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

been troubling him greatly, namely, Bea-
trce's abrupt departure from London. But
| hero he could see no strong motive. The
claim was abandoned, or at least lay quies-
| cent. Besides, Beatrice, rs he Judged her.
was far more likely to fight than to fly
lie dismissed anything TO do with the boy,
| or at least put IL aside TO be inquired into
collaterally.
| II bert, too, had hinted his idea about an
, att lchment. Frank having ascertained
| that no shadow Of suspicion Of such a thing
hung over Beatrice, sternly put it out Of
| sight. Besides, there were one or two recol-
| lections which he carried always with him
and which rendered such vulgar, unworthy
| explanation something not far short Of
sacriege.
He recko ,ed Beatr loo a woman Of superior
abilities, logical and perfectly able to forcsee
consequences. He felt that she would not
have at1ed as she had acted without care
| fully considering what it entailed. No ro-
mantle, girlish impulse had hurried her
away; no cccentriclty Of character had led
her TO shape such a course The reason,
whatever it might be, was 10 her mind am.
| ply sufficient
she was unhappy. Her own words said
so. Did some danger ovorhang heri Did
| some evil threaten herf What dangerf
| What evili Why could not he, Frank Car
| ruthcrs, be at her side to shield and add
| Heaven knows he would do it and seok no
! reward.
He groaned. He was very miserable and
| cast down. 1t was in this very room he had
| bemoancd his first sorrow. He had recovered
| from that and had encouraged bimself to
hope that tlM woman he loved would, after
all, he his. And now to come and find her
| gone-gone without word-gone no one
IA,
| that she was flying from some menacng evil
! and yet not know what. He was very un-
happy
lie had come down with such news for her
| news which even a friend she would
| have been glad to hear. He had breathed no
| word of it t. 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 ho bitterly called
| fools lie had for years been a thrifty man,
| and the money he had saved was not a small
| sum- For years he had dreamed of literature
| As profession, and now he saw his way to a
| realization of that dream. His political
articles Ind attracted attention. He had
been offered an important journalistic post.
| A 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 bade the
classic town farewell.
1t seemed as if, whenever he counted on
draining the cup of joy, it was struck from
his lipsl
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 flight appeared in far
more serious light than it did to her uncles.
He must go and look at her portrait There
was fine one in the drawing room. He
went there, stood before it for a long time,
and 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 rctrace his steps to the
library. As he crossed the hall lie 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 a 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 moro
strongly with the feeling that unusual things
were happening at Lakewood House than
the sight of this respectable old retainer in
such abnormal difficulties
"Whats the matter.' he said, going to the
door
Its a man, Mr.. Carruthers," pulled out
Whitaker.
'What does he wantf'
'IIe asked for Miss Clauson, sir; told
him she was away from home.'
"Well, what thenr' Frank grew inter
ested The parties outside and inside re-
manned in the deadlock.
He asked for her address, sir; told him
/ did not know"
''Well, what thenF'
'He called me damned liar, Mr.. Car
ruthers," said Whitaker, with supreme
emotion, and in a voice so low that it showed
how ashamed he was of the occurrence-"a
damned liar, sir" The repetition sounded
almost fearful.
"Open the door and let me have look ut
him. said Frank
~ wouldn't, Mr.. Carruthers, IL I were
you, sir, believe he meditates making an
attack of personal violence"
"Never mind, opea 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
f,,. fn, ,,gttl m h,.,, lie
A strong looking, muscular fellow, dressed
in the very height of fashion-too far up, in
fact, to look n 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 Tecalcitrant 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 flight occurred to him. 1t completely
threw him OFF his balance, made him disre-
spectful to tho old servant, and even when
that functionary replied as a 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.
"WellF' he said, coldly.
~ wish to repeat a few inquiries which
made of tho servant when he so uncivilly
shut the door in my face" said Hervey.
Il beg to repeat the servants al 3wers
which you so uncivlly received, said Frank.
"You do not know her addrcssp
'If you arc speaking Of Miss Clauson,
do not"
Hervey hesitated.