather knocked up By hard
work, and my doctor tells mo had better
spend some time in quiet place. in the country
So I remembered your kind invitation, and if
quite convenient to you would come straight
from Oxford to your house. OF course, al
though rather overworked, I am not an in
valid, or I should not think of trespassing on
you. Yours sincerely, Frank Carruthers."
"Who is Frank Carrutherss" asked Beatrice
'sSome relation to us, is he not?"
Ellis mother was my fathers half-sister."
"What relation does that make him to meg
Herbert stroked his beard and grapp!ed
with the problem. "He must be your hall
first cousin once removed" he said at last
ssExactly So" said Horace.
This point being settled, Miss Clauson re-
quested further information about Mr. Car.
ruthers Thereupon Horace went into family
history, which it will perhaps be better for us
to look up. on our own account. On such
occasions Horace was apt to become rather
prosy.
Old Talbert's half-sister, who was some
years younger than himself, married, just
before the successful coup came off, man
named Carruthers. 1t was no great match
and if Mr.. Carruthers found domestic bliss
it was well that he made his matrimonial ar
rangements before the s'boom' in oil, tobacco
corr or whatever it Yves, sent Mr.. Talbert te
Lakewood House and county society. Had
he deferred it till then the chances ATE that
Mr. Talbert would have insisted on his sister
doing better; for Carruthers had only
moderate fixed income as manager of some
works in the north.
Somehow after her marriage his half-sister
slipped away from Mr.. Talbert's life AS
whole sisters and brothers so often do the
same this fact is not astonishing Mrs.
Carruthers had several children-but one
after another they died off. She wrote to
her f-brother announcing the birth or
the death of each He answered her letters
in congratulatory or consolatory way as
the occasion required This was about all
the correspondence which passed between
them. When Horace and Herbert were
lanky boys in Elton jackets and round collars
Frank Carruthers was born, and actually
lived long enough to give promise of growing
up. Indeed, his father before he died saw
fellow of seventeen.
Mr.. Ca1Tuthers left his widow an annuity
for life and a few hundreds in ready money.
She lived well within her income and ex-
pended her capital in finishing her sons edu-
cation. She may have had some of old Tai
bert's views of things in general, although
lacking his means of carrying them out
Anyway she sent her boy to Oxford
There, for three or four terms, he behaved
disgracefully.
He got into scrapes, difficulties and debt.
So far, indeed, into the last that his mother
for the first and only time in her life applied
to Mr.. Talbert for assistance. This was given
readily, and the young man was once more
set off straight
Then suddenly Mrs. Carruthers died. Out
of her annuity she had saved enough each
year to pay premium of assurance, and
Frank, when just twenty-one found that her
foresight and love put him in possession of
some seventeen hundred pounds.
Whatever his faults might have been he
was passionately attached to his mother.
Her death seemed to make changed man of
him. He Immediately paid back Mr.. TAI
berts loan-better still, he went to work like
horse-an intellectual horse, of course. The
consequence was that be became one Of the
chi, 1iorbt Of md in,
due time rewarded by a fellowship.
This was lucky; for after having repaid Mr..
Talbert he had only enough money left to
carry him to the end of his Oxford course.
Eventually he settled down to try and
make his living, Or augment the emoluments
Of lis fellowship, as an Oxford "coach." At
that particular time the supply of coaches
was beyond the demand, SO for some years, in
spite of his brilliant reputation, passengers
or pupils-were few. But he stuck to the bust
ness, and latterly had been given as much,
even more, than he could manage Hence
the overwork.
All this Uncle Horace told Beatrice in his
own fashion-aI except the wildcat episode.
That was past and gone; Frank was now
successful man, SO his youthful sins might be
forgotten.
Beatrice until now knew nothing about her
fractional cousin. An intermittent and Ian
gushing correspondence had existed between
aer mother and Mrs. CarTuthers, but upon
the death of his first wife Sir Maingay had
not the least interest in keeping up any form
Of relationship with Mrs Carruthers. It is
doubtful whether he even knew of her exist
snce. The Talberts, who were far too proud
to disown any of her kim had met the young
man several times and had liked what they
mad seen of him. They had asked him to
Oakbury, and after excusng himself once or
twice he was now coming there.
''Is he a Clergyman" asked Beatrice.
''He must be, I suppose"
"No," said Herbert. ''He never took
orders. The fellowship he holds did not
make that indispensable"
''They ought all to be like that" said
Beatrice. ''Men oughtn't to be forced or
bribed to enter the church. Besides" con-
binued she, ''they ought not to make man
give up his fellowship when he marries. just
as he wants more money they take it from
him. He must either give up his wife OF his
income"
Miss Clauson was growing quite philo
sopher on the subject of marriage She
spoke about it as if it were an impossibility
that she herself would ever be interested in
the matter.
'My DEAR" said uncle Horace, gallantly,
II don't think man would consider two hun
lred a year great sacrifice if you were in the
question:"
She smiled family at the compliment.
'sStill the system must be bad" she said. SIT
might lead to all sorts of unhappiness. A
man might keep his marriage dead secret
might not marry at all. All sorts of misery
might result"
-aYou may be sure" said Herbert, 'what
is is best"
"Exactly so," said Horace.
II am sure it is bad, " she said, deeisively,
Miss Clauson must have been in advance Of
her day, the authorities now having in
great measure adopted her views and changed
the system.
''Shall we write and tell him to Gomez"
asked Horace. cit won't be any annoyance
to your
''Why should it be-what difference will it
makes Ask him, by all means"
Then, hearing the patter of little feet out
side, she left her unces to answer their letters,
and in few minutes was out in the garden
rra,,J,i,o, ,.r;tt, tl,a child