Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-07-03

|
The Talberts who liked the little they had
| seen of their niece went into solemn conclave
on the request. They decided, in the event of
Sir Maingay giving his consent-on that point
| they were most exacting-she might come to
them. Sir Maingay raised no objections, SO
Beatrice Clauson came to Hazlewood House,
| where since her arrival, about week ago,
she had lived in state Of amused wonder as
the amiable peculiarities Of the 'Tabbies'
gradually revealed themselves to her.
She had, Of course, intended to make herself
useful to her uncles. It may have been the
want of some occupation other than study
which made her turn her eyes to Hazlewood
House and the two bachelors. She was no
longer schoolgirl, SO at once broadly limited
that she was willing to regulate their house
hold matters. The silent horror with which
the proposal was received told her at once that
her place was to be q sinecure. She saw that
her uncles would on no account dream of in
trusting their researches into domestic econ
omy to any hands save their own, and thesur-
passing capability of those hands was deeply
impressed upon her when, the day after her
| arrival, she found Uncle Horace bending over
tn maid who did the plain sewing, and in the
pat, sntest and gravest way teaching her the
most approved fashion of handling needle
| and thu ,,ead. le
| After l.
week Misx Clauson must have been ready to
welcome any' event of interest. It is o won
| der that when Horace Talbert, at Mr.. Nor
dies suggestion. walked into the drawing
room and told his. niece what had happened,
her curiosity and excitement rose to high
pitch. $3.50"
SIS it a pretty child. - she asked
! t.Wonderfully So M ordle and Herbert are
petting it like couple Of women"
Beatrice did not run at ouce to see for her
self. tsWhat do you mean to DO about 1t,
uncle Horaceg' she asked
ST don't know. suppose we must keep 1t
! till tomorrow and see if the m, ystery is ex-
| planned. You had better come cut and give
| us your advice"
Beatrice walked into the hail. Tbs child
| had made great progress during ltoraces
! absence. The curate was tickling him and
| making him laugh. Herbert was strCKlng
| his bright hair in quite paternal way.
| Even the respectable Whitaker was smiling
| pleasantly. g.es
"What dear little mani" exclaimed
| Beatrice, as she walked to the table and
| looked at the sturdy urchin. =
| Shewas the first woman the child had seen
| since he left his friends ut the refreshment
\ room. Maid servants with the curiosity OF
| their sex and kind, had pceped surreptitious.T
| over the balustrade, but had not attracted
notice. At such tender age as his, woman
| lisa chiId's natural protector. He at once
! Quilted his stalwart friends and ran across
| the table to the fair girl who smiled and
| opened her arms The little man darted into
them, and with a chirrup of delight laid his
head On the girls shoulder and seemed per-
| fectly happy and at rest. He was so pretty
that no woman could have refrained from ca
CnoA HI
| and again, then, like every one who came
near him, fell to stroking his golden locks
and twining them round her fingers, The
| child's ewes began to close under her soft and
soothing touches.
ssHe must go to bed, said Beatrice, de-
cisiyely. 2G
Certainly" said uncle Horace. ''Where
had he better sleep?'
.sJane has most comfortable bed" said
Herbert. f.e.
Jane was the parlor-maid, but Herbert in
his housewifely capacity knew the quality OF
every bed in the house; even the amount of
bedding on each Mr.. Mordle turned away.
| He was afraid of disgracing himself by
burst of ill-timed mirth.
tNo, no." exclaimed Beatrice; she shall
sleep with me. Look at him, uncle Horace;
isn't be perfect cherubs"
'He's a pretty little boy; but we don't
know where he comes FROM my dear. hardly
think you ought to take strange infant to
sleep with yoll" s.s
''Oh, nonsense, uncle Horacel See what a
clean, beautiful boy it is Whitaker, send
large can of no water to my room. Come,
| nv pet I will sea- how can act the part of a
nursemaid."
| Singing and CT coming and carrying the
child in the most approved fashion, Miss
| Clauson proceeded to bear her prize away.
"You had better look at his linen,
with his name"
After this the three men went back to the
dining-room and talked the curious occur
| renee over and over. -fti4
In about half an hours time Beatrice reap
peared with the intelligence that the boys
| clothing bore no mark OF any kind. Indeed,
| it all seemed brand new. She was apparently
much delighted with her new toy. She kept
| running up and down stairs to ascertain that
her protege' sleeping the sleep OF innocent
| babyhood.r. At last she went away alto
| gether. ~. s.sf..
Beatrice is more demonstrat;ve than be-
ieved her to BE-" said Horace, regretfully
Herbert echoed the regret, but Mr.. Mordle
said nothing. He thought the instructive
kindness she showed towards this mysteri-
|
many he had already discoveredin Miss Clau-
son. ~ . -a.s Ia
| The three men sat together until it was too
! late to hope that matters would be clearedup
that night. No mother, no telegram came.
| The curate babe his friends good night and
walked back to his lodgings in the village,
thinking what charming picture Miss Clau-
| son with the child in her arms made. Poor
! Mr.. Mordle! He had only known Beatrice
week, and was already beginning to dream a
foolish dream. -g..g.4
The brothers continued sitting one on either
side of the fire. They were not early-to-bed
people. Now that they were alone they said
little more about the arrival For three hours
they had been discussing every possible the
ory which might account for the childs ap-
pearance among them, SO the subject was
threadbare, and they sat in silence trying to
| invent fresh causes Suddenly most curious
and startling suspicion entered Horace Tai
berts mind-a suspicion which now and again
| made him glance at his brother. Could Her