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

| should have been shaken In soufe way anu
appeared cloudy, not to say thick. It might
| have been as thick as pea soup for all Frank
| cared.
| Nothing, or next to nothing, was said dur
| ing dessert about the recent painful event.
| Frank sat n cody and silent. He was work
/ ing out problems; connecting Beatrice's flight
with the man of the afternoon and the visit
to the inn. For Beatrices sake he was now
| fighting for his own hand Horace and Her.
| bert he eliminated from the inquiry.
His moodiness affected his hosts, and UPON
his refusal to take more wine they suggested
an adjournment to the drawing-room. Frank
agreed readily. At any rate he could sit
there and gaze at Beatrice's portrait
DO you mean to take any further stepss'
he asked
II think not" said Horace Herbert and
have talked the matter over and feel there
is no more to be done. We saw great
many people this afternoon, and am sure
have left general impression that Beatrice
has gone to visit friends
sit was most painful duty said Her
bert, ''but one we felt must be performed.
In fact it was due to ourselves to forestall
gossip"
II am sure Frank quite understands the
situation said Horace.
A satirical smile curled round Franks
lips. SIT must have been most painful" he
said; 'you must have felt like two Spartan
boys with joint fox under their clothes
YES" said Herbert, simply; 'we did"
Il have often heard the smile used" said
Horace, 'but its great strength never struck
me until now"
Carruthers gave Short quick laugh; he
could not help it. The brothers looked sur
prised. They could see no reason for any
approach to merriment. A biting sarcasm
came to the young mans lips, but he re-
strained it, and in moment was glad he
had done so. 1t would have wounded these
two kind, mild-looking men, who, no doubt,
were as unable to realize the anxiety raised
in his breast by Beatrice's flight, as he was
unable to comprehend the Importance of the
consequences which they were making such
sacrifices to avert Seeing things in the
same light is a matter of constitution, educa-
tion, and training
Just then Whitaker brought in tea and
whilst he handed it round Frank had leisure
to rejoice, insomuch as he had kept his tongue
in command. But misfortune had not yet
done with Hazlewood House. Frank, in
moving his ARM knocked down cup, and
sent it's scalding contents over one of the
several delicious little Chippendale tables,
the pride of the Talberts' hearts and the envy
of their lady friends.
The simile of the Spartan boy and the fox
must have seemed even more appropriate to
Horace and Herbert as they smilingly assured
Frank it was of no consequence, none what
ever. They did not even ring for aid. This,
however, was because Whitaker, who had
witnessed the catastrophe, was already on
his way to the scene with an armful of soft
cloths. He mopped and dabbed and wiped
the table as tenderly as a mother might per-
form the additions of an infant who suffered
from some irritation of the skin. Horace
and Herbert watched him for while, and
then, no doubt thinking their apparentcare-
lessness had eased Franks mind, Joined in
the rubbing and wiping. They twisted up