Sword and shield., 1885-10-17
uo9I heavens. Frank

NAMING. MoDI HOdNtIlS, Iidllh.
ed Horace.
Yes; asked her to marry me before
left here last autumn. She refused; was
now going to repeat my Offer"
'She refused your asked Horace.
Yes" said Frank, sadly But what is
the matter? For Heavens sake tell me-"
Herbert" said Horace, Il believe this
gives us the clue TO the mystery Herbert
nodded.
What clue9 What mystery? My good
fellows, don't You see you are driving me
made" said CarrnthcrS.
Beatrice left us yesterday. This morn
ing we received this letter" The letter was
handed to Frank, and whist he read it the
brothers drew aside and talked in whispers
Franks ast0nishment need not be described
Like his cousins, he could only calculate,
'What does it mean?
Horace and Herbert came forward. Her
bert spoke. As the romantic side of the
question had again turned up, it was felt
right for him to be spokesman. Prank" he
said 1--WE do not wish to miSjudge You, but
the fact of Beatrice's having refused you,
and of your coming down to renew the offer,
makes us think that she mast have fled to
avoid You. We know little about such mat
terS ourselves, but we have heard Of young
girls flying to get out of the way Of distaSte-
ful-ahem, what shall say?-"
Persecution" put III Horace.
"N0, the word is too Str0ng-diStaStefu adj
yances, Frank. This is, OF course, a matter
entirely between yourself and your con-
science"
AS the Grafton proceeded Frank stared
from one TO the other. Then he burst into
a short peal of laughter. In spite Of his anx-
iety about Beatrice, the situation oyerpoWer-
ed him.
There is nothing to laugh at, Frank"
said Horace.
'There is madness, sheer madness i'll the
air, my good men" said Camuthers. "Do |
look like man who would subject woman
to distaSteful persecution? Hang it! | am
prouder than you are. had Beatrice's per-
mission to come. Perhaps you may know
that It was arranged that we should travel
down together"
They remembered that Beatrice had told
them this and al once saw the folly of their
new theory. They ap0logized humbly TO
Frank. No men in this world could apollo
gize more gracefully than our friends. Then
they talked the whole matter over again,
without any result Frank did not say much.
lie wanted solitude and quiet thought. BY
and by the Wagpnctte came round to the
door.
y or must excuse oar not having sent to
meet YOU, said Horace. Tine truth is the
roads are dirty and we could not have had
the wagonette cleaned III time to take us
out"
Where are you going; for a driye?'
We are going To make a round of calls
Frank manelled, and thought that under
the circumstances this social amenity might
have been postponed.
1T is a painful, HoSt painful duty said
Horace, but W feel il must De done. We
must % roundand indirectly give our friends
70 understand that Beatrice has left us under
everyday circumstances, To pay a long pro-
missed visit in London. We can see no other
WAY Of amesting inquiry and scandal"
Ii was after hearing this that Frank I'M
dcrstood how truly great was Iloracc's nat
IRE. The brothers drove of So far as
time would allow they called upon every
one they could think o.. They called uron
Lady BoWkeT who llai known them from
boys; they called upon 'Irs Catesbv. the
Stately. ; q "i's}It. Nsll10N(ftu ana hctter
connected widow who loved artistic society;
they G: Fed upon the rtctor's wife; upon the
Purtone. upon the Fletchers, upon many
aristoe. j" and 4 few simply opulent per-
sons. Being such universal favorites with
the ladies they had 10 Scrlplc in continuing
their calls even To TIE very last moment al
lowed ~ society. They they drove home
feeling they had done all then could to throw
i curtain over Bedtrice's extraordinary in
li.crniiAiL