The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-08-29
found Frank missing. irdoed, he kept them

found Frank missing Indeed, he kept then
waiting fully five minutes before no reap
peared. He had Just been round the corner
he said, looking al some Of the quaint oil
Blacktown houses. The truth is he hat
been to the Cat and Compasses," Aen tn,
expansive widow landlady, and ascer
tanned the address of her worthy friend
Mrs Rawlings. No doubt the Talbert
could have given him this, but he did no
care to trouble them for it.
As William Giles had accompanied hi,
masters in order to drive the horses back
the Talberts, until they were in the train
could not make known to Frank the result
Of their inquiries at the bank. Frank hearG
the news gloomily. The sum taken 10y
Beatrice showed that she meant her absence
to be prolonged one.
"Did you get the numbers Of the notesf
he asked. They had not done so.
II should get them. The first one she
changes can be traced back, and We shall
know where she is"
~ should never have thought Of that,
said Herbert admringly.
| Horace said nothing. Conscience told him
he would not have thought of it, but self
respect babe him hide the fact
In London they parted. The Talberts
went to their favorite hotel, and Frank, who
wished to be quite free and unfettered in his
researches, went to his The next day the
brothers called on Sir Maingay Clauson, and
Frank found the way to li2 Gray street, the
purveying establishment of MessrS. Raw
| lings Bros.
He asked for Mrs. Rawlings, AMI not know
ing whether it was Mrs. John or Mrs. Joseph,
was compelled to describe her as tn, one who
had been at Blacktown some few days ago.
That was Mrs. John. Mr.. and Mrs. John
were away. Would not be back for ut least
a week. No one knew exactly where they
were. In their absence, caused perhaps by
another wild goose chase after a supposed
son, Frank was compelled to defer his re-
searches. His heart was very heavy. 1t
seemed to him that he would only find Bea.
trice by the prosaic way of tracing back the
bank notes He wished he had not suggested
this course to Horace and Herbert.
He went down TO Oxford and settled his
affairs as best he could. He arranged with
Mordle'y friend, Fanshawe, a brother coach,
to take such rupils as he could send him. SO
utterly unfit did he feel for work that he was
glad to think that his new appointment did
not become fact for six months; so that
except for the book which he had to see
through the press, he would have nothing to
occupy him but the search for Beatrice.
Horace and Herbert were more successful
in their call Sir Mangay was at home and
appeared delighted to see them. But this
effusiveneSs only covered a certain fear with
which, perhaps on account of their striking
resemblance to his deal wife, the baronet
always regarded his tall, grave brothers-in-
law. To my mind, widower who marrieS
again had better make clean sweep of all
his first wife's relations. A painful duty.
yet due to ones self, as the Talberts would
say.
$50 glad, so very glad, to see YOU Horace;
SO delighted, Herbert" exclaimed Sir Main
gay. How well you both look never saw
you looking better"
They told him they were very we'll.
You don't seem to grow a day older.
No family cares to vex you. Most men keep
young as bachelors A family means re-
sponsbility as well as pleasure, you know"
Sir Maingay nodded his head contentedly as
one who knows all about it.
1--WE have something to say to you about
Beatrice" said Horace.
Now, Beatrice was the very last subject
which Sir Maingay cared to discuss with his
brothers-in-law. Although they had never
said so much, he felt that they altogether
disapproved Vt his conduct with respect to
his daughter. He felt that they thought he
should not have gone abroad AMI left her to
herself, although she had been SO left by her
own expressed wish. TO some people, espe-
cally those whose copsciences were ill at
ease the Talberts grave, unspoken censure
was more terrible than vituperation from
any one else
about Beatrice" said Sir Mangay. "Not
i'll, hope' l thought her locking far from
we'll whcn she left here
''No, she is not ill-but we ara in some
anxiety on her account
"Ab, think know. l think I'm quite
prepared for hat you are going to say"
Horace raised his eyebrows. You areT
he said IF SO, it viii make our task
easier"
"Much easier" said Herbert
"Weu you are gong TO say that young
Carruth'rs is in love with my girl He
came here once or twice; | saw il then.
He told me no wa, going down to your
place"
"Yes, that is part of what we were going
to say" They had decided it was as well to
let Sir MGinIay know Of Franks ambition
'NVell," said the Iaronet, II like Ca ruth
ers. Besides he is kinsman o. you'5 ]
assure you, my dear Horace, my dear Her.
bert, / can never forget the many happy
years spent with poor" he actually hest |
tated for the name Think Of that all young
wives who believe that your husband, Il
be inconsolable should death remove yopl-, |
with much beloved member ut yu,Il
family"
"Thank you," said Horace, quietly. TIe
zcd the fact that Sir Mamgay meaut
well
Resides" continued the baronet. "Bea- |
trce is entirely her own mistress She has
a vii! OF her own. have no power over her
fortune, which, by the by, is almost as large
ms my own This is just as it should be, b.
cause with those sons of mine it will be i'm
possible for me to add to her income at my
death" So he rattlel on, bringing out what
was really Justification Of himself
my dear Maingay," said Horace, mildly |
'would it not he better if you heard what
we have to say and made your comments
afterw ards"
1T would he a great deal better, Main
gay" said Herbert
From the days of their first acquaintance
they had always assumed this air of superb |
ority over the respectable nobleman. He |