Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-08-09
CHAPTER XVI.

AIteT one UT Two UNSUCCESSFUL attempfs
Carruthers found Mrs John Rawlings in.
stalled behind the family counter at No 142
Gray street. She was very hard at work
no doubt endeay ring to make up for her
husbands repeated absences. In her hands
she held what appeared like long salmon.
colored two-inch rope, which. by dexterous
twist of the wrist, or some manipulation only
known to the initiated, she was rapidly trans.
forming into ornamental and symmetrical
festoons of those luscious articles Of diet,
sausages. LpIn learning that Carruthers
wished to speak to her IN privat, she wipei
her hands ON a cloth, and, lifting up a flap.
or specie, of drawbriIge in the counter
begged he would step through and follow
her upstairs
He did SO, and was shown into what Mrs.
Rawlings called the parlor; a room paperei
with a startling paper, carpeted with a
dazzling carpet; furnished with imitation
walnut chairs and couch upholstered in the
brightest blue tapestry; the mantepiece
bearing mirror in FURNISHED gilt frame.
and among other gay ornaments. huge
pair of those glass vases with suspended
IrIsms known as lustres; the fire glowed
very brightly. and was kept in order by
fender and tireirons of flashing steel. 1t was.
in fact. room which appeared to open its
eyes and glare at you as you entered
man even more anxious and preoccupiei
than Frank was could not fail to be struck
with the general effect. 1t would have he n
positively ungracious not 10 have noticed it.
What bright room!" he said
''lt is bright room" said Mrs Rawlings
III a gratiiied way. You see, SIR, we often
kill us many as thirty pigs before break
fast"
This seemed digression without bearing
II in Snl, - hin
Frank, without making it clear whether he
referred TO the pigs or their slayers.
AT first, whtn | married Rawlings, ]
found it a melancholy business: 50 | mad
up my mind TO have everything away fro n
the ia ,tory bright and cheerful"
You have succeeded here" said Frank,
as he tOoS the azure covered chair offered
him.
II hope so. You see, sir" continued Mrs.
Rawlings, every business has its drawbacks
As well as its advantages. Many don't like
the pork business, but it's nice clean busi.
ness--therc's no dust about it like there Is
about baking. | hate dust of any sort"
At another time Carruthers might have
been amused and have tried to draw this
woman out, but he was now only anxious to
hear about Beatrice, SO he commenced his
iHquisitiOn.
Yes: Mrs. Rawlings had been at Black
town. She had stayed at the Cat and
tOmpasSes.' She or rather her husband.
had believed a little boy to be their missing
son. A young lady had called upon her
one morning. she gave no name, but she
was tall young lady; very handsome; and
with gray eyei; beautifully dressed; IN fact.
quite a young lady. Yes, poor thing! quite
a lady.
Would Mrs Rawlings tell her visitor what
had been said or done at that interview!
On, no--never. The good woman shut her
eyes, compressed her lips, and shook her
head slowly and solemnly; the combined
effects Of these actions being II cant to show
that Beatrices communication was forever
locked up in the sacred repository of her
heart.
Mrs. Rawlngs really meant b. keep Bea-
tric-s secret, aud dOubtle hal no pressure
b Cu applied she would have kept it Loyalty.
hut uniucklly she was one Of those who have
to struggle to retain secret, not only its
main BODY, but little corners which would
slip out nawares. In trying to guard Bea-
trices secret from her visitors renewed
questions she was like one trying to pack
feather bed into a travelling trunk as one
part was pushed down another part rose up
The words poor thingr' applied to Beatrice
had already raised Franks curiosity to the
present inquiry was not collateral.
Was lie justified in striving to learn what
Beatrice wished hid; He thought SO. He loved
her with pure unsefish love; 50 unse!fish
thas ha was not endeavoring t0 find the
Caase o. her flight for his own eLds, but in
orDer to be able to give her aid il she re-
gutred It, Yes, the man who loved her had
righ5 to try and learn all about the woman
wnom he believed loved him. Besides, had
Beatrice In any way bound this w.,nau 70
sscrecyf He could scarcely believe IL. He
lnnced that Mrs, Rawlings, as some people
Mhi was making a mystery of nothing.
Beatrice may have given her money to with
dIaw the absurd claim, and she was ashamed
to confess the fact
Look here,' said Carruthers II must
and will know what took place between you
and tie lady. ! warn you that by conceal.
iuent you may do her the greatest wrong
You cannot harm her by telling the TRUTH
AGAIN Mrs Rawlings shut her eyes and
shook her head
Again Frank ressei her, again and again
She still kept the secret, but ever and anon,
by means Of some unguardei expression, let
corner slip out So much so TINT Frank
fully realizsI the fact that B,atrce was
driven 20 seek that interview by some great
stress, some gTieyous nee1 He began TO
fancy thatin spite Of her denial in knowledge
even Of her name, Mrs. Rawlings might
he able 70 tel al about the iiiIht
Can YOU tell me whore To find herf' he
asked II w0rn you il You withhold her
address from me you may do her a wrong
which may never be repaired
hespoke aIne'tly and impressively, fxini
MS eyes upon the woman as he spoke. He
wished 10 learn from her looks whether shs
knew the address or not
sudden inspiration seiz,d Mrs. Raw