Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-08-28

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 a 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-
ieved he had pacifed 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 i'm
portant business, he said. Beatrice naturally
resented the desertion, but not having been
long enough married to know what a fraud
that plea of business often is, made no COM
plant. 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 appr1se
her father of what had happened. Di1nly
she began to see the meaning of the step she
had taken.
1t was settled she should return to Mrs.
Erskine's, and as slight misunderstanding
is not sufficient to terminate the relationship
between a husband and wife of fortnight's
standing, it was also arranged that Hervey
should take lodgings in the neighborhood,
to which lodgings his wife could come as
pupil to drawing master. The fellow had
by now resumed his mask, and seemed to be
tcgis:- 70 "fa~n>- +i" -'n"nllnn+inr of the will
But the mask had been dropped once, and
Beatrice, except in her conduct, was no fool.
She went back to her home with 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
spent pleasant time.
The girl felt very miserable; a kind OF
dread, which she vainly strove to thrust
away, hung over her. She needed sympathy
needed confidant. Such a secret as hers
was too great for one breast So she told her
maid Sarah what had happened. The womans
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 endeavo1
to ease her mind, she made such inquiries as
she could respecting Mr.. Maurice Hervey. She
even watched him, waited for him, tracked
him in his goings out and comings in. She
told Beatrice nothing of this self-institutec
inquiry To do the woman justice, had she
found Hervey up to the standard of her re
quirements for Beatrice, she would have Of
fered up thanks to heaven more fervently
than she had ever done in her life
One day when Beatrice was paying a visit
to her husband, he turned to her suddenly
81 must have money! he said, ''there's nc
good beating about the bush"
s'Have you no money!" asked Beatrice
~ have twenty pounds, the remnant of a
large sum borrowed"
Beatrice had expected an appeal of this
sort. Although Hervey had again and again
told her that by the drudgery Of teaching he
could make good income, SO that, in marry
ing, money was a secondary consideration,
this had been part Of the dread hanging over
her. An appeal of this sort would give her
fears stronger foundation. She said moth
ing, but taking out her purse, shook its con-
tents on the table. The man laughed scorn-
fully.
ssit is no driblet like that want. l must
have thousand pounds by this day fort
night"
''Why tell me so? I cannot get it." She
could not help the growing GOODNESS Of her
voice.
ayes you can, If you will Will you do
so?'
She looked at him steadily. "You are my
husband" she said. ''If can, will"
81 knew it,n he said, with nervous laugh.
''All you will have to do is to sign an under
taking promising to repay the money and
interest out of your income within certain
number of years. You will do thisg'
eyes, I will do this. You are my hus-
band"
SIT is also necessary" he went on, with a
covert glance at her, ito make declaration
"a mere matter of form. You must declare
yourself to be twenty-one years of age"
The truth Is Mr.. Hervey had been to thu
money-lenders, and without mentioning
names had underworld to negotiate a loan
upon such security as Beatrice's fortuns
offered. Some of the usurers laughed in his
face but he soon found one whose business
it was never to refuse to lend money on a
.orged bill or false declaration provided the
friends of the forger Or the perjurer were of
the stamp who would pay money to avoid
criminal proceedings.
Il do not quite understand" said Beatrice.
She would not understand.
"It's mere matter of form, my dear girl,
it can do no harm. It is only to swear you
are twenty-one I'm sure no one would doubt
itn
Beatrice covered her face with her hands,
and the tears trickled through her fingers.
Hervey attempted to cares her. Sadly but
firmly she pushed his arm away.
81 cannot do it," she said.
His brow grew black. damn it! you
mustl" he said.
She rose. II will not" she said in accents
which told him she meant what she said. II
will do this much: I have some jewelry; it
shall be placed in your hands. The only
favor I ask is that money may be raised on it
in such way that same day I can get it
back, Part Of IT was my mothers"
Hervey knew that her jewelry would not
help him. So he pressed her to make the
false declaration. First, he commanded,
secondly he reasoned, thirdly he hesought in
an abiect way, And with his groveling en-
treaties for money, every atom of love for
him went out of the girls heart. Love may
survive ill-usage, faithlessness and wicked,
ness-meanness kills it. She turned and left
him before he could stop her.
She did IS she had promised. That even: