The Dillon tribune., 1885-07-25

BERT ''Frank comes to us the d,v t aft.r .'ea- o.
morrow" "''''' ~
He is in good health now. isn't he:,
Splendid, believe
inell think we can give hin, the IN t,;s
time-the ~ is growing low."
Ibis was not meanness. It was h,. rha
caution wise man exercises over his tc,,o-
Besides, who could complain Of the del;cato
graduation! 1853 is a fine wine: manv ,nafar
it to 1S47. p'e'o'
Beatrlce's promised letter came N tha
morning. Horace read it first. His face was
perfect blank He read it again before h.,
handed 1t to the anxious Herbert, who. al
though he saw from his brothers face that
something strange had happened, was for
once unable to make the slightest guess ut
the truth. Here is Beatrice's letter:
MY Very Dear Uncles: should be ,nprat..
ful for the kindness you have shown me If
le1t You In any anxiety moment longer than
could help sent you telegram yester-
day afternoon to show you that no evil had
befallen me.
II scarcely know what to say to YOU. I
! can at present offer no excuse for what am
about todo. can give no explanatio J. When
] came to Hazlewood House I honei n ha
able to make it my home for so LONG as vou
would keep me. Now, I find, am forced to
leave you and make home of my own. More
over, am forced for while at least to keen
silence as to where that home may he. At
this moment have not even determined. It
will, however, be out of England. Icannot
even tell you why this must be So viii YOU
! ever forgive mes
Tleose 90 not rear on my account. / am
| growing old and can we'll take care of INV,
self: besides, Mrs. Miller will be with me.
also Harry, SO that shall not be dull.
IF ] cannot promise to tell you where I
| am, will at least let you hear from me now
and then. Please, oh, please, do not try and
trace me, but do endeavor to think kindly of
your loving but unhappy niece, BEATRICE"
''What does it mean, Herberte' said Hor-
ace in sepulchral tones.
"What can it meanY' echoed Herberr,
| They sat staring at one another al feel
ing that such an unlocked for cat strophe
had never before happened since tre 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 well-bred, well-born woman
should be, 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; but this analyzing process helped
them nothing So they turned to reconsider
III IA new light Beatrice herself as they knew
her or fancied they knew her.
Although neither Of tho Talterts had ever
felt the tender passion, it was thought by
many that If either were attacked. Herbert
would be the victim. A widow anxious to
re-enter the holy estate of natrimony would
have directed her attention to the younger
hniv,rr Cf q .;.1
| than the elder. There was, indeed, a vague
tradition floating about that Herbert had
once upon time looked rather tenderly upon
some young lady, and that had not Horace
with praiseworthy selfishness promptly inter.
fered and nippetl the affair in the bud he
Horace. might now be living in solitude with
all the cares of Hazlewood 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 disapprovedr
"How could such thing be posslble!'
I'VE thought such thing as her leaving
us like this an in,possibility."
This argument impressed Horace. He
thought the matter carefully over. mo,
he said. with the air of Judge giving de.
cision, lit is impossible She has given nc
signs of such thing. She has seemed quite
happy and contented. Her appetite has,
think, been very good"
"Yes. very good" said Herbert.
Besides, who could there be! She is ais
her own mistress, and if she wished to MARI,
we have no voice in the matter. She is quit
capable Of having her own way. Witnes
her leaving all that money idle"
Horace had never got over that present O
seven per cent. to the bankers.
Herbert, in obedience to his brothers views
dismissed the unfortunate attachment theor,
and began to look for another. ~ wonder,
he said sadly. and after long pause, $.
wonder il we have misunderstood Beatrice'
character"
~ am almost afraid it is So" said Horace
''She seemed so quiet and contented,
sighed Herbert. "True, that affair abou
those people and the boy upset her."
"Now," said Horace. II believe you ar
getting nearer the mark. Can it De possible
that any fear that the child would be takel
from her induced her to make this foolisl
flight can call it nothing else"
Herbert objected in his turn Beatrice has
been SD certain that the claim would come t,
nothing, and events had proved her sagacity
So they talked and talked, suggested and rea
soned, but never got near the truth. The.
could not even frame u theory. Nothing IL
this world is more annoying than to be with
out a theory.
At last Horace rose. ''Something must b
done" lie said, decisively.
Yes" assented Herbert inquiringly.
1--WE are. it appears to me. placed in
most unfortunate position. This mysteriou
fight involves the most grievous conse
q,,ences. We must do something which
fcai sure will be repugnant to both Of u.s."
You will not employ any one to trac
her:'
"Certainly not. She is her own mistress