Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-07-17
sTArNTON VIRGINIA. FRIDAY, JULY II, 1885

Igy LL.5iI AaLures, NO uoupU, accounted
for this.
''Herbert," said Horace at last, s'you are
thinking Of what Beatrice said?'
eyes, I am"
$50 am I. It seemed a revelation, but
we oughtn't to jump at conclusions
"No," said Herbert, s'but the fact remains
Some four years ago he had nothing but his
fellowship to live upon"
"You are right, nothing. Beatrice spoke
Justly. She may by chance have struck the
mark"
81 am afraid SO. Still, we must not be
hasty. Yet, whoever sent the child must
have fancied it had some claim on us.n
SIT is ridiculous to suppose that an entire
stranger would have done such thing"
''Quite So" said Herbert.
''He may have been much tempted; at that
time have been driven to his wits end It is
sad affair; let us try and piece it together.
to construct their new theory.
"We will say" began Horace, che was mar
ried four years ago."
''Yet was dishonorable enough to conceal
It, SO that he might hold his fellowship"
"Of course this is all superstition" said
Horace. The word dishonorable in connec-
ear.
EXACTLY So" said Herbert. ct should s1s-
pect that his wife died-perhaps recently,
perhaps shortly after the birth of the child :"
"The latter, I should think. Frank makes
large income now, and could afford to give
up two hundred year"
"Yes," said Herbert, s'the wife died after
the birth of the boy. The older the child got
the more trouble he found it to conceal its
Identity. Thereupon he sends it to us, trust
ing we may keep it"
''And now," capped Herbert, ''after de-
clining former invitations, he comes to us
himself. The further we pursue the matter
the clearer it becomes"
They were quite in a state of mild excite
ment. That they could draw logical infer
ences we have seen by the affair of Ann Jen-
kins' stockings. The brothers had both been
distressed that all their speculations as to lit
tie Harry's origin had fallen to the ground
for want Of proper support. Now, at last,
was theory which, if it reflected dishonor
on a connection of theirs, was at least tenable.
1t was improbable, but the whole affair was
so monstrous that it needed an improbabiity
to account for it, They absolutely argued
themselves into believing they had found the
truth.
''Didcot is the junction for Oxford" con-
tinued Herbert, after pause.
''Besides," said Horace, eve cannot forget
that his conduct once was not what it should
have been.''
That's the worst of going wrong. No
amount Of straight running will make people
cease to look at times askance. The work of
reformation is child's play to that of making
your friends believe you have reformed.
Therefore Horace Talberts remark was
clincher. Herbers toyed with the open letter.
''Shan we send this?'' he asked.
They fell to stroking their boards once
more, and continued the operation until the
natural kindliness of their hearts reasserted
itself
CATER ALL" said Herbert, 'it is all purely
conjectural"
Completely So"
'He had better come, then"
81 think SO. Besides, it will give us an
surely the instincts Of paternity must show
themselves
"They are supposed to be very strong"
But as neither of them knew anything about
paternity, these remarks were made in
doubtful tone, and were subject to correction.
The polite letter was sent, and week after
the ending of the Trinity term the young
Oxford tutor packed up his things and started
for Oakbury.
AS there is no occasion to make superfuous
mysteries, it may at once be said that Frank
Carruthers knew no more of the existence Of
the child whom his amiable uncles had argued
themselves into believing to be in some way
his property than he knew of-for the sake of
a simile-say the presence at Lakewood
House of gray-eyed girl, whose beauty
would satisfy every demand of his rather
fastidious taste.