Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-02-12

Yes" said Herbert. ''she mad nine WORDS
! to spare"
kilograms are one of the pests of modern
| l1fe." continued Horace. People dash off
these Il-worded, unprecedented phrases in
| stead OF proper letter. No one can write q
/ decent letter now
Horace. who had the gift of writing pecl-
( harly well-coustructed and elegant, if rather
| too lengthy, epistles, felt keenly on the ten
! dency Of the age TO conduct its correspond
! ence by means Of short, swapping sentences.
after the manner of Mr.. Mordle'S style of
| talking
Il hope she will be back soon.'' said Her
/ bert. Frank comes to US the day after TO-
/ morrow
| He is in good health now, isn't her
! Splendid, 1 believe"
! Then l think We can give him the IS this
! tine-the II is growing low.n
| This was not meanneSs. 1t was but the
caution wise man exercises over his cellar.
Besides, who could complain of the delicate
+ graduation! 1883 is a fine wine many prefer
it to 1S47.
| Beatrice's promised letter came in thu
morning. Horace read it first. His face was
perfect blank. He read it again before he
handed il 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 at
the truth. Here is Beatrices letter:
My Very Dear Uncles should be migrate
full for the kindness You have shown me if |
left you in any anxiety moment longer than
l could help. sent you a telegram yeSter-
day afternoon to show you that no evil had
befallen me.
= Il scarcely know what to say to you
can at present offer no excuse for what am
about TODD. lean give no explanation. When
l came to Hazlewood House l hoped to be
able to make it my home for so long as YOU
would keep me. Now, find, l am forced to
leave you and make home of my own More
over, l am forced for while at least to keep
I silence as to where that home may be- AT
this moment l have not even determined. 1t
will, however, be out of England cannot
even tell you why this must be so. VIII YOU
ever forgive mes
PLEASE do not fear on my account. | am
growing old and can well take care of my.
self; besides, Mrs. Miller will be with me,
also Harry, so that I shall not be dull
: If l cannot promise to tell you where l
, 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, Herbertm said Hor-
ace in sepulchral tones.
| "What can it meanF' 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, well-born woman
| should be, to be guilty of such an escapade.
1t 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
| in q new light Beatrice herself as they knew
her or fancied they knew her.
| 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, a vague
! tradition floating about that Herbert had
| once upon a time looked rather tenderly upon
some young lady, and that had not Horace
with praiseworthy seltishneSs 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 ap-
| preached the puzzle from the romantic side.
You don't think, he said, that Beatrice
! :ould have any--any unfortunate attach
nent of which we should have dsapprovedr'
How could such thing be posSIble!'
| I'VE thought such thing as her leaving
| Is like this an impossibility."
| This argument impressed Horace He
! thought the matter carefully over NO.
he said. with the air of judge giving a de-
cision, sit is impossible. She has given no
signs of such a thing. She has seemed quite
happy and contented. Her appetite has,
think, been very good"
eyes very good" said Herbert.
| 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
Herbert, in obedience to his brothers views,
| dismissed the unfortunate attachment theory
and began to look for another II wonder,
he said sadly, and after a long pause, 90
wonder if we have misunderstood Beatrice's
| character"
II am almost afraid it i. So" said Horace
''She seemed SO quiet and contented N
sighed Herbert. True, that affair about
those people and the boy upset her."
Now" said Horace, II believe you are
getting nearer the mark. Can it DE possible
that any fear that the child would be taker
from her induced her to make this foolish
| flight can call it nothing elseH'
Herbert objected in his turn. Beatrice haG
been 50 certain that the claim would come tx
nothing, aud events had proved her sagacity
So they talked and talked, suggested and req
soned, but never got near the truth. They
| could not even frame theory. Nothing il
this world is more annoying than to be with
out theory
At last Horace rose. Something must b,
| done, he said, decisively.
YES" assented Herbert, inquiringly.
I'VE are, it appears to me, placed in
most unfortunate position. This mysteriou
flight involves the most grievOus conse
| quences. We must do something which
feel sure will be repugnant to both of usn
You will not employ any one to trac,
| herF'
Certainly not She is her own mistress
and can go where she chooses. l am think
ing more about ourselves Life will becom,
intolerable if the matter gets bruitet
abroad"
How can we help it, All the household
knows that Beatrice has gone, and gone with
out any luggage"
That" said Horace, with mild triumph
Il have thought out" He rang the bell anc
asked for the parlor maid
Jane" he said, Miss Clauson has beer
called to London. VIII you be good enough
to get such things packed in her trunks as sh'
is likely to want for lengthy visit; also pacl
the nurses box and the child's things"
Jane courtesied and withdrew. Presently
she returned and asked how many dresse
she had better pack?
| Two morning and four evening dresses,
said Horace, promptly. Herbert admiret
his brothers great mind, which rose so equa
to the occasion.
Then Jane wanted to know which dresses
The two new ones, of course Then what
The black silk, the black lace, the high body
with jet trimmings, the brocade upper skirt
or what' For the moment even Horace way
at fault. He soon recovered.
I'VE will come and assist you he said
So they went to Beatrice's room, and witt
| eyeglasses fixed stood one on each side OF
the trunk and superintendent the packing
Much as they delighted in odd jobs of thi
kind, to-day they felt no pleasure. They
scarcely dared to glance at each other They
! felt ashamed as all honorable men do whc