Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-03-26

Rawlings every business has ITS drawbacks
as well as its advantage Many don't ike
the pork business, but its n nice clean busl.
ness-there's no dust about it like there i,
about baking. | hate dust of any Sort
At another time Cariuthers might have
been amused and have tried to draw this
woman out but he vas now only anxious to
hear about Beatrice, so he commenced his
inquisition.
Yes; Mrs. Ra wings had been at Black
town. She had stayed at the scat and
Compasses. She, or rather her husband,
had believed 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 eyes; beautifully dressed; IN fact,
quite a young lady Yes, poor thingl quite
a lady.
Would Mrs. Rawlings tell her visitor what
had been said or done at that INTERVENE
Oh, no-never The good woman shut her
eyes, compre lsed her lips, and shook her
head slowly and soemnly; the combined
effects of these actions being meant to show
that Beatrice's communication was forever
locked up in the sacred repository of her
heart.
Mrs. Rawlings really meant to keep Bea-
trice's secret and doubtless had no pressure
been applied she would have kept it Loyalty
But unluckily she was one of those who have
to struggle to retain a secret. not only its
main BODY, but little corners which would
slip out unawares. In trying to guard Bea-
trice's 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 thingW applied to Beatrice
had already raised Franks curiosity to the
highest pitch, and made him believe that the
present inquiry was not collateral.
Was he justified in striving to learn what
Beatrice wished hid He thought SO. He loved
her with pure, unselfish love; so unselfish
that he not endeavoring to find the
cause o. her flight for his own ends, but in
order to be able to give her aid if she re-
quired it. Yes. the man who loved her had
a righ' to try and learn all about the woman
whom he believed loved him. Besides had
Beatrice i'll any way bound this woman to
yecrecyl He could scarcely believe it. He
fancied that Mrs, Rawlings, as some people
will, was making a mystery of nothing.
Bea,ric, may have given her money to with
dlaw the surd claim, and she was ashamed
| to confess the fact
Look here" said Carrlthers. II must
and will know what took place between you
and the lady. warn you that by conceal
ment 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 ressed her, again and again.
She sill kept the secret, but ever and anon,
by means of some unguarde1 expression let
corner slip out. So much so that Frank
fully realized the fact that Beatrice was
driven to seek that interview by some great
stress some grievous need. He began to
fancy that i'll spite of her denial in kno Wedge
even of her name, Mrs. Rawlings might
be able to tell all about the flight.
Can you tell ME where to find herr he
asked. IL warn you if you withhold her
address from me you may do her a wrong
which may never be repaired"
bespoke earnestly and impressively, fixing
his eyes upon the woman as he spoke. He
wished to learn from her looks whether she
knew the address OF not.
sudden inspiration seized Mrs Raw
hngs. Inspiration may come to a pur-
veyor as well as to poet This young man,
this eager young fellow, was the cause of all
the shame and mischef-what secret was
there to keep from hin' He might be right;
incalcuable harm might follow her silence.
You want to find here she asked
"YOu don't know where she isf'
Il want to find her. | shall never rest
until | find her" His manner told Mrs
Rawlings that her inspiration was correct
She rose and spoke with real emotion.
Yes, sir" she said, go and find her
Go and do what is right. Ii you are the
man, til nix your conscience will tell you
what to DO Oh, sir, make what amends
you cali while there is time Life is uncer-
tain. Ii is things of this sort which haunt
man on his death bed
The look of surprise which at first sat on
Franks FACE turned to one of something like
horror. 60 on he said hoarsey.
Perhaps am wronging YOU" went on the
woman. Perhaps you did not know all.
She said the child was born in secrecy.
Perhaps you never knew it. But go to her
now, sir, apd make what amends you can.
1t not for me to speak, but what can gen
tleman want for his wife more than a beau
tiful, proud-looking young lady like this.
Dear, dear what she must have suffered,
poor thing"
Carruthers was CHASTITY. His hands grasped
the table for support. Mrs. Rawlings glanced
at him and felt that her impromptu Grafton
was doing its WORK.