Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-08-02


boxes were brought down, placed in the
wagone'te, and Horace and Herbert drove
away with them. Nothing could have boon
more skillfuly managed. Even Whitaker
was completely deceived
They took the boxes and warehoused them
In Blacktown. "You see," said Horace, as
he turned the horses heads hornewartls,
Beatrice has gone to London. She means
to make a lengthy stay. She must want her
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, or forgot about it until the next
morning, when they found it was too late
to telegraph.
Frank, with hope eternal" growing like
eucalyptus, came down as he had fore
warned his friends, by the morning train.
He was rather surprised at not seeing hi /,
two tall cousins on tho PLATFORM or any
signs OF the wagonette outside the station
He secured n hansam and drove straight TO
Hazlewood House.
Whitaker opened the door. "All well,
Whitaker asked Carruthers cheerily. He
did not hear the servants reply, for Mt that
moment Horace and Herbert appeared and
shook hands heartily. They took him into
the dining room, and once more the three
men shook hands.
"Well, how are you bothr' asked Frank.
They told him they were quite well, but, all
the same, Frank knew by their solemn faces
that something had gone wrong. He won
dered what the cook had been up to-
"And Miss Clauson, Bcatrice.n he con.
tinued with nm assumption of carelessliess,
but longing for the door to, open and admit
her. The Talberts exchanged sad glances.
'Beatrice," said Horace, "is not here"
His voice was SO solemn that Franks
blood ran cold. Horace was not addicted to
the use of canting colloquialisns, but the
words were spoken In such way that Frank
believed mot here" must inevitably be
followed by "but gone above.n He was
immensely relieved when the speaker stopped
short.
"Not here" he said. "Gone out, you
mean. My greetings must wait"
The brothers eyes sought counsel Of one
another
Beatrice went to London yesterday
said Horace. Frank seemed much aston
ished
''To Londoni She left London only a few
days ago. Is she gone back to her father'sT
He was already framing excuses for leaving
Hazlewood House and returning to town
An ominous silence followed his question.
What is the inatteri Is anything wrongf'
he asked in great agitation.
"My dear Frank" said Horace "some-
thing strange has happened, but 1t is so
strictly family affair that we are consider
ing whether we ought 20 mention it to YOU.
Not but what your advice might be of sery-
ice to u.s."
Frank grew seriously alarmed "But I
am one of the family" he said hastily The
Talberts shook their heads doubtfuly. They
were not sure about it, The family con
sisted OF two, or, counting III Beatrice, three
at the outside.
81 have another right to know-a stronger
right STILL" said Carruthers, who was on
thorns of suspense. ''1hera is no reason
why should m kc n secret of it, ] have
loved Beatrice since the day We met. NV
one hope is to make her my wife. l claim
th' right to know anything that concerns
her."
The astonishment depicted OH the brothers
faces spoke volumes in favor of their trust
full natures or Franks circunspect lovemak-
ing. Good heavens, Frankr' CALCULATED
Horace.
"Yes; asked her to marry me before I
left here last autumn. She refused; was
now going to repeat my offer"
''She refused youf' asked Horace.
"Yes," said Frank, sadly. ''But what Is
the matter' For Heavens sake tell me-"
Herbert" said Horace, 81 believe this
gives us the clue to the mystery" Herbert
nodded.
'What cluei What mysteryi My good
fellows, don't you SEQ you are driving me
madT' said Carruthers.
Beatrice left us yesterday This morn
ing we received this letter" The letter was
handed to Frank, and whilst he read it the
brothers drew aside and talked in whispers
Franks astonishment need not be described
Like his cousins, he could only calculate,
"What does it meanr
Horace and Herbert came forward. Her.
bert spoke. As the romantic side of the
question had again turned up it was felt
right for him TO be spokesman. Frank"
he said, "we do not wish to misjudge you,
but the fact of Beatrices having refused you,
and Of your coming down to renew the offer,
makes us think that she must have fled to
avoid you. We know little about such mat
ters ourselves, but we have heard Of young
girls flying to get out Of the way of distaste-
ful-ahem, what shall l sayf-'
''Persecution," put in Horace.
mo, the word is too strong-distastefu
advances, Frank. This is, Of course, a mat
ter entirely between yourself and your con-
science"
As the Grafton proceeded Frank stared
from one to the other. Then he burst into n
short peal of laughter. In spite Of his anx-
powered him.
''There is nothing to laugh at Frank" said
Horace.
.There is madness, sheer madness in the
air, my good men," said Carruthers "Do l
look like man who woald subject woman
to distasteful persecution Hang It'll / am
prouder than you are i had Beatrice's per-
mission to come Pephaps you may know
that it was arranged that We should travel
down togetherT
They remembered that Beatrice had told
them this, and at once saw the folly of their
new theory. They apo!ogized hpmbly to
Frank. No men in this world could apologize
more gracefully than our friends. Then they
talked the whole matter over again, without
any result Frank did not say much. He
wanted solitude and quiet thought. BY and
by the wagonette came round TO the door.
"You must excuse our not having sent to
meet you," said Horace. 1.-The truth is the
roads are dirty and we could not have had
the wagonette cleaned in time to take US
out"
where are you going for drive r.
1--WE are going to make round Of calls"
Frank marveled, and thought that under
the circumstances this social amenity might
have been postponed.
ut is a painful most painful duty" said
Horace, "but we feel it must be done. We
must go round and indirectly give our friends
TO understand that Beatrice has left us under
every day circumstances to pay long pro-
missed visit in London. We can see no other
way of arresting inquiry and scandal"
Itwas after hearing this that Frank under
stood how truly great was Horace's nature.