Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-09-04

moment he could not SPEAK The sight of
Beatrice, the touch Of her hand sent the
blood rushing through his veins Days
weeks, months, he had pictured this meet
ing, and now it had come to passi
She was fairer than ever-faireF than
everl The pure classical features seemed
sven more perfect, the clear pale face more
beautiful, the dark gray eyes more wonder
full than Of old And, s she had given that
little cry Of joy, something had leapt into
her eyes which Carruthers had never before
seen there, OF never before seen SO clearly
and undisguisedlN The sururise of seeing
him had swept away caution, and for the
space Of two seconds, Frank was able to
read the very secret of her soul.
No wonder he held her hands and gazed
silently in her face. What had he to say
what could he say2 The certainty that she
loved him made his task no easier-the task
of telling her that he knew her secret, or at
least q great part Of 1.-THE task Of asking
her to conf1de in him and let him help her.
So he remained silent until she gently drew
her"hands from his.
The light had faded from Beatrice's face.
She also, after a moment Of forgetfulness,
was COAIlAN DdGk W AoI OWu WOEVu duu lS
troubles. Her eyes dropped and her face
clouded
"How did you find meF' she asked in
troubled tones.
"By a strange chance. will tell you how
some day.
'Tell me now"
Frank shook his head.
"Not now" he said. LET It suffice that
Ihave found you.n
"But," said Beatrice with agitation, do
others know-can others find me2 If you
learned it why not anotherT'
he saw the display Of fear, and FASTENED
to reassure her. mo one save myself can
learn 1t in the same way. Your retreat is
safe"
She sighed her relief. There was an
awkward pause. Frank was the first to
break it.
Beatrice" he said, II have come a long
way to see you have much to say-you
may have much to say to me. Can we go to
SOM place where we can talkp'
eyes, we can go to my home" Beatrice
called her boy, and Frank, glad of anything
to break the awkwardness Of the moment,
greeted the little fellow and made friends
with him to such purpose that be insisted
upon Mr.. CaTruthers holding his chubby
hand and walking with him.
"What a pity to cut that bright hair!H
said Frank to Beatrice.
at was more than pity-it was cruel, but
it was cruel necessity, II she said sadly.
Beatrice led the way to the house in which
she lived. She walked with her head bent
and as one in deep thought. She could moi
make up her mind whether to be glad OF
sorry at Franks coming. She saw, how,
ever, that 1t put an end to her present mode
of life. That it meant confession, revealing
Of everything. That it meant return t
England and to such friends as would still
be her friends. That if it meant shame anc
sorrow, it also meant safety and immunity
from persecution. She began to regret tina
she had yielded to Sarah's wish to 90 to Eng
land and see Hervey. But that was not O
much consequence. She felt sure that q
soon as Carruthers learned her history hel
affairs would pass into hands more compe
tent to deal with them than the hands q five
weak women. So on the whole her feeling,
we're those Of relief.
And yet for some, for one reason, Franl
was the last person she would have chosen
to whom to reveal her secrets. She shranl
from having to show the man she loved tina
her life for years had been one Of deceit
Now that the deceit had to be confessed {.
him, it seemed to lose all the innocent ma
ture which she had hitherto iattered hersel
it possessed. In short, If such a thing cal
ne imagined, Beatrice felt, as Carruther
once felt her to be, as an idol would fee
when just upon the point Of being hurlet
down from its PEDESTAL
Carruthers, who had his own THOUGHTS Il
trouble him, and to whom it seemed tina
n conventional remarks would at the pres
emit iuncture be mockery, respected he
meditations, so that, save for the lispin,
prattle OF the boy, silence reigned unit
Beatrice found herself in her room wit
Frank sitting near her. It struck her as s
strange that he Of all others should be here
that even now she wondered IL she wa
dreaming. She Stunned his eyes, fearing t
read reproach in them.
"How are they all at homer she asked
'How are my un6es, and dear old Hazle
woodp Her eyes filed with tears. He
emotion did not escape Carruthers
"They are all well,' he said. Il hear
from Herbert a few days ago. He sent m
your letter.
"Wfl they ever forgive meq' said Be-
trice. "Will they ever speak to me againl
81 hope so,n said Frank gravely. ''The
were, OF course, much vexed and UPSET.
Beatrice glanced at him n~ervously. Eve
he had but held out a hope of forgiveness
and he loved her. She wished he had NJ
come to Munich.
'sDo they know my reason for Ieavin
EnglandT' she asked, timldly.