Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-10-23

tltic. Lazy (laIlSpl Knew she WAS lrlproy.
ing herself, and moreover, that Sir Maingay
was saving enough money 10 refUrniSh the
town house from top TO bottom whenever
they did return 10 England. In the course OF
the four Years spent abroad, Lady ClauSon
rectified her predecessors sins of omission,
and gave her devoted husband two fine boy.
babies In the revived delights Of paternity
"a paternity which is 50 especially dear to
middle aSe-Sir Maingay thought little OF
tho Troublesome, obstinate girl he had left in
England. His wife and his boys all b3t
turned her out of his heart. So L,re WAS
Beatrice i'll the extraordinary position of
being baronet's daughter with scarcely q
a friend in the world.
At last the ClausonS returned to England.
Whether her ladyShip wrote her book or not
is matter of uncertainty; anyway, it was
never published. Beatrice made no objection
TO rejoining the family circle Her father
and his wife found her greatly changed She
was quieter, moro reserved. more amenahle
to reason. 1t seemed to Sir Maingay that she
had passed her time at Mrs. Erskine's in study
The learning she had acquired almost fright
encd the baronet; but he was glad to see she
had grown into q beautiful woman and 81
he felt quite proud Of his neglected daughter.
and hoped that things would for the future
run smoothly.
His hopes were vain. This time there was
no doubt as to with whom the fault lay. A
beauty like Lady Clauson could not endure
tho constant presence of n younger frcShcr
and even more beautiful beauty. She was
also jealous at the way in which her own chill
dren took to Beatrice. Besides, she had never
forgiven the girl Relations soon grow
strained, and towards the end OF tho year
Beatrice wrote 10 her uncies, and asked if
they would give her home
She was now nearly twenty-threc. Having
when she came Of age succeeded to her late
mothers third of old Talbert' possessions she
was independent both by age and by income
She was willing to live at Lakewood House. if
her uncles would take her. If not, she re-
solved to start an establishment of her own
She was still in her former anomalous posi-
tion-a baronet's daughter who had never
made proper entrance into society. As Lady
ClauSou said, she must have been a wrong
minded young woman, as this emission
seemed to trouble her very little.
The TalbertS who liked the little they had
seen of their niece went into solemn conclayo
on the request They decided in the event Of
Sir Maingay giving his consent-on that point
they were most exacting-she might come to
Beatrice Clauson came to Lakewood House,
where since her arrival, about week ago,
she had lived in n state of amused wonder as
the amiabe peculiarities of the "Tabbies"
gradually revealed themselves to her.
She had, of course, intended to make herself
useful to her uncles. 1t may have been the
want of some occupation other than study
which made her turn her eyes to Hardwood
House and the two bachelors. She was no
longer n schoolgirl, SO at once broadly limited
that she was willing to regulate their house
hold matters. The silent horror with which
the proposal was received told her at once that
her place was to be sinecue She saw that
her unclcs would on no account dream of in
trusting their researches into domestic econ
omy to any hands save their own, and the sur
passing capability of those hands was deeply
impressed upon her when, the day after her
arrival, she found Uncle Horace bending over
the maid who did the plain sewing, and in the
patientest and gravest way teaching her the
most approved fashion of handling needle
and thread.
After having lived at Hazlewood House for
q week Miss Clauson must have been ready to
welcome any event of interest 1t is no won
der that when Horace Talbert, at Mr.. Nor
dies suggestion, walked into the drawing
room and told his niece what had happened,
her curiosity and excitement rose to high
pitch.
SIS it pretty child:r she asked
''Wonderfully so. Mordle and Herbert are
petting it like n couple OF women"
Beatrice did not run at once to see fer her
self. "What do you mean to do about it.,
uncle Horacen' she asked
II don't know. suppose we must keep il
till tomorrow and see if the mystery is ex-
planned. You had better come out and give
us your advice"
5 Beatrice walked into the hall. The child
had made great progress during lIoraces
absence. The Curate was tickling him and
making him laugh Herbert was strold "
his bright hair i'll quite paternal way
Even the respectable Whitaker was snlling
pleasantly.
what dear litt,e mani" exclaimed
Beatrice, as she walked to the table aIIt;
looked at the sturdy urchin.
Size was the first woman the child had seen
since lie left his friends at the refreshment
room. Maid servants, with tho curiosity of
their sex and kind, had peeped surTeptitiously
over tho balustradc, but had not attracted
notice. 1T such tender age as his, woman
isa Ciiid's natural protector. He ut once
quilted his stalwart friends and ran across
the table to the fair girl, who smiled and
orened her arms. Tho little man darted into
them, and with chiITup of delight laid his
head ON the girls shoulder and seemed per-
fectly happy and at rest. lie was SO pretty
that no woman could have refraincd cGon ca
ressing lin. Miss Clauson kissed LlIl again
end again, then, like every one who came
near kim, fell to strol;ing his golden locks
and twhing them round her fingers. The
child's eyes began to close under her soft and
soothing touches.
"He must 20 to bod, said Beatrice, de
cisively.
Certainly" said uncle Horace. ''Whcrc
had he better sleep"
rJane hes Iaost comfortable bed" said
Herbert,
Jane was the pa-lor-maid but Herbert In
his housewifely capacity knew the quality Of
every bed in the house; even tie amount Of
bedding on each. Mr.. Mordle turned away.
lie vas afraid cf dsgracing himself by a
burst Ct iIl-tinel llir,h
NO, ~" exclaimed Beatrice; ''hc shall
sleep with me. Look at him, uncle Horace,
isn't he e perfect cherubE"
Hes a pretty little boy; bps we don't
know where be comes from, my dear. hardly
think you ought to take strnnge infant to
sleep with YOU
'tOh, nonsense, uncle Horacci See what
clean, beautiful boy it is. Whitaker, send a
large can Of hot water 10 my room. Come,
ny pet / viii see how can act the part Of q
nursenaid.
Singing and grooming and carrying the
child In tbs most approved fashion, Miss
Clauscn proceeded to bear her prize away,
you had better look at bis linen,
Beatrice, said Horace. 1T may be marked
with his Eane.7
dining-room and talked the curious occur
renee over and over.
In about half an hours time Beatrice reap
peared with the intelligence that the boys
clothing bore no mark of any kind. Indeed.
it all seemed brand new. She was apparently
much delighted with her new toy She kept
running up and down stairs, TO ascertain that
her protege was sleeping the sleep Of innocent
babyhood. At last she vent away alto
gether.
Beatrice Is more demonstratiye than be-
heved her to be" said Horace, regretfully.
Herbert echoed the regret, but Mr. Mordle
said nothing. He thought the instructive
kindness she showed towards this mystcri-
ously sent child added another charm TO the
many be bad already discoyeredin Mis- Clau-
Son
The three men sal together until It was too
late to hope that matters would be cleared mp
that night. No mother, no telegram came.
The curate babe his friends good night end
walked back to his lodgings in the village,
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