Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-04-09

"Frnki Frpt!" size cried "Iou hcre?"
He took her Ian Is in his and regardless of
hystander~ gazn INTO her gray eyes. For a
moment he cou.d moi speak. The sight of
Beatrice, the touch Of her hand sent the
blood rushing through his veins. DAYS.
weeks, months, he had pictured this meet
ing, and now it had come to pass!
She was faircr than evcr-fairer than
ever. Tho pure classical features seemed
even more perfect. the clear pale face more
b auti.ul the dark gray eyes more wonder
full than OF old. And rs she had given that
LITTLE cry Of joy, something had leapt into
her e;cs which Carruthers had never before
seen there, or never beir re seen so clearly
and undisSu The surprise of seeing
him had swept away caution, and for the
space OF two seconds, Frank was able to
read the very secret of her soul.
No wonder he held her hands and gazed
silently in her face What had he to say
what could he say! The certainty that she
loved him made his task no easer-the task
of telling her that he knew her secret, or at
least a great part of 1.-THE task cf asking
her to confile in him and let him help her.
So he remained silent until she gently drew
her hands from his.
The light had faded from Bcatrices face.
She also, after moment of forgctfulness.
was coming back to her own world and its
troubles Her eyes dropped and her face
clouded
Glow did you find meT she asked in
troubled tones
"By a strange chance will tell you how
some day"
"Tel mo now"
Frank shook his head
Not now lie said. Let it suffice that
have found YOU"
"But," said Beatrice with agitation, do
Others know-can others find me- If YOU
learned il why not anotherf'
He saw the display Of fear, and FASTENED
to reassure her NO one save myself can
learn it in the same way. Your retreat is
safe
She sighed her relief. There was an
awkward pause. Frank was the first to
break it.
Beatrice" he said. 81 have come long
way To SEQ You. have much to say-you
may have much to say to me- Can we 20 to
some place where we can talkE
YES, We can 20 to my home" Beatrice
called her boy, and Frank glad of ANYTHING
to break the awkwariness Of the moment
greeted the little fellow and ma le friends
with him to such purpose tkat he insisted
upon Mr.. Canuthcrs holdiSg his chubby
hand and walking with him.
"What pity to cut that bright hair"
said Frank to b 'atrics.
at was more than pty-it was cruel, but
it was cruel u cessty,n she said sadly.
Beatrice let the way to the house in wnich
she lived. Sle walked with her head bent
and as one III deep Thought She could not
make up her MN whether to be glad or
sorry at FRANKS coming. She saw, how
ever, thai it put an end to her present mode
of life That 1t meant confession, revealing
of everything. That 1t meant return TO
England aud to such frienls as would still
be her friends. That if it meant shame and
sorrow, It also meant safety and immunity
from persecul m She began to regret that
she mad Yield ,d TO Sarah's wish 10 20 to Enc,
land and see Heryey. But that was not of
much consequence. She felt sure that as
soon as CarruJhe"s learned her history her
affairs would pass into hands more CONNIE
tent to deal with them than the hand two
weak women So ON the whole heI ceilings
were those Of r1liaf
And yet for soma, for one reason, Frank
was the last person she would have chosen
to whom to reveal her secrets. She shranll
from having to show the man sha loved that
her life for years had been one of deceit
Now that the deceit had to bo confessed to
him, it seemed to lose all the innocent ma
ture which she had hitherto fiattered herself
it possessed In short, if such thing can
be imagined, Beatrice felt, MS Carruthers
once felt her to be, as an idol would feel
when just upon the point of being hurled
down from its PEDESTAL.
Carruthers, who had his own thoughts to
trouble him, and to whom it seemed that
any conventional remarks would at the pres
ent juncture he mocEcry, respected her
meditations, so that, save for the hsping
prattle of the boy, silence reigned until
Beatrice found herself in her room with
Frank sitting near her, 1t struck her as so
strange that he of all others should be here.
that even now she wondered if she was