Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-09-04

also Harry, so Gnab snail not De Gull.
eff cannot promise to tell you where I
am I 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"
ssWhat does it mean, Herbert?" said Hor-
ace in sepulchral tones.
ssWhat can it meang, echoed Herbert
They sat staring at one another and feel
ing that such an unlocked for catastrophe
had never before happened since the 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, wen-born woman
should be- to be guilty of such an escapade.
1t was awful, perfectly awful
They read the letter again ard again,
discussed the meaning Of sentences, even Of
words; but this analysing process helped
them nothing. So they turned to reconsider
in new light Beatrice herself as they knew
her or fancied they knew her. a94 = also
Although neither of the Talberts 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 matrimony would
have directed her attention to the younger
man as being of more malleable material
than the elder. There was, indeed, vague
tradition floating about that Herbert had
once upon time looked rather tenderly upon
some young lady, and that had not Horace
with praiseworthy selfshness promptly inter-
fered and nipped the affair in the bud he,
Horace. might now be living in solitude with
all the cares of Lakewood House on his
shoulders. So it was Herbert who first APP
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 disapprovedI'
'tHow could such thing be posslblea'
eve thought such a thing as her leaving
us like this an impossibility." Fl.&sh 90 AAN
This argument impressed Horace He
thought the matter carefully over. "No,"
be said, with the air of judge giving de-
cision, sit is impossible. She has given ne
signs of such thing. She has seemed quite
happy and contented. Her appetite has,
think, been very good" '-s~
eyes, very good" said Herbert ot
Besides, who could there be? She is also
her own mistress, and if she wished to marry
we have no voice in the matter. She is quite
capable of having her own way. Witness
her leaving all that money idle"
Horace had never got over that present Of
seven per cent. to the bankers. G ..sstaE
Herbert, in obedience to his brothers views,
dismissed the unfortunate attachment theory
and began to look for another. 81 WONDER,
he said sadly, and after long pause, 81
wonder if we have misunderstood Beatrice's
characterp Is .a3ss1 E-~sa7
II am almost afraid it is so," said Horace
She seemed SO quiet and contented,p
sighed Herbert. "True, that affair about
those people and the boy upset her"
.HNoV :, said Horace ct halio11o xo,, .o,.,
getting nearer the mark. Can it oe possible
that any fear that the child would be taken
from her induced her to make this foolish
flight can call it nothing elses' E".
Herbert objected in his turn. Beatrice had
been so certain that the claim would come to
nothing, and events had proved her sagacity
So they talked and talked, suggested and rea-
soned, but never got near the truth. They
could not even frame theory. Nothing in
this world is more annoying than to be with
out a theory. ,-,-- $780,,
At last Horace rose Something must be
done," he said, decisively.
a eyes," assented Herbert, inquiringly.
"We are, it appears to me, placed in a
most unfortunate position This mysterious
flight involves the most grievous conse-
quences. We must do something which 1
feel sure will be repugnant to both of u.s.
You will not employ any one to trace
herg .,.., az. - -, .;'.a.t 5as,4gh q .
I Certainly not. She is her own mistress,
and can go where she chooses. am think
ing more about ourselves Life will become
intolerable if the matter gets bruited
abroad - 10.
- 'sHow can we help its All the household
knows that Beatrice has gone, and gone with
out any luggage 4e J. a1as}
'That," said Horace, with mild triumph.
Il have thought out" He rang the bell and
asked for the parlor maid. ''S
"Jane,n he said, 'sMiss Clauson has been
called to London. Will you be good enough
to get such things packed in her trunks as she
is likely to want for lengthy visit; also pack
the nurses box and the child's things" A4
Jane courtesied and withdrew Presently
she returned and asked how many dresses
she had better pack?
1.-TWO morning and four evening dresses"
said Horace, promptly. Herbert admired
his brothers great mind, which rose so equal
to the occasion.
Then Jane wanted to know which dresses.
The two new ones, of course Then whata
The black silk, the black lace, the high body
with jet trimmings, the brocade upper skirt,
or whats For the moment even Horace was
at fault. He soon recovered. 1888 &t-4lf
}''We will come and assist you,n he said
So they went to Beatrice's room, and with
eyeglasses fixed stood one on each side of
the trunk and superintendent the packing.
Much as they delighted in odd jobs of this
kind, to-day they felt no pleasure. They
scarcely dared to glance at each other. They
felt ashamed, as all honorable men do, who
by Irresistible stress of circumstances are
compelled to act a lie. The packing was
completed Jane was sent to see to Mrs. Mil
ler's and the boys things The selection of
these our friends did not superintend The
boxes We're brought down, placed in the
wagonette, and Horace and Herbert drove
away with them. Nothing could have been
more skillfully managed. Even Whitaker
was completely deceived. 1a4A 7.
They took the boxes and warehoused them
in Blacktown. "You see," said Horace, as
he turned the horses heads homewards,
beatrice has gone to London. She means
to make lengthy stay. She must want her
things. Any woman would" rss.4s..-s..
every word you spoke was the exact
TRUTH" said Herbert, consolingly.
But they were horribly upset; so upset
that they forgot all about Franks impending
visit, or forgot about it until the next
morning, when they found it was too late
to telegraph. 4H -&&
Frank, with ''hope eternal' growing like
eucalyptus, came down as he had fore
warned his friends, by the morning train.
He was rather surprised at not seeing his
two tall cousins on the platform, or any
signs of the wagonette outside the station
He secured a hanson and drove straight to
Lakewood House.
Whitaker opened the door, 'tAll well,
Whitaker" asked Carruthers cheerily. He
did not hear the servants reply, for at that
moment Horace and Herbert appeared and
shook hands heartily. They took him into
the dining room, and once more the three
men shook hands. r.s- .r,., ...5.
''Well, how are you bothF' asked Frank
They told him they were quite well, but, all
the same, Frank knew by their solemn faces
that something had gone wrong He Won
dered what the cook had been up to.
"And Miss Clauson? Beatrice!" he con-
tinued with an assumption of carelessness,
but longing for the door to open and admit
her The Talberts exchanged sad glances
Beatrice said Horace, sis not here"
His voice was so solemn that Franks