The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-08-22

though he saw from his brothers face thai
something strange had happened, was fo
once unable to mako the slightest GUESS a
the truth. Here is Beatrices letter:
"My Very Dear Uncles: should be migrate
full for the kindness you have shown me if
left you in any anxiety moment longer thar
could help. sent you telegram yester
day afternoon to show you that no evil, haG
hefallep me- -,.,. c.
| 81 scarcely know what to say to you
can at present oiYer no excuse for what | an
about TODD lean give no axplanatio J.. Wher
came to Hazlewood House | hoped to IN
able to make It my home for SO long as You
would Keep me- Now, find, I am forced t.
leave you ard make q home of my own. More
over, am forced for a while at least to ,keer
silence as to where that home may be. AT
this moment have not even determined. II
will, however, he out of England. Icannot
\ even tell you why this must be 50. Viii you
ever forgive me' .rr D., '.-..t..,
Please do not fear on my account. I am
growing old and can well take care of my.
self; besides, Mrs Miller will be with me,
also Harry, so that l shall not be dull.
IF cannot promise to tell you whore
am | will at least let you hear from me now
and them Please, oh, please, do not try and
trace me, but do endeayor to think kindly of
your loving but unhappy niece, Beatrice"
''sWhat does it mean, Herbert;' said Hor-
ace in sepulchral tones.
| .'What can it meanN echoed Herbert
They sat staring at one another aud feel
ing that such an unlocked for catastrophe
had never before happened since the world
began to be peopled by ladies and gentlemen.
| Their niece, the feminine counterpart of
themselves; the embodiment, to their minds,
\ of all that a weIl-bred, well-born woman
| should he, to be guilty of such an escapade
It. was awful, perfectly awful! .'...
They read the letter again and again.
discussed the meaning Of sentences, even of
words; hut this Analysing process helped
them nothing. So they turned to reconsider
| in a new light Beatrice herself a, they knew
her or fancied they knew her. {
Although neither of the Talberts had ever
felt the tender passion, it was thought by
many that if either We're attacked Herbert
would be the victim A widow anxious to
re-enter the holy estate of matrimony would
have directed her attention to the younger
man as being Of more malleabe material
than the elder. There was, indeed, vague
tradition floating about that Herbert had
once upon time looked rather tenderly upon
some young lady, and that had not Horace
with praiseworthy selfshness promptly inter-
fered aud nipped the affair in the bud he,
Horace, might now be living in solitude with
all the cares Of Lakewood House on his
shoulders. SO it was Herbert who first ap-
preached the puzzle from the romantic side.
"You don't think" he said, 'that Beatrice
could have any-any unfortunate attach
ment of which we should have dsapprovedW
"How could such thing be posslblef'
"We thought such thing as her leaving
us like this an impossibility."
This argument impressed Horace. He
thought. the matter carefully over NO."
be said, with the air OF judge giving de-
cision,, lit is impossible. She has given no
signs of such thing. She has seemed quite
happy and coptented Hs appetite has,
think, been very good" .y-... .j...
eyes, very good" said Herbert. .,, TO-.
Besides who could there bel She is also
her own mistress, and if she wished to marry
we have no voice in the matter. She is quite
capable of having her, own way. Witness
her leaving all that money idle"
Horace had never got over that present of
Ieven per cent to the bankers. d., r.-.
Herbert in obedience to his brothers views,
dismissed the unfortunate attachment theory
and began to look for another. II wonder"
he said sadly, and after long pause, ~
Wonder if we have misunderstood Beatrice's
:haracterF'
81 am almost afraid it is So" said Horace
''She seemed so quiet and contented,"
dghed Herbert "True, that affair about
those people and the boy upset her."
SNOW" said Horace, 81 believe you are
getting nearer the mark Can it De possible
shht any fear that the child would be taken
from her induced her to make this foolish
dight-I can call 1t nothing elsef' 3D..
Herbert objected in his turn. Beatrice had
been SO certain that the claim would come to
nothiasg, and events had proved her sagacity.
So they talkectand talked, Suggested and rea-
'Oned, but never got near the truth. They
could not even lframeIa theory! Nothing in
this world 4 more annoying than to be:with-
cut theory. O.: r-Ea o. o II
AT last Horace rose "Something must be
lone. he said- decisively. go l. - o."
Yes assente1 Herbert, inauiringiy.
I'VE are, it appears to me, placed in a
most unfortunate position. This mysterious
flight involves the most grievous' conse
luences. We must do something which Il
feel sure, will be repugnant to both of u.s.
You will not employ any one to trace
berr "a ar ,.,.. u, 90, ,..pa 40. .ai.'
Certainly not. She is her own,mstress,
and can go where she, chooses, i am, think.
ing more about ourselves Life will become
mtolerable if the matter gets bruted
abroad"
How can we help itl All the household
knows that Beatrice has gone, and gone with
put any Luggage 7tt I't
That" said Horace, with mild triumph,
81 have thought out" He rang the bell and
asked for the parlor maid ',' - '''' ..''
Jane" hs said, miss Clauson has been
called to London. Will you be good enough
10 get such, things packed in her trunks as she
klikely to want for a lengthy visit; also pack
the nurses box and the child's things
Jane cpurtesied and withdrew, Presently
she returned aud pSked, how many dresses
she had better packl
1.-Two morning and four evening dresses"
aid Horace, promptly. Herbert admired
his brothers great mind, which rose 50 equal
to the occasion.
Then Jane wanted to know which dresses.
The two new ones, of course. Then what
The black sinx, the black lace, the high body
with JET trimmings, the brocade upper skirt
or whatf For the moment even Horace was
at fault He soon recovered
A"1Ne will come and assist you" he said.