Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-09-04


of its lying at the bankers. With their
praiseworthy regularity the trustees had
every half year paid their niece's income to
her account at Messrs. Furlongs, and as
Beatrice did not spend one-fifth of it the
money bred with its proverbial fecundity.
Until their niece came to stay with them
the Talberts had, without even consulting
her, invested all surplus income in good
dividend-paying preference OF debenture
stocks, chosen because they only paid four
per cent.-no well-advised borrower should
think of offering more than four per cent.
Doing so creates mistrust During the last
year Beatrice had asked them to let the
money lie at the bank. So at the bank it
was, as Horace said, not bearing fraction
of interest. 1t vexed him to see such waste.
Only at Christmas he had demonstrated
with her. "You are simply making our
friends -several members of the elongated
firm lived in the neighborhood-'a handsome
yearly present. Paying one of their clerks
salary, in fact"
Perhaps that was why Mr.. Stephens was
so attentive to me at dinner last week." said
Beatrice placidly.
''Oh, nonsense! It's a mere nothing to
them. But why should they have your
money for nothing, and lend it out at seven
or elgnJ per cenG.!
Beatrice could give no reason. She simply
said she wished it to remain as it was for
while. Horace and Herbert began to wonder
if she had afoot any scheme for endowing a
hospital or restoring the parish church.
However, the money lay idle and at cali,
and if Horace's explanation of the method
by which bankers make fortunes was correct,
the page in the red basil-covered ledger,
headed Beatrice Clauson," must have been
gratifying sight for the Messrs. Furlong
and the rest of the firm.
One morning-the very morning which
Mr.. Hervey had appointed for his second in
terview with Beatrice few minutes after
the respectable iveried porter had drawn
the bolts of the outer doors, and so pro-
claimed that the bank was ready for all
corners, check for one thousand pounds,
payable to ''self" or 'bearer' and signed
Beatrice Clauson" was handed across the
broad mahogany counter to the spruce cash
Ter.
He leaned across the counter and asked
her in the politest manner:
''How1-you-h av'-it?"
Mrs Miller would have five hundred in
gold, and five Bank of England notes for
one hundred pounds each. The money was
counted out. Mrs. Miller buttoned the notes
inside her dress. The bag of gold she placed
in her pocket, where with every movement
it bumped heavily but reassuringly against
her leg, and in dumb but painful show pro-
claimed that it was safe. Then she rejoined
her mistress and the cab carried them to
Blacktown railway station.
They booked to Paddington. As they
wanted no companions they entered ladies'
carriage. Every traveller knows that solitude
=. off
reserved exclusively for the fair sex. This is
a delicate compliment to man, but not, per-
haps, fully appreciated by such men who,
after eying vacant seats enviously, have to
enter carriage more than three parts full
of people.
The train started. For while Beatrice
sat as one in reverie. Mrs. Miller, who held
the boy, watched her face Beatrice sighed,
looked up and met her companions gaze.
ssHe will follow us, she said. She trembled
as she spoke. <.aa .l+
eyes, if he can find us. Poor dear! if he
can do so he'll hunt you to death. Well go
where he can't find us. There we'll wait
until he can trouble you no more, my sweet"
''Ah, when will that be?" sighed Beatrice.
ssWhen he is struck down. When nv
prayers are answered When you look on his
dead face, and know that you are free!n
ssHush! hush! How can you dare to pray
for mans deaths Even I, whom he has so
wronged, could not force my lips to form
that prayer"
ooh, my dear! my dear! that is different
You would be praying for yourself God
would not listen; but I pray only for you
and He will"
Sarah, be SILENT" said Beatrice. She had
always set her face sternly against her maids
religious flights. But Mrs. Miller's excite
ment had by now reached pitch which re-
sisted even Beatrice's commands.
s'See!" she said in thrilling tones, which
made even the child open his eyes in wonders
ment, '1ast night sign came to me, dream,
I looked down from somewhere and saw nv
self as I must be, as it was fixed should be
before the world began, where the worm
dieth not"
'sMy poor Sarah, be calm"
''Where the fire is not quenched. I saw
myself, and I saw him. He was close at
hand. Oh, God means to strike, and soon,
very soon." fs.s
Her voice had such intensity, her ewes such
wild look in them, that little Harry, who
had watched her in that spell.bound manner
COMMON to reflective children came to the
conclusion that something was wrong, and
set up lusty roar.
t'See,n said Beatrice, reproachfully, ''you
have frightened the boy"
The woman grew calm at once. The blaze
of fanaticism faded from her face, and she
was once more the attentive nurse and faith
full servant The train hurried them EDWARDS
on their fight.
Flight! Yes, it was flight! Hervey's
threat had struck home. 1t had carried con-
viction. Beatrice never doubted his asser-
ton that although it might be impossible for
him to force her to come to his side, he could
legally take the boy from her. She deter
mined to fly, leave no trace, hide for while,
and let the man in her absence do his worst.
If he told her friends the tale of the marriage
it would at least save her from the pain
of so doing. She had not yet settled whittier
to go, but she meant tonight to be out Of
England.
The little boy as was usual when he ap-
peared in public, had attracted much atten-
ton while they waited on the Blacktown
platform. So great is the interest excited
by such perfect specimen of childhood that
every woman and not a few men turned and
looked after him. At the first stoppage a
lady who saw him through the window
actually fetched her husband out of the
refreshment room to look at his golden hair.
She was but young wife, or she might
have known better. Pleasing as such admit
ration must have been to Beatrice, it seemed
to trouble Mrs. Miller As the train re-
sumed its course she turned to Beatrice.
'It must be done, my dear. 1t must be
donen
Beatrice who now had the boy, Rugged
him tightly. 81 wonit-I can't do it," she
said
eve shall be traced all over the world by
it, my DEAR" said Mrs. Miller, sadly.
"Oh, Sarah! 1t is too cruel-too cruel!
See, let us twist it up and hide it."
Herewith she twisted up Harrys sunny
locks, turned them over on the top of his head,
and fastened them with hairpin. His cap
was replaced, and very comical the boy looked
with his hair growing upwards.
And very pretty he looked when, a minute
afterwards, thinking this was a new sort of
game, he shook off his cap, shook out the
knot, and, presto! down fell the glowing
cloud again.
It was tucked up again. twas shaken out
again-and again and again, 1t was fine
sport for the baby, but Beatrice began to
glance timidly at her maid, who shook her