Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-09-11

so. Dld some aanger overnang ner! DID
some evil threaten hers What danger?
What evil? Why could not he, Frank Car
ruthers, be at her side to shield and aida
| Heaven knows he would do it and seek no
| reward.
He groaned He was very miserable and
cast down. It was in this very room he had
bemoaned his first sorrow. He had recovered
from that and had encouraged himself to
hope that the woman he loved would, after
| ALL be his. And now to come and find her
| gone-gone without a word-gone no one
knew whither-no one knew whyl To feel
| that she was flying from some menacing evil
and yet not know what. He was very I'M
happy.
| He had come down with such news for her
| news which even as a friend she would
| have been glad to hear. He had breathed no
| word OF it to her in London; had resolved to
| say nothing about it until all was settled
| At last he saw his way to giving up the
| drudgery of teaching what he bitterly called
fools. He had for years been thrifty man,
and the money he had saved was not small
sum. For years he had dreamed of literature
as profession, and now he saw bis way to q
realization of that dream. His political
articles had attracted attention. He had
| been offered an important journalistic post.
manuscript from which he expected great
things was in the printers hands. He saw a
certain amount of renown if not fortune
waiting for him. All this he had come down
to tell Beatrice before he went back to Ok
ford, wound up his affairs, and babe the
classic town farewell.
1t seemed as if, whenever he counted on
draining the cup of joy, it was struck from
his lips!
He must find Beatrice. Sacred as her wish
not to be traced might be to Horace and
Herbert, Frank felt that it did not affect
him. He would not of course stoop to call
ing in detective aid, but the utmost he could
do to solve the mystery should be done. To
Frank, Beatrice's fight appeared in far
more serious light than it did to her unclea
de must go and look at her portrait There
was fine one in the drawing room. He
vent there, stood before it for a long time,
nd to the representation of herself vowed
that she was the fairest woman on earth,
well worthy for man to live or die for.
Then he began to retrace his steps to the
library As he crossed the hall he saw a
strange sight.
Whitaker, the irreproachable the digni-
fed, with indignation written in every line
Of his black-coated limbs, was standing at
the front door against which he leaned his
full weight, whilst with his right hand he
was struggling with some object which pre-
vented him from quite shutting the door.
Closer examination showed Frank that this
was the end, about six inches, of stout
walking stick-a contemplate object, yet, as
it was held, powerful enough to foil the old
servants efforts Whitaker was putting and
blowing, not so much from his exertions as
from anger His face was as red as turkey
cocks Nothing impressed Frank more
strongly with the feeling that unusual things
were happening at Lakewood House than
the sight of this respectable old retainer in
such abnormal difficulties.
''What's the matter?' he said going to the
door.
otis man, Mr. Carruthers," pulled out
Whitaker
'What does he wants'
''He asked for Miss Clauson, sir; I told
him she was away from home"
sWell, what thenY' Frank grew inter-
ested. The parties outside and inside re-
manned in the deadlock
eHe asked for her address, sir; / told him
did not know"
"Wel, what then?'
'He called me damned liar, Mr. Car
ruthers," said Whitaker, with supreme
emotion, and in voice so low that it showed
how ashamed he was of the occurrence-'a
damned liar, sir.n The repetition sounded
almost fearful
''Open the door and let me have look at
him." said Frank.
81 wouldn't, Mr. Carruthers, if I were
you, sir. I believe he meditates making an
attack of personal violence"
''Never mind; open the door. He won't
personal violence me, and you can stand be-
hind me-"
This, as he was head and shoulders taller
than Frank, Whitaker felt to be sarcasm.
However, being accustomed to obey, he
opened the door, and Frank found himself
face to face with man about his own age.
A strong looking, muscular fellow, dressed
in the very height of fashion-too far up, in
fact, to look a gentleman.
Maurice Hervey, of course. Having given
Beatrice more than "a hours grace, he put in
execution his threat of looking her up. Not
that he expected to see her; not that he was
prepared with plan of action in case she
proved recalcitrant; but he knew the call
would alarm her 1t was only when he heard
from Whitaker that she was out of town
that the idea Of her attempting to evade him
by fight occurred to him. 1t completely
threw him off his balance, made him disre-
spectful to the old servant, and even when
that functionary replied az gentleman's
servant should in such straits reply, by simply
closing the door, induced him to put his
stick between the door and the post.
Hervey looked at Frank; Frank, little
guessing what this mans existence meant to
him and Beatrice, looked at Hervey.
"Wells" he said, coldly.
IT wish to repeat few inquiries which
made of the servant when he so uncivilly
shut the door in my face" said Hervey.
81 beg to repeat the servants answers
which you so uncivilly received, said Frank.
"You do not know her address,"
eff you are speaking of Miss Clauson,
do not"
Hervey hesitated.
''You are not Mr. Talbertr he said.
s'I am not, :" said Frank, coldly.
'tMr. Talbert can no doubt give me the in
formations"
''No doubt. But I presume he will want
to know your reasons for asking"
CPL wait and see him.
IT don't think you will. Of course I have
no power to prevent your calling again, but
you will not wait here"
Hervey scowled. "Will you try and turn
me out?' he said, defiantly.
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